Doctor Visit for Rosacea Patient

In my last post we talked about the different types of treatments for Rosacea.  I mentioned that Rosacea does not have a cure but treatments are available to help keep the effects of Rosacea under control.  For this post, we will talk about what to tell one's doctor when going in for treatment.  But first, let's talk about when one should go see a doctor for Rosacea treatment.

Here are all the signs and symptoms of Rosacea:

• Mild or severe redness on the nose, cheeks, forehead, or chin
• The redness in face persists over time and becomes even more red
• Small blood vessels on the face
• Pimples or bumps on the face that may resemble acne
• Eyes that are watery
• Irritation in the eyes
• Burning or stinging eyes

If any or these signs and symptoms appear, one is encouraged to see a dermatologist. The faster the patient gets in for treatment, the better Rosacea can be kept under control and show less symptoms (National Rosacea Society, 2015). 

Before going to the doctor, one should keep track of the signs and symptoms of Rosacea that they are experiencing.  For patients that experience flushing, keep track of when and how the flushing occurs. Keep track of any eye problems one may have.  Eye problems can consist of watery or bloodshot eyes, irritation, burning, or stinging in the eyes.  Things that one should also mention to one's doctor would be long amounts of exposure to the sun and any facial pains such as stinging, burning, tightening, or swelling.  Also, one should tell their doctor the impact that these symptoms have had on their life.   

When one goes in for their appointment, their doctor is going to want to know the start of the symptoms and how long the patient has been experiencing the symptoms.  He or she will want to know if the symptoms are occasional or continuous, any improvement, and what may seem to worsen the symptoms.  All of these things are good to keep track of before making the appointment to see a doctor.

All in all, if one experiences the signs and symptoms of Rosacea, even if they are not too serious, one should go in to see a doctor.  It does not hurt to be sent home having no issues.  It does hurt, however, to have issues and allow them to persist or worsen over time without treatment.  One should be mindful of the effects it has on one's body and share these things with one's doctor (Mayo clinic staff, 2013).

Here is a great video that breaks down Rosacea and the harms of not seeing a doctor for treatment:

Dr. Dorris on Rosacea 

(Video taken from https://youtu.be/OciJeNX1dkM)

References:

Mayo clinic staff.  (2013, Aug 17).  Preparing for Your Appointment.  Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rosacea/basics/preparing-for-your-appointment/con-20014478.

National Rosacea Society.  (2015).  When to See a Doctor.  Retrieved from http://www.rosacea.org/patients/whentoseeadoctor.