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It is a redness on the cheeks, nose, chin, or forehead. It can become ruddier and more persistent over time, and visible blood vessels may appear. Without treatment bumps and pimples often develop, and in severe cases the nose may grow swollen and bumpy from excess tissue.
It is rosacea, pronounced roh-zay-sha, and it affects an estimated 14 million Americans, according to the National Rosacea Society Web site, www.rosacea.org.

The cause of rosacea is unknown, although several theories do exist. One is that the disease may be a component of a more generalized disorder of the blood vessels, which could explain why rosacea sufferers have a tendency to flush. Another theory is changes in normal skin bacteria play a role. Other theories suggest the condition is caused by microscopic skin mites called demodex folliculorum, fungus, a malfunction of the connective tissue under the skin, or even psychological factors, according to NRS, however none has been proven.

A new Canadian product called the Face Doctor claims to destroy the mites and replenish and revitalize the elements that make up healthy skin.

“In the western hemisphere (rosacea) has not been addressed as a parasite, but as a bacterial infection,” said Derek Lepage, public relations coordinator for Face Doctor. “Doctors here did 30 years of research and found that this parasite exists in the (facial skin’s) hair follicle. The parasite lives under the skin and feeds off the oil found inside the hair follicle.

“The redness appears when the parasite chews its way through an oil gland,” Lepage said. “The pore becomes enlarged and then plugged with bacteria and that’s when acne develops.”
Being treated for the bacterial infection means the skin will clear up because of the medication, but the rash will come back because the parasite hasn’t been treated, according to Lepage.
The FaceDoctor soap contains and ingredient that will kill the parasite - seabuckthorn oil, according to Lepage.

“The oil in the soap is clinically proven to destroy 80 percent of the parasite on people with normal skin,” Lepage said. “For people with rosacea, it allows their skin to return back to its normal skin tone.”

Albert Lea dermatologist Brian Zogg, of Zogg Dermatology, said he is wary of herbal medications.
“By-in-large herbals can help with some things and with others than can be phooey,” Zogg said. “I don’t put a lot of stock in that stuff. There is no comparison to what those agents can do compared to what the medications we offer in the office can do.”
Zogg also disagreed with the claim that rosacea was caused by mites, saying it is an inflammatory form of adult acne.

“I know there are more effective (solutions to rosacea) in the office than over the counter,” said Zogg.
The FaceDoctor soap is being sold at Sterling Pharmacy on Broadway Avenue in Albert Lea, for $14.99, $12.74 if customers get their prescriptions there.

“We’ve had it for sale for close to a year now,” said Bob Steffl, Sterling pharmacy manager. “The decision to pick it up was the decision of our pharmacy supervisor of our corporation.”
Steffl said the store hasn’t sold a lot of the product and he hasn’t gotten customer feedback on the product because it is not behind the counter, however “some of the other stores in our chain have sold a lot more.” Because there is no cure for rosacea and the cause is unknown, the NRS recommends seeing a dermatologist or other knowledgeable physician for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

By Jennifer Rogers
Tribune staff writer