What is rosacea?
Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that primarily affects your face but may spread to your ears, chest, and back. This condition often begins as a tendency to blush, then turns into persistent redness in the center of your face.
In addition to redness, you’ll develop other symptoms, depending on the type of rosacea:
Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea
This type of rosacea causes redness, flushing, and visible blood vessels around your nose and cheeks.
Papulopustular rosacea
In addition to redness, this form of rosacea causes swelling and acne-like breakouts.
Phymatous rosacea
The primary symptom of phymatous rosacea is thickened skin with a bumpy texture, often affecting your nose, chin, forehead, and ears.
Ocular rosacea
Rosacea may affect your eyes, causing redness, burning, stinging, light sensitivity, and swollen eyelids.
What triggers rosacea?
Patients with rosacea go through periods of remission alternating with symptom flare-ups that last for weeks to months. Flare-ups are often triggered by factors such as:
- Sunlight and wind
- Hot and cold temperatures
- Spicy foods
- Alcohol
- Stress
- Strenuous exercise
- Cosmetics and skin care products
While these triggers are common, yours may be different because each patient has their own unique triggers.
How do dermatologists treat rosacea?
Your treatment begins by identifying your triggers and developing a plan to avoid them. Eliminating triggers can prevent or reduce future flare-ups. This step is important because every time you have another flare-up, your symptoms last longer, eventually turning into permanent redness.
In addition to dealing with triggers, your treatment includes:
Sun protection
Patients with rosacea tend to be highly sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light. Protect your skin by using sunscreen every day, avoiding the midday sun, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
Gentle skin care
Scrubbing your skin and many skin care products irritate rosacea and trigger flare-ups. Your provider at West Derm Center can recommend gentle products and a skin care regimen that soothes rosacea.
Light-based treatment
Treatment with the cutting-edge Aerolase® laser can help eliminate visible blood vessels, acne-like breakouts, and redness.
Medications
Depending on the type of rosacea, your provider at West Derm Center may recommend one of several medications that reduce redness and treat thickened skin or acne breakouts.
If you’re not sure whether your skin redness is rosacea or if you have acne that doesn’t improve, call West Derm Center or click the online scheduler to book an appointment today.
