Understanding Rosacea

Many people experience a bit of skin flushing or redness from time to time. Your face might turn red when you’re embarrassed, or your skin might get a little pink if you spend too long in the sun without adequate protection. For some people, though, skin redness isn’t something that comes and goes quickly and easily. It can persist, leading to what looks like bumps or pimples. It can even involve visible blood vessels beneath the surface of the skin. These can be symptoms of rosacea, a common skin problem.

Some people, particularly those with fair or very light skin, are especially prone to rosacea. Rosacea can be a mysterious condition. It can cause flare-ups that persist for a few months or weeks, then go away again for some time. Some people mistakenly think their rosacea is acne or a reaction to a product they’ve been using.

Understanding what rosacea looks like and what triggers it can help you figure out a plan for treating and coping with it.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Rosacea

While you could argue that “redness” is a sign of rosacea, the actual symptoms can go beyond having red skin. In fact, the type of symptoms a person has often depends on the type of rosacea they are dealing with. Four types of rosacea exist and each type has its own set of symptoms.

For example, erythematotelangiectatic rosacea most often causes facial redness and flushing. Another sign of this is visible blood vessels.  Papulopustular rosacea also causes redness, along with bumps and what look like pimples. A third type, Phymatous rosacea, causes the skin to thicken, leading to the development of an enlarged nose. The fourth type of rosacea, ocular rosacea, affects the eyes. It can cause dry eyes, tearing, swelling in the eyes and blurry vision.

What Are the Effects of Rosacea?

Although the mildest cases of rosacea might not have much of an impact on a person’s overall quality of life, more severe cases can have a significant negative effect. One study from the National Rosacea Society found that more than 40 percent of people with the skin condition reported feeling embarrassed enough by their appearance that they canceled events or plans. More than 70 percent of people with rosacea reported feeling a drop in their self-esteem and self-confidence as a result of the problem. Almost a third of people stated that they missed work as a result of rosacea.

What Makes Rosacea Worse?

While doctors and other scientists haven’t yet found a specific cause for rosacea, they have found that some people seem to be more prone to the condition than others. It seems to primarily affect people with very light skin who have Scandinavian or Celtic ancestry. The condition is also most likely to occur in people between the ages of 30 and 40. People with rosacea are also likely to have had severe acne at some point or another.

Although the exact cause isn’t known, there do seem to be a few factors that can make symptoms of rosacea worse or that seem to trigger a flare-up. A few common triggers include:

• Sunlight
• Wind
• Heat or cold
• Spicy foods
• Exercising
• Alcohol
• Some cosmetics
• Some medications
• Caffeine

How to Treat or Control Rosacea

For some people, identifying the things that trigger a flare-up, then avoiding those things, can help to keep rosacea under control. For example, wearing sunscreen daily or limiting the time you spend outdoors when the sun is at its strongest can help you to avoid a flare-up triggered by the sun. If coffee, wine or hot peppers seem to trigger flare-ups, it’s best to avoid those.

Some people also find that changing their skincare routine and using products specifically formulated for people with rosacea or that are known to reduce flare-ups can help. Often, these products are available by prescription.

Laser treatments can also help people deal with the signs of rosacea. Laser treatments such as LimeLight, Genesis or IPL can help to minimize redness, reduce the appearance of blood vessels and improve the texture of the skin.

Diagnosing rosacea is the first step toward treating and controlling it. If you’re dealing with possible symptoms of rosacea, a complimentary consultation at Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique in Houston, Texas, can help you understand the type of rosacea you’re dealing with and your options for controlling it. To schedule your consultation, call 281-810-9083 today.