There are several factors that can make rosacea worse but do not cause it. For example, drinking alcohol can increase flushing and redness. Other factors known to aggravate rosacea include heat, strenuous exercise, sunlight, wind, cold, hot drinks, spicy foods, emotional stress, and coughing. While rosacea cannot be cured, it can be treated and controlled. A dermatologist, a medical doctor who specializes in diseases of the skin, often treats rosacea.
Treatment goals are to control the condition and improve appearance.
Doctors usually prescribe a topical antibiotic, such as metronidazole, that is applied directly to the affected skin. Tetracycline, minocycline, erythromycin, and doxycycline are the most common antibiotics used to treat rosacea. Some people respond quickly, while others require long-term therapy. Isotretinoin may be considered as a treatment option for all forms of severe or therapy-resistant rosacea. However, isotretinoin is linked to a number of adverse effects, some of which can be severe.