Rosacea
Rosacea is a common but little-known disorder of the facial skin that affects over 45 million people worldwide.
It has been nicknamed the “curse of the Celts”, because it affects chiefly fair-skinned north European people descendant. Both sexes can be affected by rosacea, but it's more common in women between 30 and 50 years old.
Rosaeca signs and symptoms develop usually in the face, but also on the neck, chest, scalp, or ears.
The main signs and symptoms include:
- frequent flushing or blushing
- persistent redness on the cheecks, nose, chin, and/or forehead
- bumps nad/or pimples
- visible small blood vassels on the skin
- irritated eyes
- burning and/or stining sensations on the face
- dry appearance
- skin thickening
- facial swelling
Four main types of rosacea have been identified so far, and more than one can occur in a single individual.
- Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: it features permanent redness with a tendency of flush or blush easily; dilattated small blood vassels; and burning or itching sensation
- Papulopustular rosacea: it feature permanent redness with bumps acne-like
- Phymatous rosacea: it's often associated with an enlargement of the nose (rhinophyma) and can also affect chin, forehead, cheeks, eyelids, and ears
- Ocular rosacea: it features red and dry eyes and eyelids
The cause of rosacea is still unknown. Besides, the disorder is often misunderstood and can be confused yet co-exist with acne and/or seborrhoeic dermatitis.
The main causes that have been hypotethized include:
- genetic predisposition
- vascular impairment
- enviromental factors
- medications
- some acne treatments
- intestinal bacteria (suche as H. pylori)
- mites (such as Demodex follicolorum)
- hormonal imbalances
- chronic infections (such as fungi, yeast, etc.)
Some triggers that cause flushing and blushing may be accounted for the development of rosaeca, either. Rosacea triggers include:
- Foods and beverage (spicy foods, foods high in histamine, yeast exatrct, chocolate, cheese, hot beverages, alcohol)
- Temperature (hot baths, saunas, etc.)
- Weather (sun, wind, cold, humidity)
- Drugs (vasodilatators, topical steroids)
- Conditions (menopause, chronic cough, digestive or gastrointestinal disorders, etc.)
- Emotional influences (anxiety, stress etc.)
- Physical exertion (exercise)
- Skin care products (cosmetics containing alcohol, acetone substances, etc.)
In addition to medical treatment, rosacea sufferers can improve their chances of maintaining remission by identifying and avoiding lifestyle and environmental factors that trigger rosacea flare-ups or aggravate their individual conditions.
Therefore, it's advisable to:
- apply sunscreen protection (at least SPF 15) and avoid excessive sunlight exposure
- exercise early in the morning or in the evening when it's cooler
- avoid skin care or cosmetics products with irritating substances
- avoid or reduce hot beverages and alcohol intake
- avoid or reduce spicy and triggering foods intake
Source: National Rosacea Society
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