Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes redness of the skin, especially on the face, and can also cause skin sores that resemble acne, and possibly swelling. While rosacea is harmless, it can create embarrassment and self-consciousness in those who suffer from it. In fact, a majority of rosacea patients report a loss of self-esteem and adverse effect on social and professional interactions due to the condition.
The causes of rosacea are unknown, but it involves the swelling of blood vessels just under the skin. Symptoms of rosacea include redness of the face, small spider vein-like blood vessels visible in the face, a burning or stinging feeling in the face, a red or bulbous nose, watery or irritable eyes and acne-like sores.
How can Rosacea be treated?
There is no known cure for the condition at the time, but there are several things that can be done to improve its symptoms and control it. This may include topicals, oral antibiotics, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), and Pulse Dye Laser (PDL) as well as other systemic therapies for more recalcitrant cases.
It is also helpful to identify the “triggers” that make your rosacea worse, and to avoid them. Some common triggers are sun exposure, high wind, and physical activity in warm weather, stress, spicy foods, alcohol and specific skin products.
