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Rosacea is a facial rash that occurs in middle-aged men and women. Approximately 13 million people in the United States have Rosacea. The cause of Rosacea is unknown. It affects people mainly in the 30s and 40s, especially those with fair-skin, blue eyes and of Celtic origin. Famous individuals with Rosacea include WC. Fields, Rembrandt and President Bill Clinton.
Rosacea used to be called "acne rosacea" but it is quite different from acne. The red spots and pustules are dome-shaped rather than pointed and there are no blackheads, whiteheads, deep cysts, or lumps. Sometimes the affected skin is swollen and hot. Rosacea affects the cheeks, nose and forehead - rarely it involves the trunk and upper limbs. Facial creams or oils, and topical steroids may aggravate Rosacea.
Redness: The cheeks or forehead appear to have a flush or sunburn. The redness is caused by dilation of the blood vessels in the skin, which allow more blood to flow and pool under the surface of the skin. The next stage pimples may appear on the face. The types of pimples seen in people with Rosacea differ from acne, which are characterized by blackheads or whiteheads (comedones). In Rosacea the pimples appear as small red and solid (papules) or pus-filled (pustules). A characteristic symptom of Rosacea is thin redlines on the face which are called telangiectasia. These redlines are the dilated blood vessels that become distended under the surface of the skin. During the early stages of Rosacea the telangiectasia is obscured by the red color or flushing of the cheeks, once the redness disappears the red lines become more apparent. When Rosacea is left untreated some people, mostly men, may eventually get small knobby bumps on the nose called rhinophyma.
Once a diagnosis of Rosacea is confirmed the standard approach to therapy will involve the use of a systemic antibiotic in combination with a topical antibiotic gel.
The oral antibiotics are used to halt progression of the disease and to reduce the extent of redness and facial flushing. The topical antibiotic gels are used to keep the symptoms under control. Since the antibiotics do not cure the disease there may be flare-ups once therapy is discontinued. Long term use of oral antibiotics is not recommended due to the possible development sun sensitivity, development of resistant strains of bacteria, and exacerbation of GI related problems. The standard oral antibiotics recommended for the treatment of Rosacea include: tetracycline, Minocin (minocycline and erythromycin. Isotretinoins (Accutane or Roaccutane) are sometimes considered as an alternative to oral antibiotics especially in cases of papopustular Rosacea. As described previously, Accutane is associated with a wide spectrum of side effects and should only be used when traditional therapeutic approaches have failed.
Metronidazole was the first topical treatment approved for the treatment of Rosacea in 1989. This product can be used to help reduce Rosacea flare-ups once the disease has been brought under control. The brand name for metronidazole in the US is MetroGel (MetroCream and MetroLotion) which contains 0.75% metronidazole. Noritate is another product that contains 1.0% metronidazole.
Once Rosacea has progressed to the stage where redlines (telangiectasis) are evident the only choices are corrective surgery or covering the redlines with makeup. Surgery involves injecting the blood vessels located in he face with concentrated salt water, which causes the vessels to constrict. Alternatively, laser surgery can cauterize the blood vessels, thereby restricting blood flow. A newer approach is “Mixed light pulse therapy” (Photoderm) which is not laser therapy but rather a series of light pulses are directed at the dermal layer of the skin. The treatment stimulates collagen synthesis, which results in a thickening of the skin and decreasing the visible signs of Rosacea.
An important adjunct to any therapeutic strategy to treat Rosacea involves lifestyle adjustments that minimize facial flushing. This may involve dietary restrictions, makeup, soap, sun restriction etc., which are customized to the individual patient.
Topical Steroids should not be used chronically to treat Rosacea. The initial response to topical steroids may be positive, however with time the use of steroids will worsen the condition.
The etiologic factors responsible for Rosacea are unknown; what is known is that Rosacea is believed to be due to an imbalance in the body that results in dilation of blood vessels primarily in the face. The additional symptoms that occur in up to 50% of individuals with Rosacea including ocular (blepharitis, corneal keratitis) and gastro-intestinal symptoms may also be attributed in part to this imbalance. The standard Western medical approach of administering oral antibiotics diminishes the likelihood of progression of the disease but do not cure the disease. AcnEase® was developed to restore the bodily imbalance (reduce levels of heat and toxins) believed to be responsible for dermatological problems including Acne and Rosacea.
Since Rosacea can not be cured the objective of a treatment is to reduce and control symptoms.
Recommended start-up pack would be 5 boxes. Regiment: Forts month: 3x4 tablets daily. When the symptoms are controlled the dose can be slowly reduced: For the first 2 weeks after the first month to 2x4 tablets daily. If the symptoms still remain under control the dose can be further reduced to 2x3 (or 3x3) tablets daily and even to the lowest maintenance dose of 2x2 tablets daily.
Until the symptoms are extremely severe and the individual is over 95 kg there is no need to introduce the 7 pack ( 3x6 tablets daily) dose. Please note that for some individuals the time needed to initially control the symptoms may be longer then one month, for some -shorter then one month.
I am female, age 47 with moderate Rosacea and frequent Episodes of GI Distress. I am Registered Nurse.
Prior Therapy included daily Tetracycline and topical metronidazole. The initial response was a decrease in facial redness but frequent flare-ups were common. Family History: Father and grandfather both had moderate Rosacea with evidence of telangiectasis, both were of Irish origin. The major problem involved an ever-increasing problem with stomach pain initially associated with meals but progressing to near daily episodes of severe GI discomfort. Frequent use of Tums, Maalox or Pepto Bismol was initially able to alleviate the stomach disorders. The oral antibiotics aggravated the stomach disorders. I progressed to the point that antacids were no longer effective and I needed Pepcid or Tagamet to get through the day.
A friend of mine introduced me to AcnEase relating he had success using the product for his teenage son and daughters acne. I was skeptical at first since I am a Registered Nurse and not familiar with TCM’s. My condition was deteriorating and I finally decided to try AcnEase. It was the best decision I ever made. Within 3 days my stomach problems had improved no more need for Pepcid, and within a week I no longer needed antacids. My facial flushing was reduced and I have no signs of telangiectasis. Within 1 month my condition was markedly improved and now I only take a small maintenance dose to keep my Rosacea under control. If I start to experience GI problems I simply up the dose. I have had no side effects at all with this wonderful drug and I would recommend it anyone with Rosacea especially if they have stomach related problems.
KG; MA
Male Age: 46 Mild Rosacea Daily GI Discomfort
I was not taking any medication for my Rosacea at the time. I was taking Prilosec for my constant gastric reflux and heartburn. My condition was deteriorating from the standpoint that the selection of foods I could eat without experiencing significant GI problems was rapidly approaching zero. I heard about AcnEase from a doctor in Maryland that had good experience with the product with one of his patients. When I first started taking AcnEase I used the minimal dose that was effective for treating Acne (6 tablets/day). I noticed some improvement but did not take the drug religiously. After speaking with my friend I increased the dose to 8 tablets/day and within 2 weeks my condition had improved significantly, and within 1 month I was eating most of the food I experienced problems with before starting AcnEase. I have experienced no side effects with AcnEase. My Rosacea has not flared-up while taking the product, but my real satisfaction is derived from the remarkable GI improvement I have experienced.
FD; NJ