Although it is common, rosacea is a misunderstood skin condition that causes a range of symptoms including blushing and flushing, visible blood vessels and small-sized, pus-filled bumps mainly on facial skin. We say misunderstood because the skin condition can often be mistaken for natural skin qualities, acne or other skin complaints. While it is true it can affect anyone, and when it occurs in men, they often have worse symptoms, it is most common in women between 30 to 60 years old and predominantly those with fair skin.

Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer to the question of how to treat rosacea. As the symptoms and signs of rosacea vary dramatically from one person to another, each treatment options plan needs to be tailored for the individual and their unique rosacea outbreaks.

As you will see in the following article, while there is no cure for rosacea, there are different options for treating this skin condition.

What is rosacea?

Before we discuss how to treat this skin condition, it is worth discussing what rosacea is. Rosacea is a common, long-term skin condition that is typified by redness on facial skin, specifically around the chin, cheeks, nose and forehead.

While it is most common in women, men tend to have more severe symptoms.

What causes rosacea?

Unfortunately, despite the best experts of medical specialists, dermatologists and the National Rosacea Society, there are no clear causes for this skin complaint. Some of the strongest theories of the cause include environmental factors, genetics or an overactive immune system.

Contrary to what many have said in the past, it is not contagious and does not happen if you have poor hygiene.

Most common things that can trigger rosacea

There are also some common triggers of rosacea that many people experience, including:

Emotions
Exercise
Extreme temperatures
Red wine and other drinks high in alcohol
Spicy foods and hot drinks
Wind or sun
Drugs prescribed to dilate your blood vessels, such as several blood pressure medications
Some haircare, skin care, and cosmetic products

Rosacea signs and symptoms

So, what do you need to look out for to know if you are suffering from rosacea or something different?

The most common rosacea symptoms include:

Facial flushing or blushing – one of the most prevalent symptoms of rosacea is persistent flushing or blushing around the central part of the face. Although rosacea is more common for women with pale skin, many with brown or black skin may not be able to spot this symptom.
Swollen bumps – it is not uncommon for some people with rosacea to have small pimples on their face that contain pus and look similar to acne.
Visible blood vessels and veins – Small blood vessels and veins around the cheeks and nose can break and become more visible (also known as spider veins)
Eye problems – often people with rosacea will experience swollen, irritated, and dry skin around the eyelids and eyes. This is referred to as ocular rosacea and often precedes skin symptoms.
Burning sensation – Skin with other symptoms of rosacea may feel tender, inflamed and hot
Enlarged nose – over time, rosacea may cause thickened skin on the sufferer’s nose, making it appear more bulbous. It should be noted that this symptom is often more commonly experienced by men.

What are the different types of rosacea?

When most people think about rosacea, they think of facial redness and spots. We’ve already discussed that there are different symptoms to look out for and different potential causes, but did you know that there were four different types of rosacea?

In the following section, we are going to briefly describe each.

Ocular Rosacea

We’ve already mentioned this further up the page, but ocular rosacea affects the eyes and can make them look bloodshot and watery. Another associated symptom of this form of rosacea is skin irritation or burning around the eyes and even in the eye socket.

Phymatous Rosacea

Phymatous Rosacea is a form that can cause your skin to thicken up and scar, making it, swollen, bump, and even discoloured. Although these are very rare cases, it is treatable and affects the nose most (this is what gives the enlarged nose we’ve already discussed)

Papulopustular Rosacea

We spoke earlier about pustules or pus-filled spots and bumps. Papulopustular Rosacea is the form of this skin condition that results in these swollen and red bumps. Normally they are found around the forehead, chin and cheeks, and come along with facial redness and flushing.

Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea

Eryhthematotelangiaectatic rosacea is the one most will be familiar with, typified by persistent redness on facial skin. With this form of rosacea, you may have small blood vessels that become enlarged and more visible beneath the skin’s surface.

Rosacea treatment

The treatment for rosacea available focus on controlling the symptoms and signs of the condition. Generally, the best course of action is a combination of prescription drugs or topical creams and a consistent skin care routine.

The right treatment for you will depend on the type of rosacea you have and how severe it is.

Some of the most common options include:

Topical Treatments and Medications – in mild to moderate cases, a topical gel or cream may be used, like oxymetazoline or brimonidine to reduce the flushing. With this treatment, you could see positive results within 12 hours. As this is only a temporary solution, the topical medication needs to be consistently applied. Other forms of topical treatment may be given to treat and control the pimples like azelaic acid, metronidazole gel, and ivermectin.
Oral Medication for Acne – in instances when severe rosacea does not respond to certain therapies, isotretinoin may be prescribed.
Oral Antibiotics – Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic that may be prescribed for cases of rosacea that are moderate to severe with pimples and bumps.
Laser Treatment – In cases of rosacea with visible, enlarged blood vessels, laser therapy could be used to reduce their appearance. This is best used on skin that is not black, brown or tanned, because it targets visible veining and could cause discolouration on unaffected skin.

Conclusion

Developing rosacea is not something that anyone wants to experience. It’s not the end of the world though, even if it can leave you with poor self-esteem and facial disfigurement.

Whether you have mild rosacea or a more severe form, although there is no cure, there are several different treatment options available. The best way to figure out which is right for you would be to speak to your doctor or one of the team here at Linia Skin Clinic.