Rosacea

Rosacea is a skin condition that mainly affects the face and can cause redness, irritation, dilated blood vessels and spots. There are some things that may trigger rosacea but the actual cause is not known. If you have rosacea, you can use prescription treatments such as Soolantra and Mirvaso to reduce redness and spots. Avoiding triggers can also help reduce the risk of a flare-up, but there is no ‘cure’ for the condition.

What are the symptoms of rosacea?

The most common symptom of rosacea is redness in the face, like blushing. This is usually across your cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. Rosacea comes and goes but as symptoms get worse, your face may be red all the time. You may also get a stinging sensation when you wash your face or apply skincare products. 

Other symptoms can include:

• dry skin
• sore eyelids
• thickened skin after having rosacea for a long time, mainly on your nose
• red or sore eyes
• red bumps or acne
• visible blood vessels

What does rosacea look like?

Rosacea looks like your face is blushing and it often comes and goes. As rosacea gets worse, your skin might be red all the time. This is harder to see if you have darker skin. You may notice small broken blood vessels near the skin that do not go away. Acne rosacea can also cause spots and bumps, sometimes filled with pus. 

What does rosacea feel like?

Rosacea can cause burning or stinging on your face, which will get worse if you wash your face or apply certain skincare products. However, ome people with rosacea do not feel anything from it at all. If you have dry skin, your face may feel itchy and irritated. During a flare up, your skin might feel hot to touch. 

Does rosacea only affect the face?

Rosacea usually only affects the face. It is rare to have rosacea in other parts of your body.

How long does a rosacea flare up last?

Rosacea is different for everyone as are flare-ups and how long they last. Some people will get a rosacea flare up for a few hours, whilst others  may get a flare up for a few days. Medication can help lessen the time of your flare ups. 

What causes rosacea?

The actual cause of rosacea is not known but there may be certain lifestyle choices, medications, and health conditions that increase your chances of getting rosacea. For example, you’re more likely to get rosacea if you’re over the age of thirty and flare ups are more likely if you drink alcohol, but this can differ from person to person. 

What increases your risk of rosacea?

As it is not known what causes rosacea, it is hard to determine what may increase your risk of rosacea. One study found that genetics can increase your risk of rosacea by around 50%, whilst other lifestyle factors like smoking and alcohol consumption contributed to the risk of rosacea too. 

What can trigger a rosacea flare up?

A rosacea flare up happens when your rosacea symptoms suddenly get worse. This means your skin might go red and you may feel burning or stinging on your face. Some common triggers of a rosacea flare up include:

• hot drinks
• alcohol
• spicy food
• exercise
• weather