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Rosacea is a common skin condition characterized by redness and burning across the central areas of the face.
The initial symptom is usually a tendency to flush, which causes the skin to turn red temporarily. Flushing mainly affects the face but may also extend along the neck and down to the chest. Flushing is often caused by particular triggers such as exposure to sunlight, hot or cold temperature, strenuous exercise and hot drinks.
This initial flushing symptom is often followed by the development of a persistent red rash across the middle areas of the face such as the cheeks, nose and forehead. This persistent redness is referred to as erythema and resembles a patch of sunburn or the blotchy areas that can appear across the face while drinking alcohol. Rosacea sufferers are often embarrassed by this rash because they assume people think it is caused by drinking too much alcohol. The rash mainly affects the cheeks and chin, but can also extend to the neck and chest areas. It may also cause a warm, burning or stinging sensation.
Aside from this red rash, other symptoms that may occur include the following:
The blood vessels in the skin may eventually become permanently dilated and visible underneath the skin’s surface. This feature of rosacea is referred to as telangiectasia.
Raised, red bumps called papules and pus-filled blisters called pustules may start to develop. Although these spots can look like acne, rosacea and acne are entirely distinct skin conditions.
In severe cases of rosacea, the skin may start to thicken and swell, forming red, fleshy protrusions across the nose. This symptom is referred to as rhinophyma and tends to develop in men rather than women.
People with rosacea may also find the condition starts to affect their eyes, which may become watery, itchy, bloodshot, dry and sore. This is referred to as ocular rosacea.
Rosacea tends to come and go, with periods where symptoms are less severe being followed by a “flare-up” of the condition. Examples of factors that are often reported to trigger a flare-up are given below:
Although it is not possible to cure rosacea, it is possible to manage the condition to minimize the likelihood of a flare-up occurring. One of the main ways this is achieved is through the avoidance of factors that trigger or worsen symptoms of the condition. Some of the main measures people with rosacea can take to help manage their condition are described below.
Sunlight is the factor most commonly reported to trigger rosacea symptoms. Rosacea sufferers should always use sun cream, even on cloudy, overcast days. A sun cream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 that also protects against UVA and UVB is recommended. Any exposed skin can also be covered with clothes or a hat to reduce skin irritation. During the summer, patients should try to minimize their exposure to the sun, particularly around midday when the sun is at its hottest.
Stress is another common trigger factor and rosacea sufferers are advised to develop relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or yoga that they can use to reduce their stress levels. Exercise can also reduce stress, although a low-intensity exercise should be chosen such as swimming or walking, since vigorous exercise is also known to exacerbate symptoms in some individuals.
Other common triggers of rosacea symptoms are alcohol and spicy food. Rosacea sufferers may need to eliminate these items from their diet. However, the dietary triggers of rosacea vary widely between individuals and patients are often advised to keep a diary logging their exposure to any potential food triggers. This can help them identify which specific food types they should avoid in the future. How severely the food seems to affect rosacea symptoms should also be recorded in the diary.
Rosacea sufferers can minimize their exposure to the cold by covering any areas of the face exposed to the cold with a scarf or balaclava.
Rosacea patients should stick to the following skincare techniques to help keep their symptoms under control: