Rosacea
Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness and visible blood vessels in your face. It may also produce small, red, pus-filled bumps.
Rosacea can be mistaken for acne, other skin problems or natural ruddiness.
The first signs of rosacea may include:
- redness (blushing) across your nose, cheeks, forehead and chin that comes and goes
- a burning or stinging feeling when using water or skincare products
Some people with rosacea can also develop eye symptoms such as itchiness and irritation. Some people may develop a more serious painful eye inflammation, known as rosacea keratitis.
What causes rosacea?
The cause of rosacea is not completely understood. Immune system factors, genetics and environmental factors may all play a part. Factors that trigger rosacea can cause the blood vessels in the skin of the face to enlarge (dilate). The theory that rosacea is due to bacteria on the skin or in the gut has not been proven, however, antibiotics have proven helpful to treat rosacea. This is partly due to their anti-inflammatory effect. Rosacea is not contagious.
There are a variety of triggers that may make rosacea worse. These include alcohol, exercise, high and low temperatures, hot drinks, spicy foods and stress. Rosacea can be sun sensitive.
There are several treatment options which we can discuss with you. These may include creams such as Soolantra, antibiotics and tablets for flushing. We have excellent results with Intense Pulsed Light for the redness and flushing of rosacea.