Rosacea (facial redness and veins)
Condition Overview
Rosacea is a skin condition affecting the face, ears, neck and upper chest. It causes flushing and blushing or over-heating. When left untreated, it can result in spider veins called telangiectasia, most commonly across the nose and cheeks, creating permanent redness on the skin.
Rosacea can also cause pustules and an acne-like rash on the face, which looks inflamed and sore and is difficult to hide with make-up.
What are the different types of rosacea?
Generalised redness (Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea). The redness of rosacea mostly involves the cheeks and nose but can also spread to the chin, forehead and down the neck. It has a genetic component and can be worsened by spicy food, alcohol and over heating. Commonly skin sensitivity to cosmetic and skin care products occurs and can be made worse by hormonal changes such as menopause. The result of untreated rosacea of this kind is broken capillaries with the affected area extending with continued flare ups.
Inflammatory rosacea (Papulopustular rosacea) Rosacea can be complicated by papules and pustules (red bumps) above the level of the skin, which may be filled with pus. Can often be mistaken for acne, as it looks similar, which can be frustrating when the sufferer is of an age where acne should no longer be occurring. As acne rosacea is more permanent and disfiguring than regular acne, it can cause distress and social confidence issues. It can also be painful, itchy and irritating and can often be inflamed or exacerbated by standard acne treatments.
Ocular Rosacea. In this form of rosacea, the redness is experienced in the eye area, with red, gritty, sore eyes, inflamed eye lid margins (called blepharitis), which can leave the patient looking like they’ve had a really big night on the town! Ocular rosacea has the feeling of having a foreign body in your eyes which you can’t remove. It can produce styes on the eyelids and produce rough, dry, flaky skin on the eye lids.
Phymatous Rosacea. Also known as Rhinophyma, this form of rosacea creates thickening of the skin on the nose, making it red, bulbous and with prominent pores and capillaries. The nose can become asymmetrical, and develop cysts and nodules. Those suffering with this condition are more likely to be men than women and can often be wrongly thought to be alcoholics as it has been traditionally (but incorrectly) associated with “disreputable drinking”.
What causes rosacea and can it be prevented?
The cause of rosacea is unknown, although we know there is a strong genetic component. If you notice signs that older family members may have the tell tale redness and other symptoms of rosacea, we recommend visiting a dermatologist to discuss your concern about developing the condition. Your dermatologist can determine if you have the early signs of the condition and advise you on how to best care for your skin, to lessen the severity of symptoms in the future.
Treatments for rosacea
There is a range of treatment options available to those suffering from rosacea.
Learning the triggers that worsen the condition, and avoiding those things, can result in successful symptom management. Common triggers include alcohol, some foods, activities that overheat the body, such as rigorous exercise (it can be better to stick with activities like walking, or ones that can cool the skin, such as swimming). Other triggers may include sun exposure and sunburn, some skin care and make-up products and perfumes.
Topical and oral medications can be prescribed that can help calm the skin.
Vascular lasers can be used to reduce redness and stinging. Ocular rosacea patients often report that dryness and redness around their eyes reduces with laser treatment of rosacea in their skin.
Ablative lasers can be used to treat phymatous rosacea, or rhinophyma, which gently removes layers of skin, resurfacing the enlargement of the nose and correcting the distortion of shape.
Corrective Treatments
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