Rosacea Q & A
What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a common chronic skin condition that makes you blush more easily than others, especially on your face, ears, chest, and back. You’re more likely to get the condition if you’re a woman or have fair skin.
Since there are so many potential symptoms, rosacea has been divided into four types:
Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea
This type of rosacea is characterized by visible blood vessels on your skin and general redness.
Papulopustular rosacea
Papulopustular rosacea looks a bit more serious. In addition to redness, your skin swells and breaks out in acne-like blemishes.
Phymatous rosacea
If you have phymatous rosacea, your skin is red and thick with a rough texture.
Ocular rosacea
Ocular rosacea affects your eyes and may or may not come with skin symptoms. Your eyes look red and irritated, and your eyelids swell.
What causes rosacea?
Experts don’t yet know the actual cause of rosacea, but it likely has some genetic factors as it tends to run in families. Your rosacea might flare up when you come into contact with certain triggers.
These factors can also make your rosacea worse:
- Strong emotions
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Spicy foods
- Being in the sun
- Wind
- Hot temperatures
- Cold temperatures
- Makeup and other products
- Blood pressure medications that open your blood vessels
Rosacea gets worse if you don’t treat your symptoms. In fact, many symptoms become permanent. Avoiding your triggers helps you tone down the redness and visible blood vessels temporarily.
What are my treatment options for rosacea?
There are a few treatment options available to control your rosacea symptoms, but there is no complete cure. Some topical skin products and oral medications are designed to keep your symptoms under control, or you may choose to get laser therapy.
The team uses noninvasive laser therapy at Pure Dermatology to target and minimize your rosacea-related redness and broken blood vessels. The energy from the laser targets your blood vessels and shrinks them to be less visible.
You’ll notice a difference immediately after your first treatment, but you may need to book two to six sessions to get the best possible results.
Rosacea isn’t life-threatening, but blushing relentlessly can have embarrassing consequences for your social life.
If you’d like to tone down your facial redness and eliminate broken blood vessels, call Pure Dermatology or go online to book your consultation today.
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