How do I manage Rosacea triggers and skincare 38?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 38 years old and have been dealing with persistent redness on my cheeks and nose for the past two years, along with small bumps that look like acne but do not respond to typical acne treatments. The redness worsens significantly when I drink wine, eat spicy food, or become stressed at work, and I have noticed broken blood vessels appearing on my nose.

My dermatologist mentioned rosacea and prescribed Metronidazole gel, but I am not seeing much improvement after six weeks. My concerns are:

Are there other treatments available?
Will this condition get progressively worse over time?
Should I avoid certain skincare ingredients or activities?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I read your query and understand your concern.

All these treatments take time. Metronidazole is a common first-line treatment, but it primarily targets the inflammatory bumps and pustules. If your primary concern is persistent redness of the face and visible blood vessels, it may not be the most effective agent alone. Six weeks is a fair trial, and this is the perfect time to follow up with your dermatologist to discuss next steps. This does not mean treatment has failed; it means we need to adjust the strategy.

For redness, Ivermectin cream is now a cornerstone of treatment for the papulopustular (bumpy) type of rosacea. It excellently reduces both inflammation and the microscopic mites thought to play a role in rosacea flares. Many patients see significant improvement with this.

This type of redness does not typically respond completely to topical creams.

The gold standard treatment is laser or intense pulsed light therapy. These devices are uniquely designed to target and eliminate the visible blood vessels that cause the chronic redness. This is a highly effective approach that can provide results that creams cannot achieve.

I hope this helps.

Thank you