Rosacea affects mainly fair-skinned women between 30 and 50 more but it can happen to anyone, men, women, and children of all ages and color.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on August 8, 2020. It has since been updated.
Rosacea, pronounced as roe-ZAY-she-uh, is a common skin condition. It causes redness and makes the blood vessels in your face prominently visible. It can also cause small, red, pus-filled bumps. People can experience flare-ups for weeks to months and it then goes away for some time, as per Mayo Clinic. It might get mistaken for acne or other skin issues. It can happen to anyone and is most common in middle-aged women with light skin. Unfortunately, there's no cure for rosacea; however, it can be controlled. The signs and symptoms can be reduced.
According to the U.S. government, more than 14 million people are living with rosacea. Most people who get it are between 30 and 50 years of age, fair-skinned, and often have blonde hair and blue eyes, from Celtic or Scandinavian ancestry, might have a family history of Rosaceae or severe acne, or themselves have a history of acne — or acne cysts and/or nodules, as per American Academy of Dermatology.
However, it is not limited to these factors. Men can also get rosacea and they are more likely to get a severe case of it. People of all colors get rosacea and even kids can get this skin problem.
It makes the skin very sensitive and there are multiple things that can lead to flare-ups. Some of the common symptoms of rosacea are facial redness, swollen, red bumps, eye problems, and enlarged nose, this is more likely to happen to men than women, as per Mayo Clinic.
There are certain things that can trigger it. Here is a list of factors to avoid flare-ups:
Everyone, regardless of if they have rosacea or not, should avoid too much sun. However, if people have this skin problem they are especially advised to avoid it since their skin is particularly sensitive. When stepping out, be sure to apply sunblock to the face. However, it's better to not step out as well since the skin is very sensitive and is sensitive to chemicals too. So, even sunblock can cause a flare-up. It is advised to use a quality sunblock that doesn't make it worse for your skin, as per Wed MD.
Make-up, skincare, and hair care products could cause a flare-up for those with this skin problem. Even cleansers, lotions, and some moisturizers can irritate the skin. It is recommended that you use products that are non-irritating, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic.
When people are stressed their skin is likely to experience flushing, which can lead to a flare-up. There will be rapid reddening and a feeling of warmth in the face and neck area. Some things that cause flushing, like menopause, are not under our control. The reduced production of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone cause flushing, as per Healthline.
One of the triggers for a Rosacea flare-up is the consumption of alcohol. While it doesn't cause it, alcohol can dilate blood vessels in the face, just like stress does. It also increases the risk of getting this skin problem, as per the American Academy of Dermatology.
There are certain foods like spicy food which can cause a flare-up. Food with heavy spices can cause flushing which triggers rosacea. Other foods to avoid include yogurt, sour cream, cheese but not cottage cheese, chocolate, vanilla, soy sauce, eggplant, avocado, vinegar, yeast extract, and a lot more.
There are some home remedies that people can try to treat it but most important is antibiotics. Doctors usually start the treatment by prescribing topical metronidazole in cream or gel form. Oral antibiotics can also work, as per WebMD. If someone wants to try home remedies, they can use aloe vera since it calms the skin. Coconut oil and chamomile are also helpful. You can apply these on the area that's affected, as per Healthline.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rosacea/symptoms-causes/syc-20353815
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/rosacea/what-is/causes
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/rosacea-more-than-red-face#2
https://www.healthline.com/health/skin-blushing-flushing#pictures-of-skin-flushing
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/rosacea/insider/drinking
https://www.rosacea.org/patients/rosacea-triggers/factors-that-may-trigger-rosacea-flare-ups
https://www.healthline.com/health/rosacea-natural-treatments#home-remedies
Disclaimer : This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
