Rosacea Basics
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Rosacea is a long lasting, non-scarring skin condition of the face that is often misdiagnosed as adult acne. It varies in severity and does not always worsen with time. Typically, you will experience inappropriate flushing that is not usually associated with sweating and/or persistent facial redness. It is common to have broken blood vessels (telangiectasias) on your cheeks. You may also experience bouts of inflammation that cause red papules (small bumps) or pustules. However, comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) are not part of rosacea.
About 50% of those with rosacea suffer eye involvement, including such conditions as conjunctivitis, blepharitis, dry gritty eyes, and recurrent sties. Nose enlargement (rhinophyma) is uncommon but mostly seen in men. It is only very rarely seen in women.
Key Features:
- Facial symptoms - burning and stinging
- Facial flushing, blushing evolving to persistant redness
- Inflammatory papules, pustules (pimples)
- Cheeks are not warm
- Telangectasiae, (blood vessel lines)
- Eye involvement
- Soft tissue hypertrophy or skin thickening (rhinophyma)
Who Gets Rosacea?
This condition is most commonly seen in those who have fair skin and is sometimes referred to as the “Curse of the Celts” or a “Peaches and Cream“ complexion.
Where Does Rosacea Occur On The Skin?
You will usually see rosacea around the central area of your face. It may occasionally be isolated to one patch.
When Does It Usually Start?
Onset usually occurs between 20-40 years of age.
How Does Rosacea Affect Us?
Rosacea can be very embarrassing, flushing can be a source of social discomfort
Many may feel that they are perceived as heavy drinkers
Eyes can be gritty and uncomfortable
Older men are frequently ashamed if their nose becomes bigger and knobbly
What Causes Rosacea?
The cause is poorly understood. Flushing is an essential part of the condition, so experts believe that there is a vascular cause or that blood vessels are a significant component to the cause.
H. pylori is a bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the stomach that has been suggested as a cause of rosacea in some because there is a hormone that the stomach produces that encourages skin flushing. H. pylori is the same bug thought to cause stomach ulcers. It is possible to clear the infection with a combination of antibiotics taken by mouth, but its eradication has not been a conclusively effective rosacea treatment.
Demodex are mites found in the follicles of about half of those with rosacea. Doctors and clinical investigators, who have been studying rosacea and the diseases possible causes, are debating the role of these mites.
The use of stronger cortisone creams can certainly produce rosacea, but it usually does not persist for very long after discontinuing the creams.
What Other Factors Aggravate Rosacea?
Certain medications that cause flushing can flare your skin. Vasodilating drugs (ones that cause your blood vessels to enlarge) such as ACE-inhibitors and some cholesterol lowering agents may play a part, you should avoid Niacin.
Perfumed cosmetics can aggravate your skin, you should also avoid other topical irritants such as scrubs, toners, acetone, and alcohols.
If you have flushing because of menopause you should be treated, as long as there are no contraindications for example, if there is no risk to you because of other health concerns or medications you may be taking. Sun protection is a must and we recommend sunscreens that have a broad spectrum.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Rosacea Caused By Food?
Foods do not cause rosacea, but they can certainly cause flushing and make the inflammation worse.
Foods to avoid:
Physical heat in food can cause flushing by activating receptors in the back of your throat. Sipping and swallowing slowly with care can reverse this type of flushing. Certain foods, especially the spicy ones will produce flushing by releasing histamine or niacin.
These foods include:
- White pepper
- Black pepper
- Paprika
- Red pepper
- Cayenne pepper
The following foods have been reported by individuals to cause flushing, but such claims have not been substantiated (such reports are called anecdotal). If you have any experience with these foods causing facial flushing,
- Avocado
- Broadleaf beans
- Dairy products – sour cream, yoghurt, cheese (especially parmesan)
- Eggplant
- Chocolate
- Spinach
- Soy sauce
- Tomatoes
- Yeast extract
- Vinegar
- I Don’t Drink, Doctor.
Alcohol, especially red wine can cause facial redness, if you have redness on your nose because of rosacea, some people might mistakenly think it’s because you drink too much alcohol. Many patients who are non-drinkers often worry about this.
- One Doctor Told Me That I Could Not Exercise.
Vigorous exercise often does flare rosacea because of the blushing, but that does not mean you can’t exercise. Instead, try exercising in a cool environment for repeated short periods. Keep well hydrated and keep sipping ice water if possible. The benefit of exercise is clear, so every attempt should be made to do so in a manner that is least offensive to the skin.
- Do I Have To Give Up Coffee?
Experts believe that the heat from the drink stimulates receptors in the back of your throat, and that produces the flushing, not the caffeine itself.
- Will It Ever Go Away?
Rosacea tends to be chronic, but good early therapy can mean very successful control. Repeated laser therapy can also reduce the intensity of facial redness.
- I Have Seen Some Horrible Pictures Of Rosacea.
It is true that rosacea can be severe in some people. Aggressive treatment nevertheless, when combined with lifestyle changes can achieve significant improvement. There is quite a spectrum of severity, and if you can, it’s best to get treatment early on.
- Will My Nose Grow?
Some people who have rosacea do develop a thick bulbous nose (rhinophyma). However, it is very rare and almost always occurs in men most often starting in middle age.
- Is It True That My Eyelids And Sore Eyes Could Be Due To Rosacea?
Blepharitis, which is an inflammation of the eyelids, is very common. Another common condition, called seborrheic dermatitis (an inflamed type of dandruff) also causes eyelid redness. Sore eyes can also be connected with rosacea.
Understand Your Options
Understand What To Expect From Treatment:
The major goals of rosacea treatment are to:
Understand the condition
Identify and avoid the factors that cause flushing for you and that flare your rosacea
Control the active symptoms and signs of rosacea
Achieve optimum maintenance of this condition and its complications
Understand that this is a chronic condition
Self Help:
1) Aggravating factors: - These factors can increase your core body temperature:
- Exposure to weather - sun, cold, wind
- Hot food, hot drinks, and alcohol
- Exercise (you should exercise in cool surroundings and avoid dehydration)
- Medications (you should avoid vasodilating drugs, that is, drugs that expand your blood vessels, and topical steroids)
- Cosmetics (you should avoid greasy, drying, or perfumed products)
2) Daily skin care:
- Avoid hot water, loofahs, and rough towels
- Avoid toners, exfoliating agents, and astringents
- Dandruff – Rosacea frequently coexists with sebhorreic dermatitis or dandruff
Medical Treatment:
For mild rosacea, topical therapy is always the first choice
When rosacea is more severe, topical therapy must often be combined with oral treatment
Creams and oral antibiotics are not effective in treating the flushing of the face, or the broken blood vessels
RECOMMENDED USE TO HELP ROSACEA LIKE SKIN
This will nourish and help calm your skin.
For Dry and Sensitive Skin Rosacea like skin:
1 Arad Moisturizing Day Cream for Dry and Sensitive skin
1 Arad Mineral Soap
1 Yaffa Epidermine - Skin Corrector Daily use:
Direction for Dry and Sensitive Skin:
Wash face morning and evening with Mineral Soap.
At night time apply a drop of Epidermine - Skin Corrector cream.
Mornings apply a drop of Epidermine Skin Corrector cream followed with
Moisturizing Day Cream for Dry and Sensitive Skin
For Normal to Oily Skin (Acne) Rosacea lik skin:
1 Moisturizing Day Cream for Normal to Combination Skin
1 Purifying Gel
1 Maris Limus – Mud Soap
1 Epidermine – Skin Corrector
Direction for Normal to Oily Skin:
Wash morning with Mud Soap
Apply morning and evening a drop of Epidermine – Skin Corrector cream
Follow with:
Morning Moisturizing Day Cream for Normal to Combination
Night time gently deep cleanse with Purifying Gel, then apply the Epidermine Skin Corrector.