Catia Mendonca

Presentation

Rosacea: Recognizing and Treating an Age-Related Skin Disease on the World Wide Web.

Abstract

Rosacea is an age-related disorder of the skin.  Its peak onset occurs between the ages of 40 and 50, in both men and women. Flare-ups and remissions tend to occur and, if left untreated the disease can be disfiguring to the person’s complexion. Rosacea has three stages and tends to appear more on the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. It can be confused with other dermatological conditions, such as acne vulgaris or seborrheic dermatitis. Remission occurs if antibiotics are given, either orally or topically. One should recognize the early onset of the disorder to begin therapy and counseling. Rosacea can be easily recognized and treated if one looks for information on the World Wide Web.

The World Wide Web has had a huge impact on rosacea and the people that have it. People are now more aware of the skin disorder and can treat it much better. While I was looking for information on rosacea, many support group websites came up. http://www.rosacea.ii.net was one that I found. This rosacea support website shows you such things as symptoms and treatments. It also lets you know which cleansers are good for your skin, which sunscreens, and which moisturizers are best. The website gives you tips on controlling rosacea as well as warning signs that you might develop. If you are unaware of what rosacea looks like, there are profiles to look at along with great color photos. There is a section for FAQ’s, testimonials, and a place where members may chat with one another.

            Another website that I found was http://www.rosacea.org. This website along with the others that I found were very similar to one another. They all had a ton of information and great photos to look at. The Internet has made us aware of many things that otherwise we would know nothing about. I myself always thought that I had a little bit of rosacea, now I know for sure that I do, but it’s only very minor. These websites have taught me what and whatnot to use on my skin. It is also a place where I can meet other people with the same condition. I think that the Internet has had a huge impact on this skin disorder, and I know that it will only get better. Here is what the different stages look like.