What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes blushing or flushing and visible blood vessels in your face. It may also produce small, pus-filled bumps. These signs and symptoms may flare up for weeks to months and then go away for a while. Rosacea can be mistaken for acne, other skin problems or natural ruddiness.

Rosacea can affect anyone. But it's most common in middle-aged white women. There's no cure for rosacea, but treatment can control and reduce the signs and symptoms.

Signs and symptoms of rosacea include:

Facial blushing or flushing. Rosacea can cause a persistent blushing or flushing in the central part of your face. This sign of the condition may be difficult to see on brown and Black skin.

Visible veins. Small blood vessels of your nose and cheeks break and become visible (spider veins).

What causes Rosacea?

The cause of rosacea is unknown, but it could be due to an overactive immune system, heredity, environmental factors or a combination of these. Rosacea is not caused by poor hygiene and it's not contagious.

Flare-ups might be triggered by:
+ Hot drinks and spicy foods
+ Red wine and other alcoholic beverages
+ Temperature extremes, Sun or wind
+ Emotions
+ Exercise
+ Drugs that dilate blood vessels, including some blood pressure medications
+ Some cosmetic, skin or hair care products

Anyone can develop rosacea. But you may be more likely to develop it if you:
+ Are female, but males can also suffer from rosacea
+ Have skin that burns easily in the sun
+ Are over age 30
+ Smoke
+ Have a family history of rosacea

What are treatments for rosacea?

Treatment for rosacea focuses on controlling signs and symptoms. Most often this requires a combination of good skin care and treatment. Great skincare options include Cosmedix Reduce (to control the redness) and Aspect Dr Redless (to protect and nourish the sun).

The duration of your treatment depends on the type and severity of your signs and symptoms. Recurrence is common.

Treatment options which are highly effective include:
1. IPL treatment
2. Venus Viva to reduce redness and strengthen the skin

We also recommend:

Identify and avoid triggers. Pay attention to what tends to cause flare-ups for you and avoid those triggers.

Protect your face. Apply sunscreen liberally daily before going outdoors. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

What are the most common symptoms of Rosacea?

Aside from general skin health, sometimes we have a skin condition that worries us. If you have a scar, acne, broken Flushing. You may notice that your skin gets flushed easily or that you blush often. You may see some of the characteristic redness of rosacea all the time or a red-faced appearance may seem to come and go.

Skin sensitivity. Another rosacea symptom is discomfort of the skin on the face. The skin can be quite sensitive and may sting or burn.

Pustules and papules. Bumps on the face that may be pus-filled are often a sign of rosacea. You might just write them off as a breakout or a case of adult acne, but you won’t see any of acne’s typical clogged pores or blackheads.

Tiny, broken blood vessels. With repeated flushing, blood vessels can become dilated, most prominently on the cheeks and nose.

Changes in skin’s appearance. Rosacea symptoms can become more obvious if the condition advances unchecked. Common signs of rosacea that is progressing include a persistent, dark red color on parts of the face, swelling, and thickened skin.