What is rosacea?
Rosacea is an ongoing skin condition that causes redness, visible blood vessels, and acne-like pimples to appear on your face. These symptoms can affect your cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, and eyelids. Rosacea symptoms can flare up for several weeks or months and then disappear for a little while.
Generally, rosacea begins after age 30. Rosacea can affect anyone, but it’s most common in people with fair skin who blush easily.
Rosacea’s not curable, but the Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology Associates team offers treatments that can control your symptoms.
What are the symptoms of rosacea?
Symptoms of rosacea vary in type and severity. Most people experience several symptoms at the same time. Symptoms can include:
- Flushing
- Swelling
- Persistent facial redness
- Visible blood vessels on the face
- Acne-like bumps or pimples
- Raised red patches of skin
- Burning, itching, or stinging skin
- Rough or dry skin
- Watery or irritated eyes
- Enlarged nose
In addition to your face, rosacea can appear on your neck, chest, scalp, and ears. If you experience ongoing facial redness, call Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology Associates for an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
What causes rosacea?
The exact cause of rosacea is unknown. Research shows that several things can trigger rosacea flare-ups, including:
- Strenuous exercise
- Sun exposure
- Hot or cold weather
- Alcohol
- Spicy foods
- Hot beverages
- Wind
- Hot baths
- Humidity
- Indoor heat
- Emotional stress
Certain skin care products and medications that dilate blood vessels can also trigger a rosacea flare-up.
How is rosacea treated?
Rosacea has no cure, and each case is unique. The Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology Associates team carefully examines your skin and reviews your medical history before creating a personalized treatment plan.
Depending on your needs, treatment can include oral antibiotics and topical medications to reduce your symptoms. During periods of remission, you might only need to use topical treatments.
For severe cases, your dermatologist could recommend treatment with a vascular laser, intense pulsed light (IPL), or another medical device to reduce the appearance of redness and blood vessels.
How can I prevent rosacea flare-ups?
To reduce the number of rosacea flare-ups, the Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology Associates team could recommend a daily gentle skin care routine and regular sun protection. It’s also helpful to keep a record of your flare-ups to identify what might be triggering flare-ups.
If you or a loved one has rosacea, call Aesthetic and Clinical Dermatology Associates today, or request an appointment online.
