What causes rosacea?
Researchers don’t yet fully understand what causes rosacea. The condition does seem to have a genetic component and most often affects people with fair skin who blush easily.
Certain triggers can make rosacea flare up, but aren’t the cause. These triggers stimulate the expansion of blood vessels in the face, exacerbating redness. Common triggers include:
- Alcohol consumption
- Exercise
- Exposure to the elements, including sun, hot weather, wind, and temperature swings
- Stress
- Spicy food
Keep a journal of your symptoms and possible causes. This helps you make lifestyle changes to reduce flare-ups of rosacea.
How is rosacea diagnosed?
Rosacea usually appears in a characteristic pattern, making it relatively straightforward to diagnose. You usually do not need specific skin tests to be diagnosed.
What are the symptoms of rosacea?
Rosacea symptoms range from mild to more severe. Although the redness of rosacea starts at your nose and cheeks, it can progress to your forehead, chin, ears, back, and chest.
Signs that you may have rosacea include:
- Deep flushing, easy blushing, and sensitive, dry skin
- Acne-like breakouts or bumps and pimples within the reddened areas
- Coarse and thick skin
- Dryness and irritation in the eyes
Severe cases may result in rhinophyma, or knobby bumps on the nose. In rare cases, rosacea can progress to a point that you lose your vision or experience serious thickening of the skin on your face.
How is rosacea treated?
At Bellevue Acne Clinic, the team offers prescription oral and topical medication to ease symptoms and prevent worsening of the condition. Oral medications include low-dose antibiotics. Topical treatments may contain medicine, such as azelaic acid.
You may also be a candidate for photodynamic therapy, which uses intense pulsed light laser treatments to address redness caused by the tiny blood vessels in the face. The laser increases cell turnover and stimulates collagen production. Bradford Jellerichs can help you determine if this laser therapy is right for you.
You can take care of the sensitivity of rosacea-affected skin with special moisturizers and sunscreen. Prescription eye drops and artificial tears may alleviate any eye discomfort caused by rosacea.
