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Have a question about rosacea?
Leading dermatologists, ophthalmologists, researchers and others will answer questions about this chronic but treatable condition. New questions are answered every month, so be sure to check back regularly.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Q Are rosacea and seborrhea related? Are there other medical conditions that symptoms of rosacea could also be attributed to?
AResponse from Dr. Boni Elewski, vice chairman of dermatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham:
Rosacea shares certain signs and symptoms with a variety of disorders, and dermatologists usually distinguish between similar conditions by looking for a typical pattern or combination of symptoms unique to one or the other.
Though they are distinct disorders, seborrheic dermatitis is the most common facial skin disorder to occur along with rosacea. Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic and frequently recurring inflammatory condition that is characterized by a red, scaly or itchy rash often found in the creases around the nose, the inner eyebrows or as dandruff on the scalp. While the two conditions share facial redness, a pattern of flaking, itchy rash and excessive oiliness points to seborrheic dermatitis.
Other signs and symptoms of rosacea that may occur with other conditions include the bumps and pimples of acne vulgaris; the redness and irritation of contact dermatitis; the flushing of carcinoid; and the facial butterfly-shaped red rash of the autoimmune disorder lupus erythematosus.
As always, it is important to consult a physician in order to get accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. If you have concurrent disorders, more than one therapy may be necessary.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Q I'm a rosacea sufferer and recently read a medical article on a drug for treating rosacea that claims it might heal the condition. Do you have any information that might validate such a claim?
AResponse from Dr. Jonathan Wilkin, former director of dermatology products at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, pioneer researcher on flushing and leading expert on rosacea:
While medical treatments are available that can control its various signs and symptoms, there is currently no cure for rosacea. However, news reports of new therapies are often so glowing as to seem to suggest to readers that a cure may be possible. Although there are products that can be very effective in achieving control and even remission, there are no therapies that are proven to permanently eradicate the signs and symptoms of rosacea.
The most reliable source of accurate information about any drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may be the product information sheets included with the drug itself, and this information is also typically available for viewing online. It is important to read the package insert carefully. Per U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, information about prescription drugs must be carefully worded in order to precisely describe the therapy's action, risks and benefits.
Product information will include the therapy's indications -- that is, what condition or signs and symptoms it is useful for; its dosage and how it is administered; possible adverse reactions it may cause; contraindications -- the specific circumstances when it should not be used; as well as a wealth of further information on clinical testing in which the drug's effectiveness and possible effects, and other data, were assessed. Importantly, product information may not make claims about its effects that have not been established in testing.
Although no currently approved therapies can claim to permanently cure rosacea, a treatment regimen that might include avoidance of specific triggers along with medications may lead to very long-lasting remissions in many patients.
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To submit a question, use the "Ask a Question" box above. Due to the volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee that all questions will be answered. In some cases, similar questions may receive a combined answer.
All medical information in “Ask the Doctors” has been provided by experts. However, the information posted here by Ask the Doctors contributors should not be considered medical advice, nor is it intended to replace consultation with a physician. Rosacea may vary substantially from one patient to another, and diagnosis and treatment must be tailored by a physician for each individual case.
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