Causes and treatments of rosacea

By April 12, 2017skin infections
text against red background reading "Rosacea: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments"

Rosacea is a skin disorder that causes redness on your cheeks, forehead, nose and cheeks. It impacts people 30 years old or older.

Aside from redness and sometimes little bumps and pimples on your face, rosacea is also known for causing burning and soreness in your eyes.

Rosacea can not only be painful and unsightly, but some people who suffer from the disorder have said that it affects their self-confidence and makes social situations awkward. It’s important to talk to your doctor about treatment options to help you look and feel better.

What causes rosacea?

It’s still not exactly clear what causes rosacea, though researchers do know that it’s caused by something irritating the skin. Researchers do not believe it is caused by bacteria.

Rosacea is often found in people with fair skin or those who blush easier than others. It also runs in families.  

Doctors can easily diagnose rosacea in a patient by the pattern of redness on your face. The diagnoses are usually given without medical tests, though in some cases medical tests are needed.

People used to think that rosacea was caused by drinking too much alcohol, but researchers have disproved that myth. If you do suffer from rosacea, however, drinking alcohol could cause your symptoms to flare up.

There are other things that cause rosacea to flare up. They are called “triggers” and they make the blood vessels in your face expand. That’s when the redness comes out.

Other common triggers include:

  • Exercise
  • Too much sun
  • Too much wind
  • Stress
  • Extreme temperatures or extreme switches in temperature (hot to cold or cold to hot)
  • Stress
  • Spicy foods

 

What are the symptoms of rosacea?

People who suffer from rosacea might exhibit the following symptoms:

  • Flushed, red face with dry, red skin that might cause burning or stinging sensations.
  • Pimples, bumps or other acne-like problems on your face
  • Coarser, thicker skin with a bumpy, tough texture
  • Sore, irritated eyes.

 

Sometimes, though rarely, if rosacea goes untreated it can cause permanent damage. Examples include your skin thickening on your face or losing some of your vision.

It’s also known to result in “knobby bumps” on your nose, also known as rhinophyma. Eventually, rhinophyma will make your nose look swollen and waxy, but if treated properly the chances of your rosacea getting that bad aren’t very high.

How do you treat rosacea?

Although there is no cure for rosacea, there are several different treatment options to keep your symptoms under control and stop the disease from progressing too far.

Symptoms can be treated with the following:

  • Pills
  • Medicinal skin creams that contain one of the following ingredients: azelaic acid, brimonidine, or metronidazole.
  • Lasers and light treatment can be used for flare ups.
  • Moisturizers and sunscreen can be used to protect your dry, sensitive skin.
  • Prescription eye drops or artificial tears can help to alleviate the dry, red eyes that often come with rosacea.

 

If you are showing symptoms of rosacea and haven’t seen a doctor yet, be sure to consult your physician or stop by an Urgent Care Clinic today.