Our grateful thanks to Alison Bower for her contribution to our on-air feature which you can hear again further down this page
Rosacea is a common, poorly understood long term condition that affects the skin on the face. It often begins as redness that looks like a blush across the nose, cheeks, chin or forehead. As time goes on, red pimples and pus-filled bumps may appear. Some people also notice small blood vessels across their nose and cheeks. In some people, the skin of the nose may become red and thick. This is called rhinophyma (say "rye-no-fie-muh"). Rosacea can also affect the eyes. It may irritate and inflame the eyelids and the white part of the eye. This is called conjunctivitis.
What causes rosacea & who gets it? No one knows the cause of rosacea. There may not be just one cause. Rosacea tends to run in fair-skinned families and tends to occur in people who blush easily. Symptoms usually begin in adults between the ages of 30 and 60. Women are more likely to get rosacea on the cheeks and chin, but men are more likely to get rhinophyma. Rosacea tends to be more severe in men.
Can rosacea be cured? No, but it can be treated. See your GP if you have persistent symptoms that could be caused by rosacea. Early diagnosis and treatment can help stop the condition getting worse. The degree to which each person experiences rosacea facial redness, flushing, facial swelling or the dilated blood vessels associated with Telangiectasis (small microvessels composed of combinations arterioles, capillaries, and venules that have been damaged and dilated and most often found on the nose but visible on other facial skin areas also) are as unique and individual as each person.For most people it tends to get better and then get worse (flare up). Rosacea may get worse over time if it is not treated. Treatment is aimed at controlling the symptoms and making your skin look better.
How is rosacea treated? The type of medicine your doctor recommends will depend on how your skin looks. Treatment generally works best at improving the pimples and bumps of rosacea. The redness of the skin is harder to treat. Medicines used to treat rosacea include antibiotics, which can be applied to the skin or taken as pills. Each person's skin is different, and your doctor may want to adjust your treatment. Surgery may be used to correct rhinophyma. Enlarged blood vessels on your face can sometimes be removed by using a fine electric needle or with laser surgery.
What can I do to help my rosacea ? Certain things seem to make rosacea worse. These include sun exposure, hot drinks, alcohol, spicy foods, strenuous exercise, stress, and hot and cold temperatures. If these things make your rosacea worse, you may want to avoid them as much as possible.
Gentle skin care is best, and your doctor may recommend that you use a mild soap and a moisturizer. It is also a good idea to use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher on a regular basis.
For further help and support
Click here to connect the National Rosacea Society
Click here to reach with the British Skin Foundation
Click here to visit the International Rosacea Foundation
Listen to this weeks radio report
All material on this website is provided for your information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; instead, readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being.
