What is Gram-negative Rosacea?
Gram-negative rosacea is a skin condition that presents as later-stage rosacea. Generally, its symptoms are synonymous with rosacea in its 2nd and 3rd stage. Rosacea is the persistent, fierce redness that some individuals find settling on their cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. Also known as the ‘curse of the Celts’, rosacea is not simple blushing, but rather a permanent red hue that takes to the skin. Gram-negative rosacea is different from this rosacea, and is instead a form of condition caused by gram-negative bacteria.
Gram-negative bacteria are composed of certain strains of bacteria that are distinct in their construction and do not absorb various dyes. Additionally, the structure of gram-negative bacteria causes individuals to suffer from a kind of toxic shock. Gram-negative rosacea is, in effect, a secondary symptom of this bacterial infection.
Who gets Gram-negative Rosacea?
Gram-negative rosacea is far more common in individuals who already experience some form of rosacea. Gram-negative bacteria could be seen as a trigger for gram-negative rosacea, effectively serving to cause a very severe flare-up in a very short span of time. Gram-negative rosacea is structurally the same as rosacea, the primary difference being the very serious underlying cause of rosacea.
Other than this there are effectively no other predisposing conditions to gram-negative rosacea, any moreso than there are pre-disposing conditions related to catching the common cold or any other bacterial infection. It is entirely possible that individuals with weaker immune systems will be more susceptible to gram-negative bacterial infection, and thus gram-negative rosacea, but this is effectively a given. Other conditions and circumstances that would pre-dispose one to be vulnerable to bacterial infection would also fall under this banner.
What causes Gram-negative Rosacea?
Gram-negative rosacea is caused by exposure to gram-negative organisms, especially bacteria. This exposure usually originates from an environmental source. It can possibly be contracted through fluid contact with another individual. In any case, the gram-negative organisms ultimately cause the symptoms associated with rosacea stage 2 or 3, even in individuals that have not suffered from rosacea.
Gram-negative rosacea is far more common in individuals who are already experiencing some form of rosacea, or who are pre-disposed to rosacea. Gram-negative bacteria could be thought of as a very strong trigger for a pre-existing case of rosacea.
What does Gram-negative Rosacea cause?
Gram-negative rosacea in and of itself has very few effects, directly. It is the symptom of a gram-negative bacterial infection. Not unlike the blushing and flushing caused by a fever, gram-negative rosacea is a reaction to the strong toxic burst that gram-negative bacterial infections can inflict.
Gram-negative rosacea, indirectly, can cause severe scarring. This potentiality is far in excess of most skin conditions. Because gram-negative rosacea is actually the product of a bacterial infection, rather than true rosacea, it frequently has the chance to inflict quite a bit of harm, compared to rosacea, which is relatively benign and may lead to harmful conditions only in the worst, most extreme cases. This scarring will most frequently come into play if the gram-negative rosacea is mechanically excoriated (scratched) in some way.
Gram-negative bacterial infections are usually very severe. It is likely that this will have implications well in excess of the cosmetic impact of gram-negative rosacea. This, coupled with the relatively untreatable nature of rosacea, will make the gram-negative bacterial infection the focus of any treatment.
How serious is Gram-negative Rosacea?
Gram-negative rosacea itself is a fairly benign symptom of a very dangerous infection. Gram-negative bacterial infections are severe and frequently damaging. Whereas normal bacterial infections are easily destroyed by the body and easily treated by medicine, gram-negative bacterial organisms are both resistant to common treatments and the body’s own natural defenses.
While bacterial infections are primarily consumptive, destroying cells and provoking reactions, gram-negative bacterial infections are effectively toxic. This is why gram-negative rosacea occurs; it is a powerful natural reaction of the body to a powerful toxic invasion. Normal bacterial infections can cause fevers and flushing of the facial skin. Gram-negative rosacea can be thought of as the severe natural extension of this.
In short, the gram-negative bacterial infection is deadly serious. While the rosacea is not exactly something that can be ignored, it is the least of one’s worries if they are suffering from a gram-negative bacterial infection. This gram-negative bacterial infection will without doubt be addressed most aggressively, along with its symptoms, which can be significantly more disruptive than the cosmetic effects of gram-negative rosacea.
Gram-negative rosacea constitutes a much stronger cosmetic and, through this, psychological risk to any individual afflicted. Triggers of rosacea outbreaks are frequently avoided by individuals suffering from rosacea quite assiduously. Many individuals with rosacea keep extensive journals and lists of triggers to avoid them during their normal hours of operation, to prevent their rosacea from growing worse. Gram-negative rosacea, being caused by gram-negative bacteria, denies this possibility. Individuals suffering from rosacea frequently feel quite helpless to arrest the unwanted change in their appearance. However, the various avoidance exercises they have at their disposal can provide some comfort at the very least. Taking steps to avoid certain things, and developing the discipline to give certain things up (like caffeine, for example) can be quite an empowering experience with a positive psychological effect—even if its true cosmetic effects with respect to rosacea are minimal or simply imperceptible. However, gram-negative rosacea is completely out of the control and command of the afflicted individual. This makes it a significantly more demoralizing experience for many individuals.
What does Gram-negative Rosacea treatment look like?
Gram-negative rosacea treatment is effectively impossible. While gram-negative rosacea is very different from archetypical rosacea in its root, the ultimate result is the same. The best recourse to actually conceal gram-negative rosacea is to apply cosmetics over it. However, the primary subject of treatment is not the rosacea itself but rather the bacteria causing it. The cosmetic effects of gram-negative rosacea take a definite backseat to the gravity of the gram-negative bacterial infection. Gram-negative bacteria should be treated aggressively and without hesitation to prevent its further spread. Much like some strains of staph and MRSA, gram-negative bacteria can be very difficult to eradicate completely and can consequently spread very powerfully very fast.
Gram-negative bacteria are treated with very strong antibiotics. Most bacteria are fairly vulnerable to some antibiotic or other, to say nothing of the body’s own immune system’s ability to combat them as necessary on its own, but gram-negative bacteria manages to evade most antibiotics. The antibiotics required frequently have their own side effects, and treatment for a gram-negative bacterial infection can be quite uncomfortable due to this.
Rosacea is usually ‘treated’ through advanced avoidance. Because so many factors can cause rosacea outbreaks for different individuals, long lists are frequently compiled so individuals suffering from rosacea with a desire to arrest its outbreak and development can avoid as many triggers as possible throughout their day-to-day. Gram-negative rosacea denies this as a possibility, as the gram-negative bacteria in the system is causing the outbreak. Thus, while gram-negative bacterial infections can be treated, gram-negative rosacea is even less treatable.
How do I know if I have Gram-negative Rosacea?
Gram-negative rosacea will not have a trigger in the same way that rosacea will. This is to say that, while rosacea is frequently triggered in outbreak form through sunlight, heat or other environmental conditions, caffeine or other chemical intake, or what have you, gram-negative rosacea does not outbreak so much as manifest in response to a gram-negative bacterial infection. The sudden onset of what will look like type-II or type-III rosacea would likely indicate gram-negative rosacea.
This said, gram-negative rosacea is likely to be a secondary or tertiary symptom of a gram-negative bacterial infection. Gram-negative bacterial infections are very severe, far in excess of the gravity of the rosacea symptom. This will likely present with other symptoms first that will demand medical attention, and the gram-negative bacterial infection itself will require direct medical intervention. Whether or not you have successfully self-diagnosed gram-negative rosacea (and self-diagnosis is never something to bet on), one must always contact a medical professional immediately if gram-negative bacteria are involved.