Rosacea Review

Summer 1996

• FEATURE: Doctors Unmask Rosacea Impostors to Formulate Appropriate Therapy
• FEATURE: Survey Shows Rosacea Symptoms Often Differ in Men and Women
• FEATURE: Dry Skin Found Common among Rosacea Sufferers
• FEATURE: Rhinophyma: Rosacea at its Worst Can Be Treated
• SUCCESS STORY: Model Triumphs Over Rosacea Career Threat
• Q & A: Answers to Readers' Questions
• TIPS: Helpful Hints

Dry Skin Found Common among Rosacea Sufferers

In addition to the visible symptoms of rosacea, many sufferers report yet another problem -- dry skin, which often results in itching, burning and stinging sensations.

A recent multicenter clinical trial of 128 rosacea patients found that 58 percent experienced dry skin, making it potentially more difficult to treat because of the irritation and sensitivity. However, study results showed that the number of patients reporting dry skin was dramatically reduced after 12 weeks of therapy with a moisturizing cream. Just 22 percent of the patients experienced dryness after 12 weeks, and only 3 percent reported stinging, burning or itching.

Rosacea usually appears after age 30, when skin tends to become drier and more easily irritated. Water-based moisturizers and non-drying medications or other skin products are good choices for rosacea sufferers with dry skin.