Individuals suspecting that they have rosacea will need to be evaluated by a physician in order to have the diagnosis needed to decide on a treatment plan.

Treatment starts with identifying the triggers so that they can be avoided. Common triggers for those with rosacea are extreme weather changes, wind, hot drinks of tea or coffee, caffeinated drinks, strenuous exercise, spicy food, consuming alcohol, becoming emotional. Some topical products can irritate rosacea.

Individuals with rosacea are usually told to avoid using astringents, toners, products that contain menthols or camphor. It is advised to avoid waterproof cosmetics that require solvents in order to remove them from your face. It is important to look at labeling and to avoid any product that contains sodium lauryl sulfate.

One treatment that has been effective for rosacea has been nonablative laser. Laser treatments can remodel connective tissue and improve epidermal barrier. The cost can be a disadvantage and in most cases is not covered by insurance. Laser treatments usually require 1 to 3 treatments that are spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart. This regimen usually gives the best result.

The usual course of treatment is to treat symptoms with various methods until one works to reduce or relieve the symptoms. Treatment may include the following: artificial tears, lid hygiene, topical and oral anti-inflammatory medications and surgical intervention if other methods do not work.

Lid hygiene involves hot compresses that are applied to the affected eyelid to help liquefy thick gland secretions. diluted baby shampoo can be used to cleanse the eyelid or commercially prepared eyelid cleanses. The individual can also apply light pressure to the eyelids to express fluid.
Females should speak with their doctor is hot flashes associated with menopause may be a trigger so that options can be explored to assist with those.

Certain moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens and other topical products may also be recommended by your doctor to use on your face.

Anti-inflammatory topical antibiotics may be prescribed such as Metrocream, Metrogel, or Noritate.

To reduce redness and the swelling associated with rosacea, Azelex or Finacea may be prescribed.

Faster relief may be realized when oral antibiotics are used in conjunction with the topical treatment to hasten the recovery. After the initial treatment period the doctor may prescribe topical antibiotic medication to be used long-term such as doxycycline, erythromycin, minocycline or tetracycline.

If you have Ocular rosacea (eyelid) you will most likely be treated with oral antibiotics.

The length of treatment will depend on the type and severity of the symptoms you present with. The typical duration of treatment is approximately 1 to 2 months. To prevent reassurance of symptoms long-term medication treatment is generally recommended.

An important part of the treatment is what you do for yourself at home; it is called "self-care". Self-care are all of the measure you do to control rosacea including minimizing the triggers that cause your rosacea to appear.

Self-care measures:

Sunscreen worn faithfully of an SPF of 15 or higher

Wear a scarf or ski mask during the winter to protect your face from extreme cold

Avoid touching your facial skin which could cause irritation

Avoid any facial product that contains alcohol or other irritants

Apply facial moisturizer only after your topical medication has dried

Avoid overheating

Green or Yellow-tinted prefoundation creams and powders are designed to counter skin redness so apply before putting on makeup

Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages

Acupuncture is an interesting way to treat many different type of medical conditions. It has been used for thousands of years and many people believe that acupuncture is the only way to treat everything from menstrual cramps to back pain. In fact, there are people who advocate acupuncture as a viable treatment for rosacea. Does it work? Here is a closer look at acupuncture and its use for treating rosacea.

What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture has literally been around for ages. The ancient Chinese used acupuncture as a means to treat just about any ailment. It is believed that inserting the very small and thin needles into the body helps adjust the blood flow and thus results in healing. Acupuncture involves inserting and moving the needles into certain points on the body. It is said that this can then restore the feelings of well-being and health and can help fight disease. Not all acupuncture techniques are the same. Practitioners from Tibet, Korea, Japan and China all have different ways of practicing acupuncture. Whether or not it works is often a matter of opinion.

How does acupuncture work for rosacea?
Many acupuncture practioners believe that the right kind of acupuncture can help ease the symptoms of rosacea. It is said to help open the channels of the face, which will then ease the rosacea symptoms. Some practioners looking to ease the symptoms associated with this skin disease report using the heat method, where the needles are heated in a fire and directly inserted and then pulled out of the skin at once. According to some acunpucture practioners, this method does seem to alleviate mild forms of rosacea.

Finding an acupunture practitioner for rosacea:
If you suffer from rosacea and are interested in trying acupuncture, you can find someone in your area willing to treat your condition. Look for a practitioner that is certified in his or her field and will be willing to talk to you about your medical concerns. Most states have requirements for acupunture practitioners and you should make sure you find one that has the correct training and creditials. Also, you might want to talk to others that have used this person to get opinions. Word of mouth is always a great way to find someone who can help you. In addition, many people choose to go to a regular doctor before getting acupuncture. This is always a good idea because practitioners in the field of acupuncture are not doctors and while they can help you treat a condition, if you have underlying health problems, then this method may not be right for you.

Rosacea is a very common skin condition that is easily identified. If you have a mild form of this disease, you may very well find relief by using acupunture, especially if you have tried other treatment options with very little success. If you are open minded to natural and alternative healing options, then get online and find an acupunture practitioner near you. You may find the relief you are looking for.

Rosacea is a troublesome skin condition for many people. It is visible on the face, making it even more frustrating for the sufferer. There are varying degrees of rosacea, too. Some people have much worse conditions than others. In fact, researchers and doctors who deal with rosacea patients on a regular basis have come up with a grading system. This grading system gives patients and doctors a method for accurately describing and treating rosacea. This accepted grading system also allows for standard in which rosacea is assessed from doctor to doctor.

When a patient comes in to be assessed for rosacea, it is very common for health care providers to use a standard “score card” to assess the situation. They will look for signs and symptoms to make an accurate diagnosis. The grading of the symptoms and signs will include descriptions such as absent, mild, moderate and severe (or on a scale from zero to three, zero meaning absent of a certain symptom and three meaning the most severe). Doctors will look for flushing, dry appearance, and the presence of rosacea in the eyes, and burning and stinging.

Looking at Primary Features:
The first thing a doctor will look for when diagnosing rosacea are primary features, which include flushing of the face, a dry appearance (also called nontransient erythema) and pustules or papules. The doctor will rate each feature on the scale of 0 to 3 and will also ask the patient about the intensity and the frequency of the breakouts. He or she may also identify whether or not the flushing occurs during certain times. The severity of the pustules will also make a difference in the diagnosis.

A Look at Secondary Features:
Next, the doctor will look at secondary features. These are symptoms that not all patients with rosacea with have all the time. These include burning or stinging, plaque (or large spots of inflammation), dry appearance on the face, edema (swelling), manifestations of the rosacea in the eye (also called ocular manifestation), peripheral locations (such as spots on the neck, chest, ears or scalp) and changes in the shape and appearance of the nose. All of these symptoms are of interest to your doctor because it will give him or her a chance to understand your condition and how best to treat it.

After these assessments are made, the doctor will take a look at the different areas on the face and rate the severity. For example, some people may have problems on their cheeks and forehead and have no signs on their nose or eyes. Other may have severe problems in their eyes and other may experience disfigurement on the nose, which will require a more aggressive treatment. Some may have all of the above outbreaks at the same time.

Have a standard grading system for rosacea is very important to the doctor and patient both. This ensures that the doctor can give an accurate diagnosis of the condition and the patient can receive the right type of treatment.

Rosacea, a common skin disease, can be a devastating condition for many people. This condition affects about one-third of the face and leaves the sufferer with a red, acne-like rash on the forehead, cheeks and nose. It can leave a person feeling frustrated with treatment options, the recurrence rate and feeling embarrassed and self conscious. The good news is that there are treatments for rosacea and while the condition never really goes away completely, there are things you can do to help. Here is a closer look at rosacea.

What exactly is rosacea?
Rosacea is a common skin condition that affects more middle-aged adults than anyone else. It most commonly strikes people who are fair skinned and is more frequent in women than men. Men who do suffer from this problem find that their cases are often more severe than women. When rosacea strikes, it affects primarily the face. You can often see redness on the forehead, the nose and the chin. Often, the cheeks are also affected and can look similar to sunburn or an acne break out. During a breakout of rosacea, the tiny blood vessels in the face dilate and they become more visible on the face.

The exact causes of rosacea are unknown, but it is known that more middle-aged women than anyone else are affected. Those who blush easily are also affected by this condition. It is thought that certain triggers can cause rosacea. These triggers vary, but it is believed that emotions play a large role—stress, fear and even anxiety can trigger a rosacea episode. In addition, some doctors and researchers believe that mites that are often find the hair follicle may also relate to rosacea. Stomach bacteria may also be a cause, although there are no proven facts that support these claims.

When a person first experiences rosacea, they may mistake it for an acne break out. This is because the redness looks much like acne. This will lead people to treat it like acne, but this can actually exacerbate the problem. After the first breakout of rosacea, it is very common for the condition to appear for a time and then disappear for sometime. Many people will notice that their skin never really looks the same again and the color may be “off” or pimples could actually follow the rosacea. In fact, rosacea never really goes away. It can get better, but it will always be present and if it is left untreated, the patient will find that their condition worsens. That is why a good diagnosis is important.

Once you have been diagnosed with rosacea, you might want to consult a dermatologist for a treatment. You have many treatment options depending on the severity of your case. Your doctor will help you find the one that is right for you. Most of the time, a topical solution is given. A good moisturizer and lotions may help lessen the redness and irritation. A certain diet may also help during the worst breakouts.

As we age is it expected that we pick up from time to time some events or situations that make us sad or give us grief. Those who are 65 or older (referred to as "elderly") have more stored up events or situations that have caused them grief and sadness than those of us who are considered young.

Sadness and grief are temporary emotions stemming from single situations or events that cause these emotions. To experience these emotions are normal for any age group. The age factor means that the elderly have had more opportunity to experience them.

According to dictionary.com clinical depression is defined as, "a depression that is so severe as to be considered abnormal due to obvious environmental causes or based on the reaction to a life event or circumstance that is of a greater intensity than is typically expected.

Major depression is described as a serious medical illness unlike normal emotional sadness or grief. Major depression is a persistent state of mind. According to nami.org major depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and in many of the developed countries globally.

There are several factors that can be used by medical personnel and elderly caregivers to determine if the elderly person is experiencing something other than a normal emotional response. One factor that is used to distinguish between normal sadness or grief and depression (major or clinical) in the elderly is that of time. How long has the individual been experiencing symptoms of depression? Another factor would be if the individual can point to a specific event or situation that has triggered the symptoms of depression or are the feelings of grief and sadness general and not specific to anything or to a specific loss?

If the elderly person has been depressed for a longer time than expected given the situation or is responding to the event and in a way that is harmful to their life or ability to function; than it is time to consider that what they are experiencing is not normal and should be investigated by a medical professional for a diagnosis and treatment.

Most caregivers and clinicians tend to expect that depression is a normal part of growing elderly. It is not normal to be depressed to the point of wanting to end life, or being so intense of an experience as to not be able to function in daily life.

Symptoms that should trigger concern when caregivers or medical professionals are trying to distinguish between normal sadness or grief and depression are: a mood that is irritable or depressed, feelings or expressions of worthlessness or sadness, prolonged agitation, a change in weight either a loss or gain that is unintentional, trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, an extreme fatigue, aches and pains not associated with an illness or condition, and also abnormal thoughts of death or actions or plans regarding suicide.

Determining whether or not what the elderly individual is experiencing is depression requires a professional medical evaluation.

Depression is a disease that affects and occurs in the person's brain. Studies have shown that effective treatment for depression changes the brain. Despite the knowledge we have gained from depression studies many caregivers and medical professionals are still of the opinion that depression in those who are 65 years of age or older, "is to be expected" and treat signs of depression in the elderly as a normal part of aging. Depression is a disease of the brain, pure and simple. Just like younger depression patients respond to treatment and lead improved lives; elderly patients who are diagnosed and treated for depression also lead improved lives.

Depression hurts mentally, emotionally and physically. Depression can also in of itself be a symptom for other diseases or conditions. Because both of these are true about depression no matter the age of the patient anyone exhibiting signs or symptoms of depression should be evaluated and treated for depression. It is in the best interest of the patient to receive quality medical evaluation and treatment for depression so that they can enjoy the best quality of life possible. Those aged 65 or older deserve to live healthy lives where they can feel a sense of well-being just as those who are younger are entitled to.

Symptoms of depression should not be ignored in the elderly patient. The signs and symptoms of depression may signal another disease or condition, which presents another reason to not ignore, but to evaluate instead. The signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly patient are:

* Unusual fatigue not explained by other situations or events

* Fixation of thought or action on death

* Increased use of alcohol or drugs

* Loss of Self-worth

* Withdrawal from activities or friendships

* Changes in weight that is not expected such as loss or gain

* Disturbances in what is normal sleep patterns for them such as not being able to drop off to sleep or waking frequently during the night. It may also show up as oversleeping or daytime sleepiness

* Unexplained aches and pains

* Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, anxiety or despair

* Loss of pleasure in things or activities that usually would bring them enjoyment

* Movement that is slower than usual with no physical explanation

* Unusual irritability

* Lack of interest in personal hygiene or skipping medications or meals - In other words neglecting self-care

The elderly may not admit to feeling sad or depressed. Caregivers, family members and friends may notice outward signs that they are feeling this way when they notice that they show a low level of motivation, lower than normal energy level or even the appearance of physical problems. Often times physical complaints of arthritic pain, headaches and other body aches that have gotten worse than previously felt can be a sign that the person is indeed feeling depressed. Physical signs of depression such as wringing of hands, pacing around the room, fretting about life events such as the state of the world, their health or finances can also be a clue that they may be depressed.

Clues can be invaluable to the caregiver or professional who is concerned about an elderly individual and they are adamant about not feeling sad. Clues can be both physical and emotional in nature and include aches and pains that are vague or unexplained, seeming to be or expressing hopelessness, helplessness or when the individual shows signs of being anxious or having excessive worries. They can also express a loss of feeling any pleasure in life, are having physical signs of moving slowly without any physical reason for doing so, are irritable, are experiencing memory problems or show any signs of an outward appearance of lacking in personal care (not eating, neglecting personal hygiene, forgetting to take medications).

Ironically, some of the symptoms of depression can make it difficult for the individual to seek medical help. It falls upon caring family members, friends or neighbors to make the suggestion to seek help. Another factor that discourages elderly adults from seeking help is the social stigma prevalent in the age that seniors of today were growing up in. The mental stigma attached to depression or any mental illness was that the individual who had it was weak or had somehow caused the illness. Individuals were institutionalized for having mental illnesses and/or were shunned by society or even feared.

The fact that several of the symptoms of depression are also present in other medical conditions as well as the general aging process makes detecting depression difficult. Fatigue, loss of appetite and sleeping problems are all common elements to other medical conditions and also to major depressive disorder. Depression itself can be a sign of a medical disorder and it can be associated with Alzheimer's disease. Sorting out whether or not symptoms are a because the individual is depressed or if the individual is actually having depression as a symptom of a disease can be like searching for clues in a spy game.

Fear of the consequences of treating depression such as increased financial strain, fear of doctors or of the mental healthcare atmosphere and what may happen to them (electrical shocks that will damage their brains etc.) are very common in the elderly.

Despite the difficulties that one may encounter while making the depression assessment; doing so can mean a great deal of difference regarding the quality of life for the individual. Untreated depression leads to a high rate of suicide in elderly persons.

Complicating matters more is the fact that elderly individuals go through an amazing amount of changes such as moving to a retirement home or community, changes within the family structure due to loss of a spouse to death or divorce and the loss of adult children when they move out of the home or out of the community.

Those who are depressed rarely care enough about what happens to them to seek the help they need. Others are left to make the connection by noticing the absence of these individuals from organizational meetings, social events or volunteer positions. Family members are left to notice changes in eating and sleeping habits, mood or activity level and make the effort to find out why.

Detecting depression in the elderly is dependant on all of these above mentioned factors. The bottom line is that in order to detect depression in elderly one must understand what depression looks and acts like, and how to tell the difference between depression and normal grieving. It is possible for individuals and professionals to detect depression in the elderly, the motivation and opportunity are there, it is up to us to utilize them.

Depression is a disease that affects they young and the elderly. It manifests itself in similar ways in both of these ages groups but different in some very important ways for those who are elderly. These differences can contribute to the fact that 35 million elderly are suffering from depression with as many as 70% of them suffering unnoticed chose to end their lives even though they saw a medical doctor within 30 days of having done so. How many other people came into contact with them during those 30 days and their depression escaped their attention too? Understanding how depression differs in the elderly can make recognizing it much easier.

One major drawback to knowing someone is depressed is when that person does not communicate that they are sad. Elderly individuals who have difficulty communicating are even more unlikely to give direct clues to those around them. Depression symptoms can take many forms including physical, psychological and emotional.

The elderly person suffering from depression may physically look different from the usual appearance. The clothes they wear may be dirty, slept in, or worn several times. They may not shower or bathe as often as they should. They may not see the need to wash their hair or do other personal hygiene such as that which is necessary to control body odor. Their disinterest in food may show up in a noticeable body weight loss as clothes become loose. They may experience medical or dental problems from not keeping appointments or because they do not take medications or follow proper dental care procedures.

Psychologically they may be confused, become more irritable than usual, have delusions or hallucinations or show signs of severe sadness. Individuals in the over 65-age group rarely admit to being sad, at least not to others. They may however give clues that they are extremely sad when they complain of persistent aches and pains or other ailments so that they seek frequent attention or help form others. Sometimes their behavior can seem on the demanding side of what would seem normal.

Emotional signs of depression express as feelings of anger, crying for extended periods of time and other expressions of Normal grief is understandable in those of advanced age as so many of their peers are dying or have retired and moving away. Adult children may have also moved away leaving them feeling isolated and alone in a life that seems totally changed and foreign. These lifestyle changes usually create emotional signs of depression.

Recognizing and interpreting these signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly individual may take a trained eye and ear. Listening to what someone who is elderly is saying or not saying can be very important when it comes to understanding depression. Depression will not usually go away on its own and will worsen with time. Clinical depression can last for months. When the elderly suffer from untreated depression the immune system can be affected making them much more susceptible to contacting other diseases.

Although we have discussed physical, psychological and emotional signs of depression there are also biological factors that some scientists suspect may also play a role in elderly depression. They think that there is a biological pattern to those who suffer from clinical depression. Depression often times will be seen in parents, siblings or past family members. Those individuals who have a past history of depression will often have a reoccurrence of depression in later life.

Depression is an illness that can have particularly devastating effects on those who are 65 or older (elderly). They are at an increased risk for death by suicide when depressed and can widely go under diagnosed for depression because they are elderly.

Depression can occur in the elderly for no obvious reason or it can be a response to a life change such as a loss of a spouse or adult child, loss of a job or retirement, loss of a relationship such as the death of a lifelong friend or companion. Depression can be the response to chronic disease or chronic pain or it can actually be a symptom of a disease or condition.

There are many signs and symptoms to look for in the elderly individual that may indicate the possibility of depression. These signs and symptoms should not be ignored or taken for granted (such as the thinking that it is normal for elderly to be depressed).

Not all individuals exhibit the exact same signs and symptoms of depression so no two elderly individuals will show the same ones either.

Some of the more common signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly are:

* A mood that is consistently sad, or discouraged (blues)

* Expresses a feeling of being empty or useless

* Persistent expressions of pessimism about the past, present or future

* Difficult decision making

* Moving slow or having a lack of energy

* Thoughts or expressions of suicide

* Extreme irritability especially if it is out of character

* Restlessness (wringing of hands), moving aimlessly around the room, pacing

* Loss of appetite, not eating meals

In order to evaluate whether or not an elderly person is depressed, careful observation must be done because in most cases the elderly will not admit to feeling sad or depressed. The signs (physical) of loose clothing that may indicate a loss of appetite or daytime sleepiness that may indicate that the individual is not sleeping well at night. Other signs may be an unusually messy house or unkempt physical state of being (dirty clothing or unwashed hair).
The signs of depression may indicate the need for assistance in planning meals, preparing meals or shopping for meal ingredients. The signs can also lead to the conclusion that the individual lacks a support systems and could benefit from community services that are set up to aid the elderly in the area such as food pantry, meals-on-wheels, home health aids, or a visiting nurse to take blood pressure checks and other necessary medical assessments. Chronic medical conditions including chronic pain management can help to prevent or decrease the severity of depression in the elderly.

The good news is that when the signs or symptoms of depression are recognized there are steps that can be taken to start or to grow a support system that will connect the elderly individual to social contacts that will aid them in coping with life stresses and situations. The support system will allow them to make good lifestyle decisions that will lessen depression or help to prevent future depression episodes.

Typical depression treatments include medication, psychological therapy, and Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). There are a few other treatments that can be considered by the elderly individual and the doctor.

Some alternative treatments have started to become accepted into the western medicine culture while others are not because studies have been conducted yet of sufficient amount to determine safety and effectiveness. These alternatives methods have however proven to bring relief from stress and in so doing can benefit the elderly individual suffering from depression. Some of the more popular alternative treatments are:

Acupuncture

Aromatherapy

Biofeedback

Chiropractic treatment

Guided imagery

Herbal remedies

Massage

Relaxation techniques

Vagal Nerve Stimulation - Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) was approved in July of 2005, by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in long-term or recurrent major depression in adults. This therapy has been used to treat those with hart-to-treat epilepsy and also those who are 18 years old and have not been able to be successfully treated with 4 or more antidepressant treatments.

VNS uses electrical impulses along the vagus nerve in the neck to treat severe depression. The treatment actually destroys part of the vagus nerve.

It is important to note that most alternative therapies require some measure of physical exertions; so older adults should consult first with their doctor before starting any alternative therapies. Herbal remedies can react to other medications that the elderly person is on so caution should be exercised when contemplating using alternative therapies.

More studies are required regarding the validity of the safety and effectiveness of most mind-body therapies. Mind-body therapies can include tai chi and yoga.

A study done by Ohio State University found that 70% of older Americans have turned to alternative treatments in place of medications that can give them side effects. The most popular of the alternative therapies seems to be the use of chiropractors.

The elderly are at a higher risk for suicide if depression goes untreated so using alternative therapies should only be done after consulting the doctor who is treating the individual for depression.

The reason that alternative therapies are considered for elderly depression is that depression according to some scientists is a biochemical illness. The triggers for the depression cause a neurochemical change that leads to the feelings of depression. Alternative treatments are designed to re-establish balance and harmony within the body. The typical alternative therapies to do this are: acupuncture, biofeedback and dietary factors that encourage good nutrition.

The World Heath Organization does list acupuncture as being a valuable alternative in the treatment for acupuncture if the individual is unable to use antidepressants.

When alternative treatments are being considered it is important to monitor the individual regarding the intensity of depression and to be in close contact with the doctor under whose care the individual is under. Depression can be very serious in the elderly and any treatment plan should be adjusted according to the state of depression at regular intervals.