Rosacea
Causes & Symptoms
Rosacea is a common skin disorder which causes the face and neck area to become red and inflamed, usually affecting people between 30 and 50 years old and rarely affects children. This condition may also appear as inflamed red bumps with small pus-filled spots, which may resemble acne.
Rosacea may cause the skin texture to thicken and develop into an ‘orange peel’ feel. More localised, lumpy swellings may occur particularly over the nose. This mainly occurs in men and can progress from a mild ‘cobblestone’ pattern to create a bulbous nose, which is a subtype of this condition. It can also affect the eyes causing red, sore, gritty eyelids.
This skin condition is most likely to affect people with fair skin, blue eyes and Celtic origin. It can begin as facial flushing or blushing and can lead to burst capillaries of the skin.
Treatment at The Skin Hospital
All dermatologists at The Skin Hospital are highly trained to treat this condition.
Things such as hot drinks, alcohol, spicy foods, hot baths or saunas may trigger or aggravate symptoms. Sun damage may also contribute to the development of rosacea and in some cases, avoiding these triggers may be enough to improve mild instances. Some skincare products may cause stinging, burning or irritation and can worsen the redness and flushing and should thus be avoided.
Regular moisturisers and soap free cleansers should be used, as well as sunscreen when outdoors. If you are looking to disguise your symptoms, a green tinted makeup can be used to camouflage the redness.
Topical and oral antibiotics are effective in many people with rosacea, however they may take several weeks or months to work. Regular topical antibiotics can be used as maintenance therapy which may prolong periods of remission. In addition, dermatologists also use vascular lasers and intense pulsed light devices to treat persistent redness, ‘broken’ capillaries and difficult cases of rosacea. However, multiple treatments are often required.
Surgical procedures or resurfacing lasers may be used in the treatment of a ‘bulbous’ nose. Without treatment some patients may slowly worsen leading to distressing disfigurement and serious eye disease and multiple treatments may be necessary to maintain patient health.
Further Information
If you would like further information on rosacea the sites below provide more in-depth descriptions of rosacea:
Find a Specialist
All our dermatologists are highly skilled in diagnosing and treating Rosacea. Click on the link below to find a dermatologist who can help you with your skin condition.