Rosasea is a chronic inflammatory condition of the skin managed by dermatologists, which is characterized by redness of the face. It is a generally harmless condition, affecting both sexes, but tends to occur more frequently in women. The peak age of onset is between about 30 to 60 years.
Rosacea usually begins as a redness over the cheeks, nose and forehead. Occasionally, it may spread to involve the ears, neck, chest and scalp. Other possible manifestations of rosacea include telangiectasia (dilated superficial blood vessels), reddish papules (raised skin lesions), pustules (infected lesions) etc. There are also certain types of rosacea which affects the eyes, causing redness, dryness and irritation of the eyes and eyelids. This type of rosacea is termed “ocular rosacea”.
In the more severe forms of rosacea, the skin becomes thickened, with irregular surface nodules. It can result in rhinophyma (enlargement of the nose), otophyma (enlargement of the ears), gnatophyma (enlargement of the chin) and blepharophyma (involving the eyelids).
What Causes Rosacea?
The exact cause of rosacea is not fully understood, however, it tends to affect people with fair skin and those who blush easily. It also has been found to run in families.
Certain things can cause a flare of the condition. These may include:
• Sun exposure
• Hot weather
• Exercise
• Wind
• Alcohol consumption
• Changes from hot to cold environments
• Humidity
• Emotional stress
• Certain cosmetics
• Spicy food
• Certain medication
• Certain foods, such as dairy products, certain vegetables, meats or fruits.
How Is Rosacea Treated?
The type of treatment varies depending on the severity and type. Mild cases may not require treatment at all, whilst more severe cases may be treated by dermatologists via topical and oral medication. These medication serve to reduce inflammation and treat underlying infections.
It should be noted that treatment of rosacea is not curative, but aim to treat acute flares and achieve remission.
Trigger avoidance is an essential part of treatment. Because sunlight is a common trigger, the use of effective sunscreens and avoidance of sun exposure is generally recommended. Some may find it useful to keep a journal to help identify possible environmental and food triggers.
