Dr. Alai is an actively practicing medical and surgical dermatologist in south Orange County, California. She has been a professor of dermatology and family medicine at the University of California, Irvine since 2000. She is U.S. board-certified in dermatology, a 10-year-certified fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and Fellow of the American Society of Mohs Surgery.
Dr. Cole is board certified in dermatology. He obtained his BA degree in bacteriology, his MA degree in microbiology, and his MD at the University of California, Los Angeles. He trained in dermatology at the University of Oregon, where he completed his residency.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
"I am 55. My rosacea appeared at 35. My dermatologist had me try several topical treatments to no avail. Tetracycline was the only treatment that provided relief. At 50, I was working away from home for an extended period, and my prescription expired. The rosacea did not flare-up within a week, which it had done in the past. No serious flare-ups have occurred since. My dermatologist had explained at the outset that rosacea mostly affects men between the ages of 30 to 50. Hopefully, I have outgrown rosacea."
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Rosacea facts
Rosacea is a common, chronic, incurable, adult
acne-like skin condition.
Rosacea has periodic ups and downs (flares and remissions).
Rosacea symptoms tend to come and go.
Rosacea is easily controllable and medically manageable.
Rosacea may begin with easy facial blushing or flushing.
Rosacea commonly affects the central third of the face, especially the nose.
Rosacea causes tiny red pimples and fine red lines on the facial skin.
Rosacea may be mistaken for rosy cheeks,
sunburn, or quite often, acne.
Rosacea triggers include alcohol, hot or spicy foods, emotional stress, and heat.
Rosacea can be a very bothersome and embarrassing condition.
Untreated rosacea tends to worsen over the time and be a progressive disease.
Rosacea untreated can cause a bulbous red nose (like W.C.
Fields).
Prompt recognition and proper treatment permit people
with rosacea to enjoy life.
What is rosacea? Is rosacea contagious?
Rosacea (roz-ay-sha) is a very common red, acne-like benign skin condition
that affects many people worldwide. As of 2010, rosacea is estimated to affect
at least 16 million people in the United States alone and approximately 45
million worldwide. Most people with rosacea are Caucasian and have fair skin.
The main symptoms of rosacea include red or pink patches, visible tiny broken
blood vessels, small red bumps, sometimes containing pus, red cysts, and
pink or irritated eyes. Most
people with the disease may not even know they have rosacea or that it is a
diagnosable and treatable condition. Many people who have rosacea may just
assume they blush or flush easily or are just very sun sensitive.
Rosacea is considered a chronic (long-term), noncurable skin condition with
periodic ups and downs. As opposed to traditional or teenage acne, most adult
patients do not "outgrow" rosacea. Rosacea characteristically involves the
central region of the face, causing persistent redness or transient flushing
over the areas of the face and nose that normally blush -- mainly the forehead,
the chin, and the lower half of the nose. It is most commonly seen in people with
light skin and particularly in those of English, Irish, and Scottish
backgrounds. Some famous people with rosacea include the former U.S. President Bill
Clinton and W.C. Fields. Rosacea is not directly related to alcohol intake.
Rosacea is not considered contagious or infectious. There is no evidence that rosacea can be spread by contact with the skin, sharing towels, or through inhalation.
What does rosacea look like?
The redness in rosacea, often aggravated by flushing, may cause small blood vessels in the face to enlarge (dilate) and become more visible through the skin, appearing like tiny red lines (called telangiectasias). Continual or repeated episodes of flushing and blushing may promote inflammation, causing small red bumps that often resemble teenage acne. In fact, rosacea can frequently be mistaken for common acne. Rosacea is also referred to as acne rosacea.
The word "rash" means an outbreak of red bumps on the body. The way people use this term, "a rash" can refer to many different skin conditions. The most common of these are scaly patches of skin and red, itchy bumps or patches all over the place.
Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a general term for many types of skin inflammation. The most common form of eczema is atopic dermatitis. The other forms of eczema include: contact eczema, seborrheic eczema, Nummular eczema, Neurodermatitis, stasis dermatitis, and dyshidrotic eczema. Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of eczema may vary from person to person and may depend on the type of eczema.
Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical symptoms. Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 19 million American adults.
Acne is a localized skin inflammation as a result of overactivity of oil glands at the
base of hair follicles. This inflammation, depending on its location, can take the form
of a superficial pustule (contains pus), a pimple, a deeper cyst, congested pores, whiteheads, or blackheads. Treatments vary depending on the severity of the acne.
Cysts are saclike structures that can occur throughout the body and usually contain a semisolid, liquid, or gaseous substance. Infections, tumors, genetic conditions, chronic inflammatory conditions, and wear and tear can cause cysts. Though some cysts may be palpable, others may not produce any symptoms. Treatment depends upon the location and cause of the cyst.
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop, also called the “change of life." Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and emotional symptoms such as mood swings. Treatment of menopausal symptoms varies, and should be discussed with your physician.
Stress occurs when forces from the outside world impinge on the individual. Stress is a normal part of life. However, over-stress, can be harmful. There is now speculation, as well as some evidence, that points to the abnormal stress responses as being involved in causing various diseases or conditions.
Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that causes chronic inflammation (gastritis) of the inner lining of the stomach in humans. This bacteria also is the most common cause of ulcers worldwide.
Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common skin disorder in which small white or red bumps appear around hair follicles on the upper arms, thighs, buttocks, and cheeks. The cause of KP is unknown. There is no cure for keratosis pilaris, and the condition may resolve on its own. Gentle exfoliation, professional manual extraction, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion, along with topical products, are the best treatments for this condition.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. Acne rosacea, Staphylococcal bacteria, allergies, sensitivities to makeup or contact lens solutions, head lice, or other conditions may cause blepharitis. Symptoms and signs include itchy eyelids, burning sensation in the eyes, crusting of the eyelids, light sensitivity, red, swollen eyelids, loss of eyelashes, and dandruff of the lashes and eyebrows. Proper eyelid hygiene and a regular cleaning routine controls blepharitis.
Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of disease. Regular exercise can also reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety. There are fitness programs that fit any age or lifestyle.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is
a bacterium
that causes chronic inflammation of
the inner lining of the
stomach (gastritis) in humans. This bacterium also is the most
common cause of ulcers worldwide. H. pylori infection is most likely acquired by
ingesting contaminated food and water and through person to person contact. In
the United States, 30% of the adult population is infected. (50% of infected
persons are infected by the age of 60.) The infection is more common in crowded living conditions with poor
sanitation. In countries with poor sanitation, 90% of the adult population
can be infected. Infected individuals usually carry the infection
indefinitely unless they are treated with medications to eradicate the
bacterium. One out of every six patients with H. pylori infection will
develop ulcers of the duodenum or stomach. H. pylori also
is associated with stomach cancer and a rare type of lymphocytic tu...
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