Rosacea: What you need to know

Rosacea is a long-term skin condition that primarily affects the face. With 1 in 10 people in the UK suffering from rosacea, let’s take a closer look at its symptoms and treatment options below.

Symptoms

The symptoms include having patches of red skin around your face, particularly on your nose, cheeks and forehead. The redness can come and go, but as the condition gets worse, the redness will appear darker. You may also get tingly or itchy skin when using skincare products on your face, which you might think is due to sensitive skin.

After a while, you may get tiny red broken blood vessels appearing on your skin, as well as small pink and red bumps that may be filled with a yellow liquid. Other symptoms can include dry skin, thickened patches of skin, orange or yellow skin pigmentation and swelling. Rosacea is more common in females and those with lighter skin, but the symptoms can appear worse in males.

What is it triggered by?

There is no direct cause of rosacea, but the outbreak can be triggered by various factors including alcohol, caffeine, exercise, spicy foods, hot drinks, and cheese. If you think you might have rosacea, it is worth keeping a diary to identify what the triggers are.

How can I get rid of it?

There is no treatment for rosacea, but the symptoms can be managed. If you go to a GP, they may suggest taking antibiotics for 6-16 weeks or prescribe antibiotic gels and creams that you can put on your skin. They may also refer you for intense pulsed light treatment.

What is intense pulsed light treatment?

IPL can be used to treat skin conditions through targeting the different skin cells with wavelengths of light energy which then turns into heat energy and destroys the cell. For rosacea, this would target the melanin in the skin cells where the pigmentation is. The length of treatment plans depends on each individual. Immediately after the treatment, the skin may sting and look a bit sore. However, this shouldn’t last long and a damp cloth or ice pack can help treat the stinging.

To find out more about rosacea and the different treatment options available, contact us today.