Rosacea is a common skin condition characterized by reddened skin and visible blood vessels. While it can affect anybody, it is most common in women who are over 30 years old and fair skin. Men who develop rosacea tend to have more severe symptoms. Rosacea can run in families. In addition to reddened skin, symptoms of rosacea can include the following:
• Swollen red bumps that resemble pimples
• Irritated, bloodshot, and dry eyes with reddened and swollen eyelids
• A bulbous nose caused by thickened skin
What Causes Rosacea?
Doctors aren’t yet sure what causes rosacea, but they believe it is partly caused by heredity and partly caused by environmental factors. They have identified a number of stimuli that can either cause a rosacea flare-up or make it worse. Such triggers include the following:
• Temperature extremes
• Sunlight
• Wind
• Spicy foods and hot drinks
• Exercise
• Blood pressure medications and other drugs that cause blood vessels to dilate
• Some cosmetics
How is It Treated?
Some of the symptoms resemble those seen in other conditions like acne, lupus, or psoriasis. The doctor may thus order tests to rule out such conditions. There is currently no cure for rosacea, but there are treatments that can control the symptoms and keep them from getting worse. The treatments will often include lifestyle changes, like avoiding cosmetics or skin care products that contain irritants like alcohol. The doctor may also have the patient keep a journal about their flare-ups to identify triggers that the patient should try to avoid. Since exposure to the sun is a common trigger, the patient should wear sunscreen or a hat when outside.
Get In Touch with Us for More Information
To learn more about rosacea and how you can treat it, we warmly invite you to make an appointment with the office of Dr. Michael I. Jacobs. At our convenient location in New York, our caring and dedicated team of professionals will be pleased to explain this option to you in full and answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you.