Managing Rosacea

Rosacea starts out like any other common skin disease where the victims usually begin with a tendency to flush or blush easily. As rosacea progresses, the victims usually develop redness in the centers of both their cheeks. 

The redness, after a time, spreads gradually beyond the nose and the cheeks. It then goes to the forehead and the chin, and on some people, even the ears, chest and back are affected.

The face of rosacea

Tiny blood vessels they call spider veins develop on their faces, especially on both their cheeks. After a while, small red bumps develop and appear in crops. Some of these red bumps contain pus (pustules) and those without pus are called papules.

These red bumps look like acne, and people usually call them adult acne. However, the affected skin swells and these bumps do not develop into blackheads.

Other symptoms

In advanced cases, rhinophyma may develop. Rhinophyma makes the nose larger (“bulbous nose”) and the cheeks puffy. These are caused by the enlarged oil glands. 

At the lower half of the nose, thick bumps also develop. Usually, this condition tends to develop more in men than in women. 

About half of rosacea victims develop what is called ocular rosacea, affecting the eyes. 
It often causes dryness, burning and grittiness of the eyes. If left untreated, it can develop into serious complications, including blindness. 

 Tips for patients

There are so many things that can trigger rosacea flare-ups. To help decrease these, the following are recommendations from dermatologists taken from data supplied by the victims themselves. 

Avoid certain foods and drinks. Spicy foods, caffeine, hot drinks, and alcohol – these are just some of the most common triggers for rosacea. Alcohol is bad for both drinkers and non-drinkers alike. Even the smell of spicy foods triggers some reactions to those allergic to them.

Always have a good sun protection. Exposure to the sun seems to be the most common trigger. Limit your exposure to sunlight, but if you do, wear some SPF30 sunscreen and re-apply them every 2 hours.

Guard your skin from extreme heat or very cold temperatures. Either one aggravates rosacea. Protect your face from cold and wind with a non-irritating scarf or ski mask. Do not overheat. Exercise in a cool place.

Do not use skin care products or any cosmetics that contain alcohol or other irritating substances. When using hair sprays, avoid having the spray get in contact with your face.

Avoid rubbing, scrubbing or massaging the face. As much as possible, keep your face clean and avoid having to touch it unless necessary. Keep your skin care routine simple and use fewer products. 

It is important to note the episodes when your flushing occurs. The above list is just the common triggers that happen to most rosacea victims. There are other triggers not listed here.  

By writing down and taking notes to what foods, products, activities, medications and other things that triggers your rosacea, you would be able to exactly know them to be able to avoid them.
