Skin Rosacea, Ocular Rosacea and Dry Eye

 Rosacea is a skin condition affecting women more often, especially those with fair complexion. It is often referred to as couperose.ocular rosacea

Ocular Rosacea

In addition to skin symptoms, rosacea can also affect the eyes and eyelids. It can cause redness to the skin around the eye and also a burning, tingling, dryness, light sensitivity, blurred vision and watery eyes and bloodshot.

Approximately 50% of people with facial rosacea will develop an ocular rosacea. Eye rosacea can lead to malfunctioning of the meibomian glands and thus induce evaporative eye dryness. Only people with this condition can know how unpleasant it is and what impact this can have on a person’s quality of life.

In addition, some people may have ocular rosacea without necessarily having a dermatologic rosacea. For this reason, I always invite you to consult your ophthalmologist in case of eye discomfort.

Here are the main symptoms of ocular rosacea:

  • Sensation of a foreign body in the eyes.
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Itchy eyes
  • Eye redness
  • Watery eyes
  • Eyelids swollen and red
  • Irregularity at the edge of the eyelids
  • Meibomian glands dysfunction (evaporative dry eyes)

As with dermatological rosacea, the causes of ocular rosacea are not yet well known. However, according to some studies, it seems that in addition to seborrhea or dandruff, the Demodex parasite has a role to play in this disease.

In addition to the treatments prescribed by your doctor (Tetracyclines or doxycycline, steroid-based drops and ointments, metronidazole cream, etc.) which I will not discuss in this article, home treatment is essentially the same as blepharitis. That is to say the use of hot compresses, the massage of the eyelids and an irreproachable hygiene of the eyelids. The use of artificial tears without preservative can also provide temporary relief from the unpleasant symptoms of dry eye.

Rosacea mainly affects the face

It is characterized by a sensitivity of the skin and the appearance of diffuse or localized redness on the cheeks, the nose, the forehead and the chin. Possibly, there are also small dilated vessels (telangiectasia). Over time, skin changes can become permanent.

First signs of rosacea

  • Rashes are intermittent on the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin.
  • If no care is taken, the redness persists (resembles a sunburn).
  • Pimples begin to appear, sometimes in the form of papules (small red and hard bumps). The absence of blackheads and a burning sensation or a tingling differentiate rosacea from acne.
  • Telangiectasias may appear.

Secondary signs and symptoms include irritation or tingling of the eyes, burning or tingling of the skin, and dryness and thickening of the epidermis.

Appropriate care and early treatment may prevent the progression of the disease and the formation of telangiectasias.

Skin care

Some tips to take care of your skin in presence of rosacea:

  1. Wash your face once or twice a day with a gentle cleanser and rinse with warm water (never hot).
  2. Be sure to moisturize your face morning and night with a moisturizer formulated for sensitive skin.
  3. Choose your cosmetics carefully. There are creams and makeup products that have the advantage of having a green pigment that camouflages redness. Bet on the quality of products and avoid those that are irritating.
  4. Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 (ideally 30 or more) before each sun exposure in any season.

Changing lifestyle in the presence of rosacea

Various factors can trigger more intense redness. These factors vary from person to person. In some cases, temperature, emotions and certain foods will be involved. In addition, lifestyle can influence the progression of rosacea. By changing certain habits, you can avoid redness and slow the progression of the disease:

  • Quit smoking.
  • Avoid tanning salons.
  • Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures. Avoid hot baths or showers and saunas.
  • Protect your cheeks and nose during the cold season (with a scarf for example).
  • Avoid spicy spices like pepper, paprika, red pepper and cayenne.
  • Reduce the temperature of the drinks you consume.
  • Use moderation when taking alcohol.
  • Avoid stress.

I’ve come across this forum of “The Rosacea Forum” where one person explains how the Ocusoft Lid Scrub PLUS product helped him in his fight against the dryness and ocular discomfort caused by Rosacea. Note that the composition of the Ocusoft Lid Scrub PLUS Cleaner is different from the original formula. Unlike the original version, the PLUS version should not be rinsed after application.

You can go directly to this forum by clicking on the following link:

http://www.rosaceagroup.org/The_Rosacea_Forum/showthread.php?29172-After-7-months-of-agony-I-found-relief-from-blepharitis-rosacea!