What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a skin condition that causes redness and raised, red bumps on the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, or eyelids. Rosacea is a long-term condition that will get worse over time if it is not treated.
Rosacea happens most often in adults ages 30 to 60.
What are the symptoms of rosacea?
Rosacea affects the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, or eyelids. Symptoms include:
- Redness
- Blushing easily
- Raised, red bumps with or without pus in them – Bumps from rosacea can sometimes look like acne, but they aren’t acne.
- Tiny, swollen blood vessels on the skin (called “telangiectasias”)
- A burning or gritty feeling in the eyes
- A red, swollen, and rounded nose
Sometimes, people’s symptoms are under control. Other times, people’s symptoms worsen and flare up. Flare-ups are usually caused by “triggers,” which are things that make symptoms worse. Common triggers include:
- Eating hot or spicy foods, or drinking hot drinks
- Drinking alcohol
- Being too hot or cold
- Sunlight
- Stress and other strong emotions
How is rosacea treated?
Treatment for rosacea has 2 parts. The treatments do not cure rosacea, but they help control symptoms and prevent flare-ups.
Treatment involves both:
- Medications – There are different medications to treat rosacea. The medications can come as gels, creams, or lotions that go on your skin, or as pills to ingest. There are also energy based devices like Intense Pulsed Light that can decrease the flushing and redness.
- Energy Based Devices – There are also energy based devices like Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) that can decrease the flushing and redness.
- Lifestyle changes – To help control your symptoms and prevent flare-ups, you should:
- Avoid the common triggers listed above and any other triggers that you know worsen your symptoms
- Use mild, unscented face cleansers to wash your face
- Wear sunscreen every day and remember to reapply every two hours!
- Avoid using products on your face with alcohol, acid, or other ingredients that could bother your skin