April is known as Rosacea Awareness Month! You’ve probably heard of this before, but do you really know what rosacea is and just how it can impact lives? This month our very own Laura Collins is tackling this skin condition and spreading awareness for those who suffer through it every day.
There’s a very high chance you know at least one person in your life who suffers from rosacea. It’s a very common skin condition that affects nearly 14 million Americans in a negative and uncomfortable way.
What are the common symptoms of rosacea?
Although rosacea is so common, it’s not always well known. It’s actually a chronic skin condition that causes acne-like pimples, redness in the face, swelling, and visible small blood vessels on the face. The inflammation can also affect other areas of the face like your cheeks, nose, forehead, and even your chin.
Rosacea typically emerges in individuals after the age of 30 and often goes through cycles of flare-ups and remission. It can worsen over time if left untreated and it’s recommended to seek help as soon as you can to control this condition.
What causes Rosacea?
While experts aren’t positive about what causes this, there are many factors that may lead to an individual suffering from rosacea. Those with lighter skin tend to be at a higher risk along with those with facial blood vessel abnormalities, a family history of rosacea, and those with a higher number of Demodex folliculorum, a facial mite that resides on the skin.
What’s the best makeup for rosacea?
Those struggling with rosacea have an even harder time using everyday facial care products than the average person. Because their skin is more sensitive, they need to make sure they’re using gentle products on their face.
One makeup that I highly recommend for rosacea patients is IT Cosmetics. Most of their makeup and products are gentle to the skin, contain sunscreen and also can camouflage some of the redness that rosacea sufferers may
Are some moisturizers better than others?
Yes. One of the best thigs someone with rosacea can do is use a reliable, gentle moisturizer to soothe redness and inflammation.
“My favorite daytime moisturizers are the Skin Medica Total Defense and Repair as well as Neutrogena Healthy defense and Aveeno Positively Radiant. My favorite night-time moisturizer is Skin Medica HA5. I also like Cerave PM lotion for night time use.”
What are some triggers for rosacea breakouts?
Unfortunately, there are many things that can trigger rosacea in those who have it. Sun exposure, excessive amounts of stress, wind, heavy exercise, hot baths, humidity, indoor heat, and certain skincare products are among a few. Food triggers are most notable hot beverages, wine and other alcohol, as well as spicy foods and foods that contain caffeine.
What’s the difference between rosacea and acne?
Many people assume that those with rosacea are actually suffering with acne when in reality, they’re very different ailments. Even using products designed for acne can make rosacea worse.
For that reason, it’s important to understand just how these two skin conditions differ.
Rosacea, like acne, is inflammation of the skin but they’re caused by very different things. Acne is a result of excess oil and skin cells built up in a pore. When bacteria is introduced to the clogged pore, it can cause an infection, which leads to inflammation, redness, pimples and acne in general.
Rosacea, on the other hand, is skin inflammation that results in overall redness that’s not specific to a single lesion. While rosacea can result in acne-like pustules, they are usually far smaller than acne pimples and are not the result of clogged pores or blackheads.
What’s the best treatment option for rosacea?
“Rosacea treatment depends on the type and severity of the condition. I recommend everyone wear a sunscreen SPF 30+ daily with re-application every two hours when outside. If the rosacea is mild, treatment can simply be a topical prescription medication. If it is more severe and the patient has pimple like lesions, sometimes a topical medication in combination with an oral medication may work best. We also have lasers and other devices that we can use to address the redness and superficial blood vessels that are present with the condition.”
osacea is an uncomfortable and chronic condition that affects so many lives every day. We hope that through these answers, you’re more enlightened as to what this skin condition is and just how widespread it can be.