Glam Glossary: Rosacea

Posted by Allison Giuffre on February 20th, 2010

A diagnosed case of rosacea

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Rosacea

What it is: Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that is estimated to affect the faces of nearly 14 million people in the United States alone – that’s about one in every 20 people.

The symptoms: According to The National Rosacea Society, a recent Gallup survey found that 78 percent of Americans do not know that rosacea exists. It’s commonly mistaken for acne because of its red-faced effects on facial skin. Symptoms of rosacea can vary from person to person, but signs that you might have rosacea include:

Flushing, or blushing easily
Persistent redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead
Excess facial skin around the nose (when skin becomes bulbous and enlarged)
Facial swelling
Watery eyes
Bumps or pimples on the face
Small visible blood vessels on the face
Easily irritated skin

The causes: The cause of rosacea has not been officially identified, but many studies speculate that rosacea could be caused a number of factors including genetic predisposition, light skin color, and abnormal facial blood vessels. It is also thought that environmental factors might act as triggers to aggravate skin including stress, hot baths, alcohol, caffeine and sunlight.

The treatment options: There isn’t a cure for rosacea, but there are plenty of ways to control it. Rosacea is a diagnosable condition, which means that there are a number of treatments that doctors can prescribe to battle it. There are also other treatment options that don’t involve prescriptions.

Antibiotics are often prescribed to be taken orally in combination with topical medications to reduce inflammation. Special eye drops can be prescribed for those with irritation around the eye area.
Pyratine XR is a non-prescription topical solution used to treat rosacea. It is sold as a skin care system for long term, non-irritating treatment. The lotion, cream and cleanser will cost over $100 together.
Laser treatment is sometimes effective for patients with small visible blood vessels, using intense pulsed light to shrink them.

What you can do now: Aside from medical treatment, changing your daily routine to be more conscious of rosacea can also help reduce the likelihood of flare-ups. You can avoid exposure to sunlight, beware of skin irritants like alcohol in skin care products and refrain from touching your face as much as possible. A foundation, concealer or primer with a green or yellow undertone will help camouflage the redness.