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Read moreDoes your face easily flush with heat and embarrassment, or even for no apparent reason? Do you have nose pimples that don’t quite feel like ordinary acne? Does the skin of your cheeks feel tender, or are your eyelids red and swollen? You’re probably eager to figure out what is going on with your skin.
You might have rosacea, which means you need to find a dermatologist to get a diagnosis and a targeted rosacea treatment plan.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) defines rosacea (pronounced rose-AY-sha) as a common skin disease that “often begins with a tendency to blush or flush more easily than other people.” This facial redness can last longer than your embarrassment, and while it usually begins in the nose and cheeks, it may spread to the chin and forehead--and even to ears, backs, and chests.
Rosacea symptoms can appear differently in various people, coming and going and fluctuating in intensity. According to MedlinePlus, the four subtypes of this condition are:
Anyone can potentially get rosacea, but according to MedlinePlus your odds increase if you:
Also, while women are more likely to get rosacea than men, men are more likely to develop severe rosacea.
Although researchers have not yet discovered what causes rosacea, they have found clues, such as the fact that rosacea runs in families, noted MedlinePlus. This suggests that rosacea may be genetic, or at least have a genetic component.
Other theories about rosacea causes according to MedlinePlus involve:
The Mayo Clinic lists rosacea symptoms and signs as:
If you suspect you have rosacea, you should see a dermatologist. While there are no medical tests for the condition, a dermatologist will examine your skin and ask questions about your symptoms. Other conditions can resemble rosacea, such as lupus and allergic dermatitis, so your doctor will perform lab tests to rule those out before making a rosacea diagnosis.
If you are diagnosed with rosacea, your dermatologist will advise you on rosacea treatment and management. Although there isn’t a cure, there are treatments for rosacea that can improve rosacea symptoms, ease discomfort, and minimize or possibly eliminate symptoms.
Johns Hopkins Medicine lists the most common kinds of rosacea treatment as:
Some people will also need to avoid foods that dilate blood vessels in the skin, such as spicy food, alcohol, and caffeine.
The National Rosacea Society offers a wide range of helpful makeup tips for people with rosacea:
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, rosacea prevention may be possible for you, but it will likely take some trial and error to decide what works best for your skin. Keeping a diary of what you eat, drink, the medications you take, your stress level, the weather, and other factors and how your skin is throughout can help you figure out what your rosacea triggers are.
The American Academy of Family Physicians lists the following as common rosacea triggers:
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, some prevention methods seem to work well for most people with rosacea:
Rosacea is widely studied and researched in dermatology, and rosacea treatment can be very effective, but there is no cure. This chronic condition, which the American Acne & Rosacea Society reports impacts 14 million people in the United States, is characterized by intermittent flare-ups.
With help from your dermatologist, you can create a treatment plan that manages your rosacea so it minimizes the effect it has on your life. Prescription oral and topical medications, dermatological procedures, and lifestyle changes to avoid triggers can prevent rosacea from getting worse while reducing or eliminating symptoms and visible signs.
According to MedlinePlus, rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory, dermatological condition that causes reddened, bumpy skin, primarily on the nose and cheeks. Symptoms can come and go and may flare up in response to triggers such as getting overheated or experiencing emotional stress and anxiety.
Rosacea causes facial flushing and blushes, and acne-like breakouts that can feel warm and itchy like a rash, or may contain pus, reports MedlinePlus. Skin can swell and thicken in some types of rosacea, with bumps and nose pimples that can enlarge the nose over time. Rosacea can also cause eye redness and irritation.
Although it is unknown what causes rosacea, it is believed to have a genetic component as it runs in families, notes MedlinePlus. Other theories link rosacea causes to overreactions of the immune system, intestinal bugs, and unusual reactions to common skin proteins or mites.
As rosacea is a chronic condition, meaning it cannot be cured, the goal of rosacea treatment is to control and improve symptoms and your quality of life. Individual cases can vary widely, so your dermatologist will tailor your treatment plan to you. Treatment of rosacea involves a blend of prescription medications and self-care efforts like avoiding triggers and wearing sunscreen. Improvements tend to be gradual, taking months to see results.
Common topical agents prescribed to treat the flushing, redness, and red spots on the face that typify rosacea are ointments, gels, and creams containing antiparasitics, antibiotics, or vasoconstrictors to narrow blood vessels, reports, the American Academy of Family Physicians. Retinoids may be prescribed in more severe cases.
The best home remedies for rosacea are to take good care of your skin by using simple, dermatologist-approved facial products, and to handle your skin gently, notes the American Academy of Family Physicians. Don’t use harsh exfoliants or scrub roughly. Let your skin breathe when you don’t need to put on makeup and try not to get overheated. Be sure to wear sunscreen whenever you go out in the sun.
The best place to have your rosacea treated is a doctor’s office. Dermatology is the medical specialty that focuses on skin, if you have, or suspect you have rosacea, you should see a dermatologist
Solv can help you find quality, same-day, dermatology care for rosacea treatment. From specialty care to urgent care to pediatric urgent care, we can help you find fast, expert, medical care near you.
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