What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition that usually affects the face. People may mistake rosacea for acne, eczema, or an allergic skin reaction. It is most common in women and people with lighter skin but its symptoms can be worse in men.Your rosacea symptoms can come and go. They might flare up for a few weeks, fade, and then come back.

Getting treatment is a must, so make sure you see your doctor. If you don't take care of your rosacea, redness and swelling can get worse and might become permanent.It is not known what causes rosacea. However there are some things that may make your rosacea symptoms worse. 

Triggers which could make symptoms worse are:

• alcohol
• spicy foods
• cheese
• caffeine
• hot drinks
• aerobic exercise like running

What are the key signs you may see if you have rosacea?

Firstly you will notice:

• redness (blushing) across your nose, cheeks, forehead and chin that comes and goes
• a burning or stinging feeling when using water or skincare products

Note: The redness may be harder to see on darker skin.

Next stage:

• As rosacea gets worse, your cheeks, nose, skin and forehead will be red all the time
• Tiny broken blood vessels that do not go away may appear on your skin
• You may get small pink or red bumps. Sometimes these become filled with a yellowish liquid

What are the other symptoms you may have with Rosacea?

• dry skin
• swelling, especially around the eyes
• yellow-orange patches on the skin
• sore eyelids or crusts around roots of eyelashes – this could be blepharitis
• thickened skin, mainly on the nose (usually appears after many years)

What are the treatments for Rosacea?

For mild to moderate rosacea treatments include topical metronidazole (Metrolotion, Metrocream, Metrogel) or azelaic acid (Finacea).

Your GP may:

• issue prescriptions for creams and gels you put on your skin (e.g some of the ones  listed above)
• suggest taking antibiotics for 6 to 16 weeks
• suggest IPL (intense pulsed light) treatment. Although this may not be available on the NHS

The GP may refer you to a skin specialist (dermatologist) if treatments are not working.

How can you help yourself if you suffer with Rosacea?

• You should wear a high SPF sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every day

• You should try to avoid heat, sunlight or humid conditions if possible

• You should try cover your face in cold weather

• You should use gentle skincare products for sensitive skin

• You should clean your eyelids at least once a day if you have blepharitis

• You should take steps to manage stress