Rosacea

Get your Rosacea treatment* online in a few simple steps, without having to see your doctor. Our virtual care service connects you to highly trained clinicians who can assess your health needs and safely prescribe the right medication for you.
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SAFE PRESCRIBING

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Getting treated privately is a service designed for individuals who are looking to get treated for a medical condition from the comfort of their own home. Get connected with one of our clinicians to start your assessment. It’s FREE and you only pay for medication that is prescribed. This service is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council in the UK.
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Rosacea key facts

Navin Khosla NowPatientGreen tick
Created on 10 Jun 2024
Updated on 16 Jul 2024

Rosacea is a skin condition affecting the face. Symptoms include facial redness, flushing, red bumps and pimples, mainly across the nose, cheeks and chin. There is no cure as such for rosacea, but a combination of medication and lifestyle changes can help to manage the symptoms. Here, we will take a closer look at the causes, symptoms, and treatment options available for rosacea.

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea (acne rosacea) is a condition that affects the face, across the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. Symptoms include flushing and redness, as well as small, pus-filled lumps. In more severe cases, the skin may become thicker, causing the nose to enlarge. Many people with rosacea will also suffer from eye irritation and dryness (ocular rosacea).

What are the causes of Rosacea?

The exact cause of rosacea is not known but is thought to be due to a combination of genetics, environmental, and immune system factors.

Abnormalities of blood vessels in the face, as well as microscopic mites that live in the skin, may also be factors. Sun exposure, hot or cold weather, certain foods or drinks and stress, can also make symptoms worse.

  • People with a family history of rosacea may be more likely to develop the condition
  • An overactive immune system may result in the dilation of blood vessels (telangiectasia) causing redness and bumps
  • Environmental triggers such as sunlight, very hot or cold temperatures, spicy foods, alcohol, stress, and skin care products can affect rosacea symptoms
  • An overabundance of microscopic mites (Demodex folliculorum) on facial skin may contribute to the development of rosacea

Who is at Risk for Rosacea?

Rosacea affects individuals of any age, gender, or ethnicity, but certain factors may increase the risk:

  • People with lighter skin tones are more at risk of developing rosacea
  • Rosacea can occur at any age but is more common after the age of 30
  • People with a family history of rosacea may be more likely to develop the condition
  • Smoking can cause inflammation and dilation of blood vessels, increasing the risk of rosacea

What are the Symptoms of Rosacea?

Symptoms of rosacea will vary from person to person, but include:

  • One of the main signs of rosacea is facial redness and flushing
  • Small blood vessels, visible on the nose and cheeks. These may appear as thin red lines on the skin
  • Bumps and pimples that may contain pus. These can also appear on the chest and back
  • Burning or stinging sensation that may feel tender and hot to the touch
  • Eye problems, such as eye dryness, irritation, swollen eyelids, styes and keratitis
  • Thickened skin causing an enlarged or bulbous nose (rhinophyma). This is more common in men

Diagnosing Rosacea

Diagnosis of rosacea will require a discussion about your symptoms, triggers, family history and an examination of your skin by your healthcare provider or dermatologist. Additional tests may be necessary in some cases to rule out other conditions, such as dermatitis, which has similar symptoms.

Treatment options for Rosacea

Treatment options will depend on the severity and the specific symptoms and will involve a combination of medication and self-help measures. These include:

  • Avoiding excessive sun exposure, and protecting the skin with sunscreen and protective clothing to prevent sunburn
  • Maintaining a gentle skincare routine
  • Avoiding common triggers such as spicy foods, hot drinks and extreme temperatures

Medications include:

  • Topical creams and gels containing azelaic acid, ivermectin, metronidazole, or brimonidine
  • Oral medications, such as oral antibiotics containing tetracycline, doxycycline such as Efracea, or erythromycin, or isotretinoin may be used for more severe rosacea. A combination of oral and topical medications may be used to control the symptoms of rosacea

Laser treatment or light therapy may also be used to reduce visible blood vessels (erythematotelangiectatic rosacea) and eye drops or ointments may be used to reduce eye symptoms.

Living with Rosacea

Rosacea may lead to issues with an individual’s feelings of confidence and self-esteem. There are, however, support groups and online communities available to help support those people. Healthcare professionals can also help support people and play a valuable part in providing guidance.

  • Understanding the causes, symptoms and triggers of rosacea can help individuals manage their symptoms
  • A gentle skincare routine using non-irritating cleansers and moisturizers for sensitive skin can help minimize flare-ups
  • Sunscreen with a high SPF and wearing protective clothing can also help prevent flare-ups
  • Stress-reducing activities, such as meditation or yoga can help reduce stress levels and symptoms of rosacea

Remember, rosacea will be unique to everyone, and treatment plans may vary.

Conclusion

Rosacea is a common skin condition, that can affect anyone at any age. It can cause issues with an individual’s confidence and self-esteem, but by understanding the causes, symptoms and treatment options available for rosacea, this condition can be managed effectively through a combination of medication and lifestyle changes.

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Service Guide

Everything you need to know about Getting Treated Privately for Rosacea

What does the Get Treated Privately service for Rosacea do?

The Get Treated Privately service is a private prescribing service which is designed for adults aged 18 years and over, who are experiencing health issues and who would like to receive a fast-track assessment and if applicable, a treatment plan from a qualified prescribing clinician. Treatments for Rosacea are dispensed and delivered to your home or workplace from our regulated online pharmacy.

Is this a safe Rosacea prescribing service?

Yes. Our formulary of medications prescribed for Rosacea are controlled, governed, and continuously risk-assessed by our Medical Director, Dr. Aseel Hamoud. Unlike other prescribing services which operate using faceless questionnaires, our Rosacea prescribing service is conducted through remote video consultations, also known as synchronous consultations. This builds patient safety and prescribing appropriateness into our service, ensuring our prescribing clinicians can be satisfied with who and what they are treating. There is no guarantee of supply of medications, and any prescriptions supplied are at the sole discretion of our clinician prescriber. There is no charge for the Rosacea consultation.

What is a prescribing clinician and is it safe for me to use them on the NowPatient platform?

Our prescribing clinicians are board-certified pharmacists, nurses, or doctors who can also prescribe any medicine for any medical condition, subject to accepted accreditation and good clinical practice. They are all registered with their respective regulatory bodies. For example, a pharmacist independent prescriber is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Each prescribing clinician undergoes an extensive background check including a disclosure and barring service check (DBS). In addition, they undergo a rigorous license verification process. When you book an appointment with our prescribing clinicians you will see their full name, license number, and any specialized credentials they have.

Is the service available worldwide?

Yes, you can get treated privately for Rosacea worldwide.

Do I need to pay for this service?

Yes. This is a private service. You do not need to pay for the consultation. You only pay for the cost of the Rosacea treatment that you are prescribed.

How do I book a consultation?

Once you have logged into your account, you will need to navigate to the Get Treated Privately service card which is located as a service item on the dashboard.

Using the action button on the service card, you can select one of the following – ‘Search Treatments’ or ‘Search Conditions’. From here you can search for Rosacea.

Depending on the search type and the product/condition that you would like to get treated, you will be taken to a consultation booking screen. Follow the simple steps to complete your booking. During the booking confirmation, you will be able to select a date and time that is convenient for you, along with the preferred language and gender of the prescribing clinician you wish to choose. You will then see a list of all available expert clinicians who are trained to assess the medication or condition chosen. Once you have confirmed your booking, you will see a summary of the appointment including preliminary information about the consultation. At this point, you will also be able to add a reminder to your calendar. Always ensure your account health profile is up to date before any consultation. This ensures that our clinicians have the most up-to-date information about your current health status and anything that may influence their prescribing decisions. You will receive a push notification, SMS notification and email reminding you of your consultation, 30 minutes before the virtual consultation is due to start.

Depending on certain medications which require our clinicians to have your up-to-date blood pressure readings, you may be required to submit a virtual blood pressure check, using your smartphone or device. We will provide you with full instructions, when this is required.

What happens during the remote video consultation?

During the consultation, the clinician will ask you a series of questions that will allow the clinician to assess your condition and potential treatment options for Rosacea. At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide which treatment options are safe and suitable option for you.

If it is, the clinician will discuss the treatment option, so that you can jointly agree on the treatment plan. Once you have jointly agreed on a treatment plan, the clinician will issue a prescription treatment for your Rosacea which will be available in your Cart at the end of the consultation.

Also, with your consent, the clinician may wish to inform your doctor of the treatment that was prescribed. We recommend that you agree to this since your doctor is responsible for your overall care and they should have a record of this consultation and medication prescribed. In addition, our clinician may take the opportunity to advise you on your overall health including advice on healthy living or stop smoking.

What happens at the end of the Rosacea consultation?

At the end of the consultation, you will receive a notification which will summarise the outcome. It will also advise you if any referrals were made to your doctor, along with any other advice that was given to you by the clinician.

If a referral letter was issued to your doctor, you will be able to view a copy of this in the ‘Documents’ section of the dashboard.

If you were prescribed a treatment, it will now be available in your Cart.

When you go to your Cart, you will be able to select the treatment, checkout and make payment. Once the checkout is complete, your prescription order will be sent to our regulated online pharmacy for processing.

What if the prescriber does not prescribe a treatment for Rosacea?

We operate a safe prescribing service. This means that our prescribing clinicians always exercise their clinical judgment when prescribing . Unfortunately, we do not operate a self select service where you can choose a medication and simply buy. If the clinician that sees you does not prescribe anything, then you will not be charged.

Will I get status updates for my order?

Yes. When your Rosacea treatment is approved, and after you have checked out and paid for your order, we will keep you fully updated with the status of your order. Every time the status of your order changes, you will be notified immediately. These notifications will appear in the ‘Notification Feed’ section on the dashboard.

How will my Rosacea treatment be delivered?

All orders are shipped in discreet and unmarked packaging. This means it is suitable for delivery wherever you require (home, work, or a neighbour).

For thermo-sensitive orders (e.g. Insulin or weight loss injections) we use cold chain-validated packaging. Your parcel will normally receive an estimated delivery window from the courier on the day of delivery.

For your protection and safety, your first order can only be delivered to the address that is registered with NowPatient. Future orders can be delivered to any other address, for example, your workplace.

Do you ship cold-chain or temperature sensitive products?

Yes. We use a specialist courier service for all thermo-sensitive deliveries. This is to ensure that cold chain integrity is always maintained and thus the product quality, safety and efficacy.

Learn more about how we handle the delivery of temperature sensitive products.

Where do you deliver?

We currently deliver to all postcodes/zipcodes worldwide. Some postcodes in rural areas may have a slightly longer delivery time.

When will my order arrive?

We aim to ship all orders placed Monday – Friday before 3pm on the same day. Orders placed outside these times will be shipped the next working day. All deliveries are shipped by Royal Mail, which delivers Monday through Saturday in the UK. For deliveries outside of the UK, please check with your national postal service for accurate delivery days.

Our delivery options have the following delivery times:

  • UK – Royal Mail Tracked 24 & Signed for Delivery – Next day delivery
  • Europe – Royal Mail Tracked – Typical delivery of 3-5 working days
  • Worldwide – Royal Mail – Typical delivery of 5-7 working days. If a tracked option is available for your country via Royal Mail, this service will be applied.

What should I do if my order has not arrived?

Delivery is normally made promptly after your dispatch notification is received. You can check the tracking details of your Rosacea order in the ‘Notification Feed’ section of the dashboard, at any point after dispatch.

Unfortunately, packages can sometimes get lost in the delivery system. If after 10 days you have not received your delivery, please contact us and we will do all we can to resolve the problem.

Can you prescribe GLP-1 weight loss injections?

Yes. However, with GLP-1 weight loss medications, the license requires that there are support resources put in place as part of the plan including coaching for a healthy lifestyle, exercise, and diet. Our clinicians will discuss this with you, if you are prescribed this type of treatment.

You can learn more on our Weight Loss Programs feature page.

What’s included with my order?

If you are ordering a treatment for Rosacea, your order will contain your medication only.

If you are ordering weight loss injections, your order will contain:

  • Your prescription of pre-filled weight loss injection pens
  • Needles
  • Sharps bin for safe disposal of needles (if ordered as part of the bundle)

Can I reorder my medication, if I have already been prescribed a course?

Yes. However, as a responsible prescribing service, we do not issue more than one monthly cycle of medication at a time.

This means that, if you would like to reorder, you will need to rebook a consultation.

This is important, because it allows our clinicians to keep track on the progress of your treatment plan and ensure that the medication remains safe and effective for you.

What is the earliest I can reorder my medication or treatment?

14 days after you have received your first monthly supply of medication, we will send you a notification to advise you that you are eligible to reorder your medication. To ensure that we are able to safely prescribe the Rosacea medication for the next supply, you will need to rebook a consultation.

This ensures that our clinician can check in on your treatment plan and ensure it is working as intended and continues to be safe, suitable and appropriate for you.

How do I reorder my Rosacea?

When you are eligible to reorder your next Rosacea prescription, we will send you a notification reminder. This notification reminder will request that you book a consultation with a NowPatient Clinician.

You should book a suitable time and date for the consultation.

At the end of the consultation, the clinician may advise you to either

  • Stop the treatment
  • Stay on the current dose
  • Increase the dose

If our clinician deems it safe for you to continue the medication used to treat Rosacea, the prescription will be added to your cart, from where you can checkout.

Delivery will be made in line with our delivery timescales.

As a responsible prescribing service, we will always monitor your Rosacea treatment plan to ensure that it remains safe, effective and suitable for you.

How do I reorder weight loss medication?

Our weight loss programs are built to closely monitor treatment progress and safety. Please refer to the Weight Loss Programs Service Guide that explains how you can reorder or step edit your dose.

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