The Signs and Symptoms of Ocular Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition associated with redness and pustules that can affect both facial skin and the eyes. The condition, when associated with the skin, is called acne rosacea and where the eyes are affected is called ocular rosacea. The symptoms of acne rosacea is red and flushed skin, dry flaky skin, increase in body temperature and facial flushing with food or event triggers, and breakouts or pustules that centralize generally on the nose, forehead, and cheeks. The symptoms of ocular rosacea is dry irritated eyes, burning in the eyes, blepharitis (irritated eyelids), red eyes and eyelids, styes or chalazions, and the sensation that there is something in the eye even when no foreign body is found. Ocular rosacea will occur in nearly 60% of all rosacea sufferers. Chronic red eye, infections, and styes are the most bothersome of the ocular rosacea experience.

Treatments for rosacea generally include either topical antibiotics or oral antibiotics, light therapies, and sometimes even microdermabrasion can help. Antibiotics seem to be the best method to see a difference in the facial flushing and in the pustule production. At times you may need to do warm compresses to relieve symptoms and promote draining of any eye styes. Antibiotics used in rosacea have been known to reduce the symptoms of rosacea, including redness, pimples, and red lines on the face (telangiectasia), and thick bumps on the nose (rhinophyma), and to reduce the symptoms that accompany eye involvement in rosacea.

With oral antibiotic treatment, symptoms usually improve in 3 to 4 weeks, with greater improvement seen in 2 months. A dual combo of oral and topical antibiotics will see faster results. There is a chance that the bacteria in a rosacea sufferer will develop new immunities to the antibiotic and become less effective. To combat this you can use antibiotics for a shorter period of time. If one antibiotic stops working, a new one can be prescribed.

Topical antibiotics for rosacea are used either alone, or with an oral antibiotic to aid in the treatment of rosacea. Topical antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria that are on the skin. and can be used to reduce the symptoms of rosacea, including redness, pimples, and red lines on the face (telangiectasia), and thick bumps on the nose (rhinophyma), and to reduce the symptoms that accompany eye involvement in rosacea.

One widely popular, and very effective, form of topical antibiotic treatment for rosacea is the medication metronidazole. Studies have found that if red, raised bumps have developed, topical metronidazole (1%) is safe and effective. Metronidazole gel (.75%) is effective in preventing or minimizing recurrences of rosacea.

With antibiotic treatment, symptoms usually improve in 3 to 4 weeks, with greater improvement seen in 2 months. A dual combo of oral and topical antibiotics will see faster results. There is a chance that the bacteria in a rosacea sufferer will develop new immunities to the antibiotic and become less effective. To combat this you can use antibiotics for a shorter period of time. If one antibiotic stops working, a new one can be prescribed.

Avoiding rosacea triggers can help with the symptoms of ocular rosacea in that some eye involvement is reduced when the skin condition has improved.

Most Common Rosacea Triggers:

With a survey of 1,066 rosacea patients, these were listed as the most common factors that are potential triggers.
Sun Exposure 81%
Emotional Stress 79%
Hot Weather 75%
Wind 57%
Heavy Exercise 56%
Alcohol Consumption 53%
Hot Baths 51%
Cold Weather 46%
Spicy Foods 45%
Humidity 44%
Indoor Heat 41%
Certain Skincare Products 41%
Heated Beverages 36%
Certain Cosmetics 27%
Medications 15%
Medical Conditions 15%
Certain Fruits 13%
Marinated Meats 10%
Certain Vegetables 9%
Dairy Products 8%