News About Rosacea

Are you over the age of 30 and regularly suffer with bumps on your skin (often on either side of your nose)? Then there is a big chance that you have Rosacea. And you aren’t the only one as almost 1 in 5 white women suffer from this! You can find out about other symptoms of Rosacea by reading my blog “Do You Suffer from Rosacea?”. For a long time the cause of Rosacea has not been clear. The results of a recent Irish study, however, show that a bacteria (Bacillis Oleronius) from the Demodex mite (which likes living on our skin), is most likely to be the culprit. These small mites live around the hair follicles. The mites are present on all skin and multiply when the skin is damaged ( for example through exposure to sun) and through ageing. Although we already knew that more Demodex mites “live” on the skin of Rosacea sufferers, no causal link could be made until now.

The Irish researchers succeeded. They managed to isolate the bacteria from the Demodox mite and discovered that when a mite dies, the bacteria from (brace yourself) the intestines of the mite is left behind on the skin. These bacteria, in turn, produce molecules which can cause an immune response in people with rosacea. This results in inflammation of the skin and the capillaries (thread veins). Fortunately the researchers also found that the bacteriium concerned is sensitive to certain antibiotics; It also explains why metronidazole, in the cream form, or doxycycline (tablets) work well against rosacea. This finding is a significant step in the right direction; now efforts can be better focused towards a solution for rosacea. Not before time!

Regards Jetske

(Dr. Jetske Ultee-Research Physician Cosmetic Dermatology)

You can also read:
‘Do You Suffer from Rosacea’,
‘The Treatment of Rosacea’,
‘Burning Skin Sensation‘and
‘Ingredients to Avoid’.