If you’re tired of persistent facial redness across your cheeks and nose, perhaps it’s time to consider professional help.
Everyone dislikes breakouts, but what if your skincare routine and products cannot control the redness and pustules that persistently form across your facial skin? For many, rosacea symptoms and flares are a constant source of frustration. Rosacea is a common skin condition causing facial redness with repeated flare-ups. While it cannot be cured, it can definitely be effectively managed.
The Specifics
What Causes Rosacea?
Rosacea is a skin condition that results in facial redness, with or without pustules, primarily affecting the cheeks and nose. The redness is caused by dilated blood vessels close to the skin surface, and the pustules—often mistaken for acne—result from chronic inflammation of the skin and blood vessels in the affected areas.
In its most severe form, rosacea can lead to the formation of rhinophyma, or a bulbous nose. This occurs in severe cases lasting several years and is more common in men.
The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but it can be linked to family history, diet (especially hot drinks and spicy foods), exercise, alcohol, smoking, medications, emotional stress, temperature changes, and cosmetic products.
Rosacea is most commonly seen in middle-aged women with fair skin but can affect individuals of any age, ethnicity, or gender. Not all cases of rosacea are permanent, and some may spontaneously resolve. There is no single treatment or ‘cure’ for rosacea.
Main Concerns Related to Rosacea
Rosacea encompasses several variations of symptoms and distributions. The American Academy of Dermatology categorizes rosacea into four types:
- Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea: The most common and simple form, characterized by redness across the cheeks and nose.
- Papulopustular Rosacea: Involves redness of the skin with the addition of pus-filled papules.
- Phymatous Rosacea: Leads to thickened, bumpy skin texture.
- Ocular Rosacea: Affects the eyes, causing irritation, redness, and stinging, potentially leading to more severe eye conditions.
Who Should Seek Treatment for Rosacea?
While rosacea is not curable, it is manageable. For light-skinned individuals whose symptoms may be more noticeable, pursuing at-home and professional treatments can be very effective. In more severe forms, seeking treatment can reduce severity and prevent long-term issues. Regardless of the underlying cause, treatment for rosacea can be a liberating and empowering choice.
How to Get Help for Rosacea
Given how common the condition is, there are numerous treatment options ranging from DIY remedies to professional interventions. An excellent first step in managing rosacea is identifying your triggers. Spicy foods, alcohol, hot baths, and certain personal care products can all contribute to rosacea and are easily modifiable. If at-home treatments are not successful, consulting with your medical provider can help determine the cause of your symptoms and the best course of treatment.
Treatment Options for Different Types of Rosacea
Erythematotelangiectatic, Papulopustular, and Phymatous Rosacea:
- Laser Skin Resurfacing: Options like ablative and non-ablative fractional laser skin resurfacing can be used to collapse the small blood vessels causing redness under the skin, leading to brighter skin.
- Facials: Gentle cleansing and exfoliating treatments like Hydrafacial and SilkPeel Facial can soothe skin and reduce inflammation.
- Chemical Peels: Depending on the severity of rosacea, gentle peels like superficial chemical peels, glycolic peels, and salicylic acid peels can refresh and rejuvenate the skin. For more severe forms, medium-depth peels like Jessner’s Peel may be needed.
Papulopustular and Phymatous Rosacea:
- Isotretinoin (Accutane): While predominantly used for acne, isotretinoin can also reduce pustule formation and overactive sebaceous (oil) glands contributing to this type of rosacea.
Ocular Rosacea:
- Antibiotics: Depending on severity, home eye care can be used. In some cases of ocular rosacea, to avoid permanent eye problems, antibiotics are necessary to heal and treat the area.
The Takeaway
While rosacea may be a lifelong skin condition, it does not have to be unmanageable. Avoiding triggers like spicy foods, hot baths, alcohol, smoking, and certain cosmetic products can cause significant improvements in facial redness from the comfort of your home. For additional benefits and improvements, a professional provider can help determine what treatments may help you achieve even less facial redness and more comfortable skin.
