Erythrosis: information and operation

Erythrosis, couperose and rosacea, these three skin disorders, although benign, are a common reason for seeking aesthetic care. Indeed, these skin problems often cause redness that is not very aesthetic. In the rest of this article, Collosol explains how to reduce facial redness .

What is erythrosis?

Erythrosis is a redness that appears sporadically or permanently on the cheeks and nose. Rosacea is the dilation of small blood vessels on the face. Rosacea occurs by the association of erythrosis, couperose and inflammatory lesions with papules and pustules on the face.

Redness of the skin (erythrosis) and dilation of the capillaries (rosacea) are two common aspects that are generally part of the same dermatological disease , rosacea, long wrongly called acne rosacea. This benign skin disease, which mainly affects the face, is often poorly tolerated because of the aesthetic damage it causes.

How does erythrosis work?

As the first phase of rosacea, erythrosis is a benign condition, but particularly annoying because of the aesthetic lesions it causes. The sudden and very intense redness of the face, which constitutes the early stage of the disease , can be triggered by the absorption of a meal or a simple drink, by digestion and by significant changes in external temperature. When erythrosis becomes permanent and the vessels dilate, we enter the phase of couperose.

What causes erythema multiforme?

There is considerable evidence to suggest that the pathophysiological mechanism of erythrosis, couperose and rosacea is vascular:

• The vascular nature of rosacea symptoms;
• Its frequent association with other vascular disorders, such as migraines;
• The scope of the skin condition, which corresponds to the topography of the facial vein;
• Hypersensitivity to heat in affected individuals, probably because the facial vascularity does not adapt to thermal changes;
• The mechanism of intermittent facial flushing is due to delayed venous emptying and not to increased blood flow in the arteries.

In addition to this vascular mechanism, there also appear to be inflammatory and infectious factors that could cause erythema, such as:

• The destruction of collagen and elastin by the action of specific enzymes, collagens, which create a vacuum in the dermal tissues;
• The void is immediately filled by the proliferation of endothelial cells, which ends with the formation of vessels and the appearance of redness.

What are the factors that can trigger or worsen erythrosis?

Factors that can trigger or worsen this skin condition include:

• Consumption of alcohol and spicy foods;
• Food and drinks that are too hot;
• The digestion period;
• Significant variations in outside temperature;
• Stress;
• The cold.

How to treat erythema and reduce redness?

Classic treatments for rosacea, erythema multiforme and couperose are, on the one hand, local, such as antibiotic therapy, and, on the other hand, physical, such as electrocoagulation and vascular lasers.

Electrocoagulation

This technique applies to capillary dilations that are perfectly individualizable when rosacea has been present for a long time. It must be carried out in winter via weekly or biweekly sessions, and is performed with a fine needle. This treatment can sometimes be painful, but it permanently removes the dilated vessels and redness .

Vascular lasers

The use of lasers is beneficial for both diffuse facial redness and capillary dilations. This technique gives good results and is not painful, but requires treating the inflammatory lesions first before starting .

For diffuse facial redness, the pulsed dye laser gives satisfactory and reproducible results . A few sessions are enough to obtain the desired effect, which is visible between 2 and 4 months after the procedure.

This method is effective, well tolerated and has no side effects or sequelae . The laser is painless and very effective and only attacks the vessels without damaging the epidermis. It is reserved for serious injuries and for people who cannot opt ​​for electrocoagulation.

Antibiotic treatment

To treat rosacea in its inflammatory phase , antibiotics are recommended in case of permanent lesions. Cyclines are used as a shock treatment for 3 or 4 months and then as maintenance, generally in autumn. Its effectiveness is due more to its anti-inflammatory power than to the antibiotic effect itself.

Among these treatments, the reference maintenance treatment is metronidazole gel at 0.75%, applied directly to the skin. Its use must be combined with that of a moisturizing cream to alleviate the resulting skin dryness .

Cosmetic treatments

To reduce facial redness caused by erythema multiforme, cosmetic treatments are possible. It is also strongly recommended to adopt a targeted beauty routine . To do this, here are our tips:

• Avoid aggressive cleaning with unsuitable products and contact with hard water. Never use alkaline soap to clean your face. Choose gentle and natural cleaning products such as Collosol Milk Water . In fact, it is a gentle product specifically designed to clean the skin that does not need rinsing;
• Don't rub your face dry, instead try patting it with a very soft towel;
• Avoid exfoliants, alcohol-based or astringent lotions, and formulas that may cause allergies;
• Avoid sun exposure and apply sunscreen every day before going out;
• Apply a treatment product every day to the areas affected by erythrosis (cheekbones, nasal wings). If there are only a few dilated vessels on the cheeks and nose, regular use of a specific product can limit the extent of the lesions;
• Remember to apply moisturizer if skin is dry, especially when metronidazole is prescribed.

In conclusion, redness caused by erythema can be reduced or eliminated in different ways. The importance of proper facial cleansing with gentle, skin-friendly products should not be underestimated.