Rosacea: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
by Courtney
If you have redness that doesn't go away, you might have a skin condition called rosacea.
If you have redness on your face that doesn't go away, you may have rosacea. It's a common skin condition that usually affects middle-aged women. But men and women of all ages and skin types can get it. Rosacea usually starts as redness on the cheeks, nose, chin, or forehead. The redness may come and go. But it tends to get worse over time. You may also have tiny red bumps or pus-filled pimples. Your skin may feel hot and tender. Your eyes may be irritated and look watery or bloodshot. You may even feel like you have a cold sore or flu.
Causes
The cause of rosacea is unknown. But it could be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Rosacea is not caused by poor hygiene or by eating spicy foods. It is also not contagious.
Symptoms
Rosacea symptoms can come and go. They tend to flare up for weeks or months and then go away for a while. The most common symptom is flushing, which is when your face turns red for a short period of time. This may happen after you eat, drink alcohol, or exercise.
Other symptoms include:
- Red patches on your skin
- Small blood vessels in your skin
- Watery or irritated eyes
- Burning, stinging, or itching feeling on your skin
- Thickening of your skin, especially around the nose
- Swelling or inflammation
Treatments
There is no cure for rosacea. But treatments can help control it. Common treatments include:
- Laser to shrink and tighten dilated blood vessels
- Laser to remove larger broken and visible vessels
- LED (light emitting diode) therapy to reduce redness, inflammation and strengthen skin
- Antibiotics to reduce inflammation
- Special creams or gels to apply to your skin
You may need to try different treatments before you find the one that works best for you. Some people only need treatment once in a while. Others need treatment more frequently to keep their symptoms under control.
Rosacea is a common but often misunderstood condition that causes redness and other problems with the skin. Although there is no cure, rosacea can be controlled with treatment and/or lifestyle changes. If you think you might have rosacea, the skin care team at Facelab can diagnose the condition and develop a treatment plan that's right for you.
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