CALL TODAY: Everyone’s face flushes or turns red from time to time. When redness is temporary, sunburn, exertion, or embarrassment are often the culprits. For some people, however, facial redness is persistent. It can last for a few weeks or months and might be accompanied by small bumps on the skin. This condition is known as rosacea.
In some cases, people with rosacea think that they have another issue, such as acne or an allergic reaction. Understanding who’s more likely to get the skin issue and what causes it can help you get the right treatment for it.
Why Do People Get Rosacea?
Why some people develop ongoing redness isn’t fully understood. Although we’re not sure why some people get rosacea, there do seem to be a few factors that can increase a person’s chances of developing the issue.
Rosacea seems to run in families. Typically, people who have parents or grandparents with the condition are more likely to develop it themselves. Other risk factors include an overactive immune system, exposure to certain bacteria, a common skin mite or a susceptibility to environmental triggers. A few things can trigger an outbreak in people who are prone to rosacea. For example, some people find that their skin flares up after they eat spicy foods or when they drink alcohol. Hot or cold temperatures, windy conditions or sun exposure can also cause flare-ups.
Who Gets Rosacea?
Millions of people have this relatively common skin condition, including 14 million people in the US, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The condition can affect anyone, of any age or complexion type.
There does seem to be a group of people who are more prone to the issue than others, however. That group includes women between the ages of 30 and 50 who have fair skin and blonde hair. People of Celtic or Scandinavian heritage tend to be the most likely to develop the condition.
Interestingly enough, although skin redness is more common in women than in men, when men do develop it, they tend to have more severe symptoms.
Are There Different Types of Rosacea?
Although redness of the nose and cheeks are the symptoms most commonly associated with rosacea, there are actually four different types of the condition. Each type has its own set of symptoms.
Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea is the type most people think of. It causes the skin to flush or turn red and can lead to visible blood vessels. The second type, known as acne or papulopustular, causes swelling and redness in the skin as well as bumps and breakouts that look like acne.
The third type of rosacea is phymatous, which causes the skin to thicken and change its texture. When phymatous rosacea affects the nose, it’s known as rhinophyma. This third type is uncommon.
The fourth form of the disease doesn’t just affect the skin, but the eyes as well. Known as ocular rosacea, it causes irritation in the eyes, as well as redness and swelling of the eyelids.
Can You Prevent Rosacea?
While you might not be able to prevent rosacea, you can find ways to avoid flare-ups or outbreaks if you do have it. One way to keep your symptoms at bay is to find out what triggers them, then do your best to avoid those triggers. For some people, that means avoiding certain foods or drinks. It can also mean limiting the type you spend in the sun and wearing sunscreen daily to avoid damage caused by the sun’s rays.
How Can You Treat Rosacea?
One of the drawbacks of rosacea is that over time, the redness in the skin can become permanent. In that case, treating the redness might help you feel more confident about your skin. Usually, laser treatments such as Vbeam Perfecta or intense pulsed light (IPL) are recommended to reduce the appearance of redness. Microchanneling treatments can also improve the appearance of the redness of rosacea. Some people also find that antibiotics and certain skincare products help them manage and treat the symptoms associated with rosacea.
If your face flushes regularly and you are worried that it might be rosacea, a dermatologist can diagnose the problem and design a custom treatment program for you. To learn more about skin redness and rosacea, schedule a consultation with Dr. Diane Walder, a leading dermatologist in the US. Dr. Walder and her colleagues offer a multi-modality approach at her practice in Miami that can help keep rosacea under control. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Walder or one of her associates, call 305-866-2177 today.
