In an article published in Women’s Health, experts detail how rosacea presents in Black and Asian patients and offer treatment options. The experts explained that while rosacea may be less common in patients with darker skin tones, the condition is not rare and can adversely impact an individual’s quality of life. Although early diagnosis and treatment can be effective at managing rosacea, as a result of differing symptoms and physical characteristics of the disease in Black and Asian patients, it may be more complicated to identify and is more frequently misdiagnosed. Patients with darker skin tones may have several different manifestations of the disease—including pimples, pustules, hypersensitive skin, warmth rising from the cheeks, and redness observed under adequate lighting. To reduce the risk of experiencing a rosacea flare-up, patients were advised to limit their intake of alcohol and spicy foods, decrease their stress levels by practicing relaxation techniques, lower their exposure to heat and the sun, apply sunscreen when indoors and especially before going outdoors, and use moisturizers and fragrance-free cleansers with emollients to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and reduce inflammation. The experts recommended that patients with rosacea consult their physicians who can communicate the most effective individualized treatment plans and who may prescribe antibiotics and retinoids or refer the patients to dermatologists in more severe cases.
April 30, 2023