Many patients with rosacea are able to control their symptoms by making lifestyle changes such as identifying and avoiding their triggers, using gentler skincare products, and wearing sunscreen daily. However, if these changes do not significantly reduce your flare-ups, you should not give up. You should instead visit your dermatologist, tell them that you're still suffering, and ask what other treatments they recommend. Here are three top treatments that dermatologists often recommend for their patients with stubborn rosacea symptoms.
Oxymetazoline
Prescription creams containing the active ingredient oxymetazoline are effective for many patients with rosacea. These creams primarily work by narrowing the small blood vessels beneath the skin, which helps ease the redness that is the hallmark symptom of rosacea. Oxymetazoline is usually applied once a day after you wash your face. Most patients react well to it, but side effects can include dry skin and an increasing number of blemishes, so you should keep a close eye on your skin while using the cream and let your dermatologist know if you develop any these side effects.
Ivermectin
Recently, doctors have begun to find that many, and perhaps all, cases of rosacea are caused or made worse by tiny, tiny mites that live on the skin. As such, applying a medication called ivermectin, which is known to kill the mites, can help treat stubborn cases of rosacea. You won't use this medication long-term. Most patients are given a couple of doses and told to apply the cream daily until it is gone. You will need to be careful to wash your hands afterwards and avoid accidentally ingesting the cream. Side effects tend to be pretty minor; the most common ones are dry skin, itching, and redness.
Laser Therapy
If you prefer to avoid medications, or if medications have not worked well for you, then your dermatologist may recommend laser therapy to treat your rosacea. There are two different kinds of lasers that can be used. A lower-powered, pulsed dye laser can be used to penetrate the skin and correctly treat the blood vessels, which should help ease the redness. A higher-powered, CO2 laser can be used to treat the puffy, inflamed areas where you have scar tissue from previous rosacea breakouts.
If you have a stubborn case of rosacea and lifestyle remedies alone are not changing things, reach out to your dermatologist and ask about the treatments above. They can guide you towards the best option for your skin.
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