Understanding Rosacea

Have you ever looked at your face and wondered why it was red? You may be dealing with rosacea. There’s actually no cure for rosacea, but there are treatments that can help control the symptoms. If you think you have rosacea, you should see a dermatologist to get the best treatment for your skin. There have been new developments over the years that can help.

Rosacea is a common skin condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can occur at any age, but it is most common in middle-aged women. Rosacea is not contagious, and it is not caused by poor hygiene. I’ve personally dealt with rosacea myself for the past 10 -15 years. I’ve managed it well and most of the time I forget I even have it. I don’t have the type that causes the red cheeks and nose, but rather the type that causes acne-like breakouts. I’ve also experienced the type that affected my eyes.

There are four subtypes of rosacea:

• Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: This subtype is characterized by redness, flushing, and visible blood vessels.
• Papulopustular rosacea: You’ll find that this type of Rosacea is characterized by redness, swelling, and acne-like breakouts.
• Phymatous rosacea: This Rosacea is thickening of the skin and bumps.
• Ocular rosacea: This type usually includes red, irritated eyes and can lead to vision problems.

The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but it is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Rosacea may be triggered by certain lifestyle factors, such as sun exposure, stress, alcohol consumption, and spicy foods.

FAQs About Rosacea

Can rosacea be cured?

There is no cure for rosacea, but there are treatments that can help control the symptoms.

Is rosacea contagious?

No, rosacea is not contagious. It cannot be passed from person to person.

What are the symptoms of rosacea?

The symptoms of rosacea vary depending on the subtype, but can include redness, flushing, visible blood vessels, swelling, and acne-like breakouts.

How is rosacea treated?

Rosacea is treated with a combination of lifestyle changes and medical therapy. Lifestyle changes may include avoiding triggers, such as sun exposure, stress, alcohol consumption, and spicy foods. Medical therapy can include topical creams and oral medications. I used a few different topical prescription medications as well as oral medications. Some that I tried were Oracea, Finacea, Metrogel and Minocycline.

Can rosacea be prevented?

There is no sure way to prevent rosacea, but you can help reduce your risk by avoiding triggers and using sunscreen.

How Rosacea Affects Women

While rosacea can affect both men and women, this chronic skin condition is considerably more common among women. In fact, the National Rosacea Society estimates that over 16 million American women suffer from rosacea. Women of all ages, races and ethnicities can develop rosacea, but this skin disorder is most likely to first appear during a woman’s middle-age years.

Experience Certain Symptoms

There are several ways in which rosacea affects women differently than men. First, women are more likely to experience certain symptoms of rosacea, such as dryness, itching and burning sensations. They are also more likely to develop ocular rosacea, a condition that causes redness, burning and itching in the eyes.

Hormonal Changes

Another difference between men and women with rosacea is that flare-ups in women are often triggered by hormonal changes. For example, many women notice that their rosacea gets worse during pregnancy, menopause or when they are taking birth control pills. In contrast, men are more likely to experience rosacea flare-ups in response to environmental triggers, such as wind, sun or cold weather.

Rosacea Can Be Emotional

Finally, women tend to be more self-conscious about their appearance than men, and thus may feel more emotionally affected by rosacea. In a survey conducted by the National Rosacea Society, nearly 70% of women said that rosacea had lowered their self-confidence and self-esteem. In addition, over 60% said that rosacea had caused them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements.

If you think you may have rosacea, talk to your doctor. They can help you develop a treatment plan that is right for you.