Do you blush or flush easily? When you look in the mirror, do you see redness in the center of your face? Do you also see acne-like breakouts even though your teen years ended decades ago? Where you have redness, do you see tiny veins?
If so, you might have rosacea. Common signs and symptoms include:
For some people, rosacea becomes more noticeable with time. The redness can become permanent. The skin may feel hot and tender. Your skin can become so sensitive that getting water on your face causes burning and stinging.
Some people see the affected skin grow thick – this is more common among men than women. It is caused by enlarging oil glands in the skin. When this happens to the nose, the medical term for this condition is “rhinophyma.” The nose enlarges, and thick bumps can form on it.
Rosacea is a common skin condition. In the United States, millions of people have rosacea. You have a greater likelihood of developing rosacea if you are:
However, people of all races and ages get rosacea. Rosacea may also occur in people who have darker skin, hair and eyes.
While rosacea is more common in women, it can affect men more severely.
Recent research suggests that rosacea tends to run in families. If you have blood relatives with rosacea or severe acne, you have a greater risk of getting rosacea.
A personal history of severe acne also increases your risk of getting rosacea.
If you have redness on your face along with acne or small veins, you should see a board-certified dermatologist. A dermatologist can tell you whether you have rosacea and offer a treatment plan.
Although there is no cure for rosacea, when treatment begins at the first sign of rosacea, treatment often controls the disease. You may find relief from or not see or feel the symptoms of rosacea, such as burning, itching, redness or acne-like breakouts.
Many people who treat their rosacea say that treatment improves their quality of life. They say they feel less self-conscious. Another benefit of treatment is that it can prevent rosacea from getting worse. Rosacea can be more difficult to treat if it gets worse.
Research shows that the most effective results come from combining treatments and tailoring treatment to a patient’s signs and symptoms. Your dermatologist may create a treatment plan that includes more than one treatment.
At Cortina, treating rosacea is easy. Simply take an online assessment, get a treatment plan from a Board-Certified Dermatologist, and your customized medication will be delivered to your door. Get started today!
Laser surgery can help reduce the redness. Your dermatologist may recommend a medicine to apply to your skin that can help reduce redness.
Laser surgery or a procedure called electrodessication, which uses small electric needles, can help diminish the small veins.
To treat thickening skin, a dermatologist may remove the excess skin with a scalpel, laser, or electrosurgery.
When rosacea affects your eyes, it is called ocular rosacea. You may notice your eyes are watery or bloodshot, and feel gritty, like you have sand in your eyes. Your eyes may also burn, sting or itch. Your vision may be blurry and your eyes may be sensitive to light.
Treatment for this type of rosacea is essential. Without treatment, the rosacea in your eyes may worsen. In rare cases, it can cause problems with your eyesight. You may need to see an ophthalmologist (a doctor who specialist in treating eye diseases).
To get the best results from your treatment, dermatologists recommend that you learn what triggers your rosacea. Common triggers include spicy foods, hot temperature drinks, caffeine, and alcoholic beverages.
Finding out what triggers your rosacea takes a bit of detective work, but it is not hard. At the end of each day, jot down your exposure to common rosacea triggers. If your rosacea flares, be sure to note that, too.
Once you know your triggers, it is best to avoid them if you can.
Here are tips to help you avoid some common rosacea triggers: