Rosacea

Rosacea is a common but benign skin condition with a red, acne-like appearance that affects as many as 16 million people in the United States and up to 45 million worldwide. Rosacea is prevalent mostly in Caucasian people with fair skin and is more frequently diagnosed in women but tends to be more severe in men. The main symptoms of rosacea include red or pink patches, small red cysts and bumps, tiny yet noticeable broken blood vessels, small red bumps, red cysts, and pink or irritated eyes. There is evidence that rosacea may tend to run in families but no one knows what causes this disease. Most people may not even know they have rosacea and assume they flush easily or that they are overly sensitive to the sun.

What Are the Symptoms of Rosacea?

There are many warning signs giving you a signal to see your dermatologist for a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment before your symptoms get worse.

Some of the signs of rosacea are:

  • Redness on your cheeks, nose, chin, or forehead.
  • Small, visible blood vessels on your face.
  • Red bumps or pimples on your face.
  • Watery or irritated eyes.
  • Facial flushing or blushing
  • Small cysts
  • Burning

Typical signs and symptoms of rosacea tend to come and go. Your skin may be clear for weeks, months, or even years before erupting again. Rosacea rarely reverses itself and tends to evolve in stages typically causing inflammation of the skin on the face.

What Causes Rosacea?

While the basic process of rosacea seems to involve dilation of the small blood vessels of the face, the exact cause of rosacea is still unknown and remains a mystery.

Some of the suspected causes of rosacea are:

  • Genetics
  • Sun exposure
  • A mite sometimes found in hair follicles called Demodex Folliculorum
  • The bacteria associated with stomach ulcers known as Helicobacter Pylori
  • Gastrointestinal disease
  • Medications that cause blood vessels to widen

There seems to be a hereditary component to rosacea in a large number of people as often people have close family members with this disorder. Rosacea tends to affect the “blush” areas of the face and is more common in people who flush easily.

A variety of triggers that are known to cause rosacea are:

  • Emotional factors such as stress, anxiety, fear, and embarrassment
  • Changes in the weather like wind and humidity
  • Sun exposure
  • Sun-damaged skin is especially susceptible to rosacea
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Exercise
  • Emotional upsets
  • Spicy foods
  • Bathing and cleansing
  • Drugs
  • Skin care products
  • Cosmetics
  • Medical conditions

Rosacea Treatments

Rosacea cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. There are many treatment choices for rosacea depending on the severity and extent of your symptoms.

Available medical treatments include:

Call Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena today for an examination of your skin or to consult with us if you have been diagnosed with skin cancer.

Rosacea Overview

In addition to long-term medical therapy, you can improve your chances of maintaining rosacea remission by identifying and avoiding lifestyle and environmental factors that may trigger flare-ups. Identifying these factors is an individual process, however, because what causes a flare-up in one person may have no effect on another so it helps if you understand your own. To help you achieve this, you will be asked to keep a diary of daily activities or events and relate your experiences to any rosacea flare-ups. As with any medical therapy, outcomes of rosacea treatment may vary from case to case but using your medication as your dermatologist prescribes is a major key to your success. Please call us today and we can help determine the appropriate therapy for your case of rosacea.

Facility

Our treatment suites are equipped with the latest dermatological lasers, for advanced, safe, comfortable treatment of your skin's medical and cosmetic needs. Our in-house Acne Treatment Center offers complete care for all ages and acne stages. We offer a full line of skin care products designed to suit your unique...

View More