Skin diseases affecting the face area are one of the common problems of patients when they contact a dermatologist. Some respond well to therapy and pass almost without a trace. Others require longer treatment, and their course can be complicated by serious ailments. Steroid rosacea belongs to the second category. In the photo, the disease looks quite unpleasant. Therefore, patients try to get rid of it as soon as possible.
Medical certificate
Steroid rosacea is a skin disease characterized by the appearance of specific vesicles on the face. They are pustules with a purulent secret inside. Rashes most often occur in women during hormonal changes. Men get sick much less often, but their ailment is accompanied by a rapid course and is often accompanied by complications in the form of hyperplasia of the sebaceous glands.
Sources of the problem
The nature of the disease remains poorly understood so far. Previously, scientists put forward a theory about the relationship of steroid rosacea on the face and eating large amounts of meat. However, studies have shown that the disease occurs with almost the same frequency in both "meat-eaters" and vegetarians.
To date, the main cause of rosacea is the frequent use of corticosteroid ointments. Similar components are found in 70% of drugs for the treatment of dermatoses of various etiologies. They give a good therapeutic effect due to the rapid narrowing of blood vessels and relief of inflammation. Uncontrolled use of them leads to a decrease in local immunity and suppression of fibroblast functions. The latter are the cells responsible for the health of the epidermis. As a result, numerous pustules, spider veins, and areas of atrophy with papules are formed.
Risk factors
Doctors identify a group of factors whose exposure significantly increases the risk of steroid rosacea. Among them, the most common are the following:
- skin infections;
- disruption of the digestive tract;
- digestive diseases of the chronic course;
- hereditary predisposition;
- vascular changes on the skin.
Previously, it was also assumed that psycho-vegetative disorders affect the likelihood of this skin disease. However, they are, rather, a consequence of a cosmetic defect.
Symptoms and stages of the disease
Even in the photo, steroid rosacea on the face is easily distinguished from other skin pathologies. Specific symptoms help differentiate the disease. It is clinically customary to distinguish several of its stages:
- Occasional erythema. There is a pronounced reddening of the skin against the background of the filling of capillary vessels with blood. Localization areas are the area of the nose, forehead and cheeks. Over time, individual sections acquire a constant red color.
- Vascular stage. It is characterized by minor inflammation of the superficial veins, the formation of telangiectasias. Puffiness, peeling of the skin and burning are also possible.
- The appearance of rashes in the form of nodules and tubercles. At the opening of abscesses, the skin may be scarred. Gradually, the rash spreads to the scalp, chest and back.
- In the phimatoid period, the skin thickens and thickens. Outwardly, it resembles an orange peel.
In men older than 40 years, the course of the disease can be complicated by a pineal thickening of the nose - rhinophyma. It acquires a bluish tint, and the branches of small vessels become clearly distinguishable on the skin. In women, rhinophyma is extremely rare.
Diagnostic Methods
An experienced dermatologist after a physical examination and questioning a patient can immediately make a diagnosis of steroid rosacea. However, in some cases, the addition of bacterioscopic and bacteriological tests, taking a sample for demodicosis, is additionally required. Before prescribing treatment, an antibioticogram is mandatory to assess the sensitivity of microflora to drugs.
Features of drug treatment
According to reviews, the treatment of steroid rosacea with a combination of medicines and traditional medicine gives the greatest result. However, the first step in the treatment of any patient with a similar diagnosis is the abolition of local hormonal drugs. In this case, it is important to be prepared for a possible exacerbation of dermatosis.
The first signs of withdrawal are manifested 6-8 days after stopping the use of steroid drugs. At the same time, as a rule, swelling increases and the area of rashes increases, redness becomes more pronounced. It is impossible to overcome these violations on your own. The help of several specialists will be required at once: a dermatologist, therapist, endocrinologist.
Since the exact causes of steroid rosacea remain unknown, treatment involves the use of various techniques, taking into account the clinical picture and the presence of concomitant health problems. Among drugs, usually the following agents give a positive effect:
- Antibiotics ("Hyoxysone"). Tetracycline drugs relieve inflammation and swelling.
- Antiparasitic drugs. Assigned with detected demodicosis.
- Vitamin complexes. For example, Ascorutin strengthens blood vessels and helps to eliminate telangiectasia.
- Desensitizing drugs ("Tavegil", "Suprastin"). Itching and allergic manifestations of the disease are well stopped.
- Light soothing drugs.
It is important to ensure that the skin has normal breathing. To this end, the doctor may recommend special gels and lotions to relieve inflammation. In addition, they remove dead skin cells of the epidermis, revealing clogged pores.
The effectiveness of physiotherapy
A little higher you can see what the steroid rosacea looks like on the face in the photo. Both the treatment and the subsequent monitoring of the patient’s skin condition should be handled by a specialized specialist.
After a course of drug therapy, patients are often recommended additionally various physiotherapeutic procedures. Their main goal is to improve the condition of the skin, remove possible visible defects. The following hardware techniques have proven themselves in this matter:
- Cryotherapy. During the procedure, a specialist cauterize skin on the face with rosacea with liquid nitrogen. Depending on the indications, it can be replaced with a mixture with other gases.
- Electrocoagulation It implies the impact on the lesion with special electrodes.
- Lymphatic drainage rotational massage. It is performed in the forehead and nose, cheeks. Repeat the procedure 2 times a day. It allows you to increase the outflow of lymph and stop excessive swelling.
Another effective method is laser exposure. It is practiced to prevent the appearance of spider veins on the face. The light beam causes overheating inside the vessels that are close to the epidermis. This leads to their destruction, and without damage to adjacent healthy tissues.
Help traditional medicine
Local treatment of steroid rosacea on the face is also carried out using various masks and lotions, prepared on the basis of herbs. Its advantage is accessibility and high efficiency, pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. The following recipes have proven themselves well:
- Lotions based on chamomile. This plant perfectly soothes the skin, relieves redness. To prepare a decoction, you need to fill one herbal packet with a glass of boiling water. In a chilled fluid, moisten a cotton pad, squeeze and apply to the affected area for 15 minutes. The procedure can be repeated 3-4 times a day.
- Oatmeal mask. It has a calming effect, whitens the skin. To prepare the mask, you need to take 2 tablespoons of ground cereals and a small amount of water. After receiving a creamy consistency, the product can be applied to the face.
- Aloe vera juice or gel. For many, this plant grows right at home. If it is not, you can purchase the product in its finished form at any pharmacy. Treatment comes down to the targeted use of aloe. However, the gel can be applied to the entire face. If desired, aloe vera is acceptable to add to creams or masks intended for therapy.
This treatment option should first be agreed with your doctor. Recipes of folk doctors, despite the effectiveness, may have some contraindications for individual patients.
Prevention Methods
Prevention of steroid rosacea is reduced to the exclusion of factors provoking an ailment. For example, for people with fair skin in the warm season it is better to limit their exposure to the sun and use special protective equipment. Cosmetics, including decorative, should be of high quality and hypoallergenic.
In order to prevent the progression of the disease, you must follow a strict diet:
- adhere to fractional nutrition;
- limit the consumption of fats, pastries and confectionery;
- completely eliminate smoked meats, marinades, spices and alcohol;
- tea and coffee is better to replace herbal infusions.
For prophylaxis, it is not recommended to use steroid preparations without a doctor’s prescription.