Rosacea in Singapore tends to affect both men and women, although it does tend to vary between the genders. Men typically tend to have more severe symptoms despite the prevalence of rosacea being more common among females. The National Rosacea Society (NRS) estimates that 16 million Americans suffer from rosacea and that half of those sufferers often also have ocular symptoms.
In Asian populations as well as people of colour, the percentages vary from 2% to 10% worldwide across those suffering from rosacea, showing that it is not only a disease that affects Caucasians. Despite these reports, many reports online often posit rosacea as a condition that only affects fair-skinned individuals with North European or Celtic ancestry, which gives people the incorrect assumption that rosacea does not occur in other populations and treatments are often directed towards their particular skin types.
With Asian skin ranging from very fair and easily sunburnt to darker skin tones that tan easily in the sun, rosacea treatments in Singapore should be able to cover a wide range of skin tones, although it takes into account that rosacea most often affects those with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I and II, which are those with pale or fair skin which burns easily and does not tan well. This article will go through the best types of rosacea treatments available in Singapore in 2022, with a focus on skincare creams, serums, and laser treatment!
Soolantra cream in Singapore is a specific cream specially used for rosacea treatment. It actually contains an active compound called ivermectin, which gained popularity the last two years as an alternative (but not recommended!) treatment for COVID-19 symptoms. In Soolantra cream, the active compound ivermectin belongs to a group of medications called ‘avermectins’. Avermectins are a naturally occurring product from the fermentation of the unicellular filamentous bacteria called Streptomyces avermitilis which are usually isolated from soil. While they are commonly used as a pesticide treatment of pests and parasitic worms in animals, they have also been found to be very effective when used properly on human skin!
For children experiencing head lice and scabies, the topical administration of ivermectin reduced the prevalence of such infections. Moreover, ivermectin can also treat papulopustular rosacea (PPR), which is a subtype of rosacea that is often mistaken for acne because of its common inflammatory characteristics – red bumps on fair skin that can be filled with pus, while those with darker skin may have a dark yellow or brownish flush instead, and these inflammatory lumps can be painful to touch.
Soolantra cream contains ivermectin and is recommended for use once a day across the forehead, chin, nose, and both cheeks for a period of at least 4 weeks. Ivermectin works to slow down the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines which are what releases chemicals that trigger expansion of blood vessels, leading to swelling, redness, and itchiness or tenderness of the facial skin. Ivermectin also causes an impairment in T-cell activation which are, again, cells that trigger inflammatory cytokines when activated. When researchers studied the action of ivermectin on lab cultures, they also found that ivermectin helped to modulate immune activity in skin mast cells and macrophages, both of which can be overly triggered in a condition such as rosacea. In summary, the application of ivermectin on the skin causes a delay in skin inflammation which is how it works for those suffering from rosacea.
However, the usage of Soolantra is not recommended if an individual is pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, discuss with your physician other alternatives for topical treatments for your rosacea!
As we know that sunlight – or more specifically, UV rays from sunlight – exacerbates rosacea due to its ability to stimulate inflammation within the skin; hence, sun protection is always recommended for individuals with rosacea. Those with fairer skin typically have an increased risk of rosacea exacerbation from sunlight as fair skin lacks melanin which is what gives a person a tanner skin tone. Melanin has protective effects against UV rays, although tan people do need to use sun protection as well! Sun protection can be one of the best treatments for rosacea exacerbations.
SL Aesthetic Clinic’s specific in-house Medical Sunscreen is formulated specifically for rosacea sufferers and those with sensitive skin. This sunscreen is a physical sunscreen, also called a mineral sunscreen, and is designed to be suitable for those sensitive to products usually found in store-bought sunscreen as it has no fragrances, parabens, lanolin, or artificial colours. This is great for rosacea sufferers since such substances can have comedogenic properties and be too oily as those with rosacea already tend to have sebaceous gland hypertrophy (or excessive activity of oil glands).
This sunscreen also has a key active ingredient, which is Zinc Oxide. This substance acts as a ‘physical shield’ by creating a barrier on the top of your skin to reflect harmful UV rays. This sunscreen also contains other ingredients which can help in your skin barrier, such as Glyceryl Stearate, PEG 100 Stearate, and Ceramides, which helps to build back your skin while protecting it from UV rays too!
SL Aesthetic Clinic carries a medical skincare series, which consist of a Medical Cleanser, Medical Hydrator, Medical Hydrator Intense and Medical Sunscreen. All of these products are specially formulated for people with sensitive or rosacea skin.
Laser therapy is something that you might not be able to ‘use’ at home by yourself and instead requires the help of a trained professional. This treatment targets the visible blood vessels which causes the classic redness and flushing in rosacea. They either use heat to ‘collapse’ blood vessels, or there are non-heat lasers that help to ‘break up’ the red patches. Several sessions are usually needed to see results, but there tends to be a good amount of evidence showing that the use of lasers, such as the Fotona Rosacea laser, can help to reduce visible redness and blood vessels on the surface of skin and improves symptoms of papules or pustules in rosacea.
The Fotana Rosacea laser uses a Nd:YAG laser, which works to reduce the action of easily triggered inflammatory cells in the skin. As inflammation reduces, the incidence of redness, flushing, swelling, spots and bumps, or uneven skin also then gradually improves while the skin calms down. As this laser’s high light energy generates heat deep within the skin tissues, it also helps to reduce sebum production and prevents the reccurrence or occurrence of acne while positively triggering your skin’s natural ability for collagen regeneration.There may be side effects of hyperpigmentation, rosacea exacerbation, or bruising for a period of time before improvements are seen hence the use of lasers should always be cleared by an experienced clinician first. Very inflamed skin may require the use of oral or topical medication first before undergoing laser therapy to prevent the occurrence of these side effects. Stromectol may be used as an adjunct in the treatment of rosacea by reducing the number of Demodex mites in the skin, thereby reducing inflammation and improving the control of rosacea.
In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology Association also recommends the use of laser therapy for the treatment of visible blood vessels because it has been shown to visibly reduce 50%-75% of symptoms after a course of 1-3 treatments spread 3-4 weeks apart! Laser therapy is usually considered as one of the best rosacea treatments in Singapore in the current year of 2022 due to its ease and suitability for those experiencing severe symptoms that cannot be helped just by the use of skin care products. As laser treatments for rosacea have become more advanced and suited for fair and tan skin types, it is definitely a choice to consider for more severe forms of rosacea.
Physiogel is a drugstore brand that started out as a skincare treatment for those with psoriasis and became famous for catering their products to dry and sensitive skin! Their Calming Relief AI Cream is one of the bestsellers for not just rosacea sufferers but for mothers and their babies due to its ability to soothe the skin. This cream is suitable for use on both face and body, making it great for those who also experience rosacea symptoms on the neck, chest, and back.
The Calming Relief AI Cream contains emollients which also act as antioxidants such as olea europaea fruit oil, olus oil, and elaeis guineensis oil. These oils contain fatty acids which help to build up the skin barrier. The cream also contains glycerin and squalane, both of which helps to hydrate skin. Both these functions are important because those with rosacea tend to have reduced skin surface hydration levels and abnormal oil production due to skin barrier dysfunction, which can contribute to the growth of papules or pustules. This cream can be a good option for rosacea treatment in Singapore among those who experience itchy, tender, and red skin.
OSEA, pronounced oh-sea-yah, is a brand founded by a lady named Jenefer Palmer in 1996. OSEA is an acronym for ‘Ocean, Sun, Earth, Atmosphere’ as one of their company values is to create skincare from marine-based ingredients while staying away from synthetic ingredients. They were actually the first company to sign ‘The Compact for Global Production of Safe Health and Beauty Products’ in 2002, an initiative to push for healthier and safer cosmetic products in the beauty industry.
They focus heavily on products that are natural-derived, priding themselves on products that are plant-based and that use certified organic bioavailable seaweed as well as steam-distilled and cold-pressed essential oils. What this means for rosacea sufferers is that if you have sensitive skin which reacts to synthetic ingredients or fragrances, OSEA products may work for you. Their redness calming set consists of their best selling Ocean Cleansing Milk that is pH-balanced and fragrance free, Ocean Lotion for the face, facial Argan oil, and their OSEA Advanced Protection Cream.
One thing to note is that their lotions, creams, and facial oils heavily feature the presence of essential oils which may require you to perform a patch test on the underside of your jaw. This helps to prevent any unwanted reactions. While cold-pressed essential oils are better because they do not involve heat or chemical processing, some sensitive skin may react to the presence of citron essential oils. That being said, plant-based oils like jojoba and grapeseed oil can help to reduce inflammation in skin. If you have mild rosacea, these plant-based skincare treatments may be right for you.
Dermedics is a brand from Poland that aims for their skincare to help Caucasian, Asian, and Ethnic skin. An interesting part of Dermedics’ beauty offerings is that they have a cosmetic and medical sector which provides skin care products for the face and body, as well as electronic beauty devices. They have a team involved in research and development (R&D) for these two branches of their brand!
Their MESO CAPIL serum is targeted as a solution for broken capillaries, which is a common symptom for rosacea sufferers. Broken capillaries, also called telangiectasia or spider veins, are commonly observed in those with fair skin as the fine, red, purple, or pink thread-like veins are more obvious. In those with more melanin-rich skin, this can look like areas of darker patches on the face. Dermedics markets their MESO CAPIL serum as a ‘strengthening serum created for skins prone to broken capillaries, redness, puffiness and cellulite’ due to their active ingredients of phyto rutin (Vitamin P) 2%, vitamin C 1.5%, sambucus nigra flower, chlorogenic acid, mucilage, and tannins. Vitamin P and Vitamin C are both bioflavonoids which help to reduce skin damage due to their antioxidant properties.
This cream is free from fragrances, artificial colouring, steroids (which can thin out the skin barrier with long-term use), parabens, mineral oil, and propylene glycol which is known to be an irritant in those with sensitive or eczematous skin. Similar to Physiogel’s calming cream, this is also pH-balanced which inhibits the growth of bacteria and also prevents the growth of Demodex mites that can aggravate rosacea.
Their star ingredient is the inclusion of medical grade manuka honey. Manuka honey has been recognised for their wound healing properties. This practice dates back to 2000 B.C. where Ancient Egyptians and Greeks would dress their wounds with honey. Manuka honey has actually been approved for clinical use in gels, ointments, and dressings in several countries including America, New Zealand, and Europe! This honey, produced by honey bees that feed specifically on the manuka tree in New Zealand, has antimicrobial properties, promotes tissue repair, and can modulate the skin’s immune system response.
For those experiencing rosacea symptoms and are unsure of which products or treatments might be best suited for them, or are looking to see if Soolantra cream can help ease their inflammed skin, our doctors at SL Aesthetic are always ready to help! A consultation with someone from our team can help to identify a treatment that is right for your individual condition, from topical products to laser treatments. Contact us at SL Aesthetic today to book an appointment!
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