Is your face always a crimson color even though you’ve never stepped foot (or head) in a tanning salon? Does your face turn red even when there is nothing to be embarrassed about, except for…well…your red face?
You might have Rosacea, a skin condition that affects 14 million people in the U.S., mainly fair skinned women between the ages of 30 and 60.
What are the symptoms?
- Frequent redness(flushing) mainly in the center of your face(forehead, nose, cheeks and chin.)
- Small red lines under the skin Lines show up when blood vessels under the skin get larger.
- Small bumps on the skin Sometimes the bumps have puss inside(pimples) but not always.
- Inflamed eyes/eyelids(Not everyone with rosacea experiences this.)
- A swollen nose in some people The nose becomes red, larger and bumpy.
- Thicker skin Rosacea causes a thickening of skin on the forehead, chin and cheeks.
What causes Rosacea?
Doctors aren’t sure but they think it happens when blood vessels expand too easily. People who blush a lot have a better chance of getting Rosacea. It may also run in families.
Certain factors may trigger a flare up:
- Heat(including hot baths)
- Extreme exercise
- Exposure to sunlight
- Heavy wind
- Very cold temperatures
- Alcohol consumption
- Spicy food
- Stress
Is there a cure for Rosacea?
No, but your dermatologist can prescribe effective treatment:
- Topical or oral antibiotics are effective in decreasing skin bumps but may not work as well on redness and flushing.
- Laser Surgery For some people, lasers improve overall redness by removing visible blood vessels.
- Skin extraction Women with a swollen, bumpy nose can get the extra skin taken off surgically.
- Glycolic acid peel is given every two to four weeks. Your skin will be very red for a few hours after treatment. Avoid sun exposure until your skin color returns to normal.
- Dermabrasion This surgical procedure may alleviate symptoms of Rosacea.
- Special makeup Many women find makeup with a green base offsets the redness in their skin.
How can you help yourself?
- Keep a written record Write down when your flare up occurs. This gives you and your doctor clues as to what triggered the outbreak.
- Apply sunscreen everyday Buy one that protects agains UVA/UVB rays and contains an SPF of at least 15.
- Use a mild moisturizer Don’t put any irritating products on your face, or any lotions, makeup or creams that contain perfume.
- Talk to your doctor if you feel depressed Some women with Rosacea suffer from self esteem issues because of the way their skin looks.
Researchers are looking at new drugs to treat Rosacea. In the meantime you can keep your skin condition in remission by learning what triggers Rosacea in you and avoiding those triggers.
Sources: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Skin Diseases, Cleveland Clinic, National Library of Medicine, American Academy of Dermatology
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