Rosacea

If you suffer from rosacea, you're not alone--an estimated 16 million Americans suffer from the condition, which leaves their skin red and inflamed and, less commonly affects the eyes and enlarges facial features. For help in minimizing your rosacea symptoms, schedule a visit with our team at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia. Call the nearest Richmond-area office today, or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a chronic condition that has several different presentations and varying degrees of severity with frequent overlap. Common presentations include significant background redness, an increase in visible blood vessels on the face, and/or small, red, sometimes pus-filled bumps. Less common features are enlargement of the nose, chin or forehead, or involvement of the eyes. Rosacea tends to wax and wane, with flare-ups that can last for weeks or months at a time.

There is no known cure yet for rosacea, but the team at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center offers a variety of treatments to help minimize its symptoms and decrease flares.

What are the symptoms of rosacea?

There are four different types of rosacea, each of which has slightly different symptoms:

Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea (ETR)

ETR causes flushing, redness, and swelling in the center of your face. Your blood vessels might be visibly broken, and your skin might feel especially sensitive, dry, or rough.

Papulopustular (acne) Rosacea

Acne rosacea most typically affects middle-aged women and is characterized by acne-like breakouts of inflammatory bumps and pustules. It leaves the skin oily and sensitive, and your blood vessels might be visibly broken.

Rhinophyma

Rhinophyma causes the skin on your nose to become thicker and bumpy, though it can also occur on your chin, ears, cheeks, and forehead. It can occur in the setting of the previous types of rosacea with redness and visibly broken blood vessels. It's seen more often in men.

Ocular Rosacea

Ocular rosacea affects your eyes, leaving them:

  • Sensitive to light
  • Dry and itchy
  • Bloodshot and watery
  • Feeling gritty, burning, or stinging

Ocular rosacea can also cause impaired vision and should be managed in conjunction with an ophthalmologist.

What causes rosacea?

The exact cause of rosacea is unclear, though some researchers believe that a combination of environmental and hereditary factors lead to the condition. It's more common in people between the ages of 30 and 50 and happens more often in people with fair skin, light hair, and light eyes.

Some factors also cause or aggravate rosacea flare-ups, such as:

  • UV exposure
  • Drinking hot coffee or tea
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Eating spicy foods
  • H. pylori (a bacteria that can be found in the GI tract)
  • Eating foods with cinnamaldehyde, like citrus, tomatoes, chocolate, and cinnamon
  • Demodex (a skin mite)

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule a visit with Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center immediately to discuss your treatment options.

How do you treat rosacea?

While there is no known cure for rosacea, there are easy ways for you to mitigate your symptoms, such as wearing sunscreen, avoiding abrasive agents and products with alcohol, menthol, and witch hazel. You might also want to keep a journal to track the foods and cosmetic products to determine what makes your symptoms worse.

Sometimes, prescription medications are needed in conjunction with these lifestyle changes to control rosacea and improve your quality of life. The team at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center is knowledgeable of the variety of oral and topical treatments available including antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. They might also suggest laser and light treatments for specific concerns.

To find relief from your rosacea, schedule your visit today by calling the nearest office or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

How can we help

Services

Service Offered: Skin Cancer
Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and can be dangerous if it's left untreated. Routine skin cancer screenings with one of our expert team members at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center located in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia, ensure early detection and treatment to prevent complications. Call our office or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Mohs Surgery
Mohs Surgery

Mohs surgery is a very safe and effective outpatient surgical procedure for removing certain types of skin cancer. This technique focuses on the complete removal of the skin cancer with a cure rate as high as 98-99% depending on the cancer type, size, and location. Our Mohs surgeons, William Gillen and Shields Callahan, MD at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center are fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons located in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia. Using a microscope to examine the margins, they can be very precise in determining when the cancer has been removed, thus preserving normal surrounding tissues and allowing the smallest possible surgical wound.

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Service Offered: Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is a common skin cancer typically on sun-exposed skin that can arise from the pre-cancers, actinic keratoses. Seeking treatment early for any unusual, painful, or non-healing site can prevent serious complications associated with skin cancer. At Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia, William Gillen, MD, Patricia O’Connor, MD, and their team diagnose and treat squamous cell carcinoma by removing skin lesions with surgical techniques, including Mohs surgery, or other more conservative procedures, if appropriate. Call the nearest Richmond-area office today, or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. At Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia, William Gillen, MD, and Patricia O’Connor, MD, offer treatment for this type of cancer that usually appears as a bump or pinkish patch of skin. If you suspect you have basal cell carcinoma or any form of skin cancer, contact the office right away to set up an appointment. Call either Richmond-area office to speak with a team member or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Melanoma
Melanoma

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that kills thousands of people each year. William Gillen, MD, Patricia O'Connor, MD, and the team of professionals at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia, are committed to finding and diagnosing melanoma at its earliest stages which is crucial for treatment. In these early stages, treatment can be done in our office. When necessary, our skilled providers are experienced in developing interdisciplinary treatment plans. Above all, they are dedicated to educating their patients on skin cancer prevention. Schedule your skin cancer screening today by calling the nearest Richmond-area office or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Skin Disorders
Skin Disorders

Skin disorders can look unsightly, be embarrassing, or in some cases, indicate skin cancer. At Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia, William Gillen, MD, Patricia O’Connor, MD, and their experienced team treat lumps, bumps, and rashes in patients of all ages. Call either Richmond-area office to schedule an appointment or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Injectables
Injectables

If you want to rejuvenate your appearance by minimizing facial wrinkles and fine lines, then injectables may be right for you. Patricia O'Connor, MD, and Eliza Hester PA-C at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center provide high-quality injectables and customized plans for their patients in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia. Schedule an injectables consultation today by calling either Richmond-area office, or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Psoriasis
Psoriasis

Roughly 7.4 million people in the United States are bothered by psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune condition that affects the skin, joints, and less commonly the cardiovascular system. If you have psoriasis, schedule a visit with a member of our general dermatology team at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia. A group of well-versed providers in the variety of treatment options available for psoriasis and will develop a plan to help you find relief from your condition. Booking an appointment is easy. Simply call the nearest Richmond-area office or send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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Service Offered: Eczema
Eczema

Eczema is a skin condition that causes reddened and scaling skin and uncomfortable itching. Occasionally, this broken skin can become infected leading to pain and oozing. Our team at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Glen Allen and Chesterfield, Virginia, can help you manage eczematous conditions so you can live as normal and healthy of a life as possible and prevent the flares and infections associated with a broken skin barrier. Call either of the Richmond-area offices today to schedule your appointment and get relief from symptoms or, send us a message to book an appointment on our contact page.

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