Explore essential strategies for rosacea with our expert guide. Uncover causes, triggers and solutions to prevent redness and find relief
Rosacea: definition, causes & treatments
Reading time : 7 min
How to understand and treat rosacea?
Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness on your face. Discover our expert guide to uncover the causes and find the solutions to prevent rosacea from developing.
What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that affects the face with redness and may also cause enlarged blood vessels and small bumps. Often mistaken with acne, rosacea is a disease that appears differently from one person to the next.
Rosacea and lupus rash are two different skin conditions sharing some similarities like the appearance of redness and flushing on the skin. Both can easily be confused but they are two different conditions.
Lupus rash often appears as a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and the nose whereas rosacea usually appears as redness with visible blood vessels and bumps on the face.
Also, lupus rash is a symptom of an autoimmune disease whereas rosacea's exact cause is still unknown.
To make the difference between both conditions, a diagnosis from a doctor is essential.
The most common places to find symptoms of rosacea are the nose, cheeks and forehead but they can also appear on the chin, chest, ears, neck and scalp.
Rosacea can flare throughout your life, and it can affect anyone. More than 14 million people (about twice the population of Arizona) in the US are affected by rosacea.
Rosacea can affect all skin types and develop at any age, but surveys indicate that some people are more likely to develop this condition.
Indeed, people between the ages of 30 to 50 years having a history with smoking or genetic heritage are more likely to develop rosacea.
Also, people with fair skin that easily burns in the sun are believed to be at greatest risk. People of northern or eastern European descent are especially affected by this skin condition.
The disorder is more common in women but tends to be more severe in men.
Symptoms of rosacea
The main symptoms of rosacea can vary greatly from one person to another, but they mainly consist in redness and flushing. When left untreated, rosacea’s symptoms become more persistent and inflammatory bumps often develop on the nose.
The skin may thicken and enlarge mostly on the nose. This condition can lead to facial disfigurement and nasal airflow disfunction.
Rosacea can make your face flush more easily. The flushing is frequent and may come and go. It may be accompanied by a sense of heat and warmth.
Many people with rosacea develop pimples on their face that look like acne. Small, red, solid or pus-filled bumps are a sign of rosacea’s symptoms but unlike acne, blackheads pimples are absent.
Small blood vessels become larger and more visible on the nose and the cheeks. Looking like spider veins, these red lines are visible on your skin in rosacea’s condition.
Because of ocular rosacea, your eyes are dry, irritated and swollen. They can appear watery or bloodshot. Letf untreated, this symptom can result in cornea damage and vision loss.
Other symptoms like burning or stinging sensations might occur on your face, or dry skin, plaques that look like a rash, skin thickening and swelling.
What triggers rosacea symptoms?
The causes of rosacea are not fully understood but some triggers can cause rosacea’s symptoms to flare and become worse.
Dermatologists seem to agree that rosacea is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors associated with poor regulation of the immune system. As a result, the body reacts to aggression that does not exist.
The presence of microscopic skin mites is a potential contributor to rosacea if there are too numerous.
A bacteria, called H.Pylori, responsible for an infection, is also said to cause rosacea. Indeed, serious systemic diseases increase the risk of rosacea.
In any case, rosacea is not a contagious condition, and it cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
Environmental factors like extreme temperatures or sun exposure can cause flare-ups.
Avoid heat from hot showers, saunas, hammams and sunburn which lead to inflammations.
Other factors that can trigger rosacea are:
Emotional stress
Alcohol consumption
Spicy foods
Skin/hair products
Drugs that dilate blood vessels
Hormonal changes
How to diagnose rosacea?
To diagnose rosacea, you need to see a health care specialist who will conduct an exam to analyze your symptoms and consider your medical history.
If you have ongoing symptoms you need to see a skin specialist as soon as possible to get the right diagnosis and a matching treatment.
How is rosacea treated?
There are various treatments to manage and relieve the symptoms of rosacea depending on the degree of the condition.
It can take several weeks to a few months before your symptoms reduce.
However, as the disease is unstable and specialists do not fully understand it, it may be hard to find the right treatment.
Laser treatment is used to remove visible blood vessels and limit the redness spots on your skin. It is used in a second phase to treat more severe symptoms.
In the case of phymatous rosacea, also called rhinophyma, surgical procedures can be performed to correct nose disfigurement.
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How to reduce or prevent rosacea
In addition to long term medical therapy, there are many other steps that can be taken to prevent flare-ups and the aggravation of the symptoms.
When you can identify the triggers responsible for your symptoms, it helps a lot to manage your condition. Keep a diary of daily activities and link them to any flare-ups
Once you know the triggers that are responsible for your flare-ups, avoid them to prevent any future flares.
When you have rosacea, you need to adopt a specific skin care routine which is compatible with your condition.
Avoid any skin irritants
Use a gentle cleanser with no-alcohol and rinse with lukewarm water
Never use a rough washcloth to dry your face
BIODERMA’s range of products, called Sensibio, is perfectly suited for sensitive skin prone to visible redness.
Sensibio AR is an ultra-soothing care that visibly decreases the look of redness caused by dryness.
Sensibio Defensive Serum is a long-lasting smoothing moisturizer that acts against inflammation and immediately soothes the skin.
Cosmetics may be used to conceal the effects of rosacea. Green-tinted base moisturizers can minimize redness as well as foundations that are oil-free and one shade lighter that your natural skin tone.
Sun exposure can trigger rosacea which is why you need to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. If you must stay outside when the sun is at its maximum, wear long sleeves, pants and a hat.
As we saw throughout this article, rosacea is a chronic condition where your symptoms can come and go unexpectedly at any age. Harmless, rosacea causes discomfort and appearance changes. It can have a strong impact on the quality of life and self-esteem leading to emotional stress and depression.
Treatment options help reduce the symptoms and keep them in remission. Talk to your doctor as soon as you experience the first symptoms to find the best treatment.
