Rosacea, once considered a form of acne,
is now commonly recognized as a different disease of the skin that affects millions of people; estimates put that figure at 14 million in the United States1
Recently, rosacea has become the focus of new treatments that help bring relief for many sufferers. Oracea®, the first and only oral therapy approved by the FDA to treat rosacea, is one of these options.*
Click on the links below to learn important facts about rosacea.
What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Signs and symptoms include2:
- A tendency to blush or flush easily
- Persistent redness in the center of the face
- Small visible blood vessels (telangiectasia)
- Bumps and pus-filled pimples on the face (papules and pustules)
- Burning or stinging sensation on the face; the skin also may itch or feel tight
- Dry skin on the face
- Swelling on the central part of the face
- Eye problems, such as burning, itching, or watery eyes; swollen eyelids
- Thickening skin on the nose, cheeks, and/or forehead
- Rhinophyma—bumps on the nose that may develop if rosacea is left untreated
*Oracea is indicated for the treatment of only inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules) of rosacea in adult patients.
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References: 1. Rosacea.org website. Available at: http://www.rosacea.org. Accessed January 4, 2008. 2. All about rosacea. Rosacea.org website. Available at: http://www.rosacea.org/patients/allaboutrosacea.php. Accessed January 8, 2008.
What causes rosacea?
No one knows for sure, but researchers suspect that rosacea may be caused by a combination of proteins and peptides in the skin, rather than by bacteria.2 Most dermatologists view rosacea as an inflammatory disease of the skin. Although anyone can develop rosacea, it tends to be seen more often in people over 30 years of age with fair skin and light eye color.3
*Oracea is indicated for the treatment of only inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules) of rosacea in adult patients.
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References: 1. Rosacea.org website. Available at: http://www.rosacea.org. Accessed January 4, 2008. 2. Yamasaki K, Di Nardo A, Bardan A., et al. Increased serine protease activity and cathelicidin promotes skin inflammation in rosacea. Nat Med. 2007;13(8):975-980. 3. All about rosacea. Rosacea.org website. Available at: http://www.rosacea.org/patients/allaboutrosacea.php. Accessed January 8, 2008.
Myths about rosacea
Myth #1: People who have rosacea are alcoholics.
Truth: Rosacea may affect anyone and is not a symptom of alcoholism.2
Myth #2: Dermatologists have nothing new to offer rosacea patients.
Truth: Dermatologists now have once-daily Oracea, the first oral medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of the inflammatory lesions of rosacea.
Myth #3: Topical medications for rosacea are safer than systemic medications.
Truth: Although topical medications are generally well-tolerated, clinical studies demonstrated that side effects reported for Oracea were similar to those of a sugar pill (placebo).3
Myth #4: Acne medications also are effective for the pimple-like bumps of rosacea.
Truth: While there is some evidence to support this fact, especially when the medication reduced inflammation, a dermatologist can provide advice about the best treatments for rosacea. Some acne medication may irritate the sensitive skin of rosacea patients.4
Myth #5: If you eliminate all trigger factors, rosacea will go away.
Truth: Rosacea is chronic, and trigger factors may sometimes induce flare-ups. But even in the absence of any trigger factor, a person with rosacea may experience a flare-up.5
Myth #6: People who had acne as teenagers are doomed to get rosacea as adults.
Truth: There is absolutely no clinical evidence to support this idea.4
Myth #7: Miracle treatments for rosacea are available on the Internet.
Truth: The vast majority of the treatments available on the Internet have not been evaluated in large, well-designed clinical trials. Neither the efficacy, nor the safety, of these treatments has been reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
*Oracea is indicated for the treatment of only inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules) of rosacea in adult patients.
Click here to view references »hide references «
References: 1. Rosacea.org website. Available at: http://www.rosacea.org. Accessed January 4, 2008. 2. Wilkin J, Dahl M, Detmar M, et al. Standard grading system for rosacea: Report of the National Rosacea Society Expert Committee on the Classification and Staging of Rosacea. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;50(6):907-912. 3. Del Rosso JQ, Webster GF, Jackson M, et al. Two randomized phase III clinical trials evaluating anti-inflammatory dose doxycycline (40-mg doxycycline, USP capsules) administered once daily for treatment of rosacea. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007;56(5):791-802. 4. Frequently asked questions. Rosacea.org website. Available at: http://www.rosacea.org/patients/faq.php. Accessed January 8, 2008. 5. Rosacea triggers. Rosacea.org website. Available at: http://www.rosacea.org/patients/materials/triggersindex.php. Accessed January 8, 2008.
Emotional impact
Rosacea affects the face, so sufferers often may experience embarrassment, low self-esteem, and depression. Rosacea is a disease with the ability to affect people emotionally as well as physically.2
One of the biggest factors in helping rosacea sufferers to overcome embarrassment related to the visible facial aspects of the disease is knowledge.
The best way to get this knowledge is to seek help from a dermatologist instead of silently agonizing over a condition for which there is currently a lot of help.
*Oracea is indicated for the treatment of only inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules) of rosacea in adult patients.
Click here to view references »hide references «
References: 1. Rosacea.org website. Available at: http://www.rosacea.org. Accessed January 4, 2008. 2. Coping with rosacea. Rosacea.org website. Available at: http://www.rosacea.org/patients/materials/coping/managing.php. Accessed January 8, 2008.
*Oracea is indicated for the treatment of only inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules) of rosacea in adult patients.
Click here to view reference »hide reference «
Reference: 1. Rosacea.org website. Available at: http://www.rosacea.org. Accessed January 4, 2008.