Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Seeing Red: Do You Suffer from Rosacea




Does your face get red and flushed easily?  Do you get asked often where you out in the sun too long?  Do you wake up red?  Do you get breakouts around your cheeks and nose? Do your eyes feel gritty or red? If you answered yes to one or more of the questions above you may suffer from a chronic skin infection called Rosacea. And you are not alone.  Rosacea affects over 15 million people in the US.  Some famous faces suffering with Rosacea are Bill Clinton and Cynthia Nixon.

 



Rosacea is an inflammatory skin infection that causes redness and flushing on the nose and cheeks.  If severe, some patients can even get acne around their nose as well as dry gritty eyes.  The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but there are many triggers that can cause rosacea to flare.  One step in combating rosacea is identifying potential triggers.  Common rosacea triggers include
·         Alcohol
·         Warm and humid weather
·         Exercising
·         Spicy foods,
·         Hot beverages
·         Stress,
·         Medications
·         Heat and sun exposure
Although there is no cure for rosacea, treatments have come a long way to help maintain and improve symptoms. Minimizing potential triggers is the key to successful treatment.  Wear a hat to protect your face from the sun, and keep it cool. Avoid outdoor work and exercise in hot and humid weather.   Ventilate the kitchen when you cook.  Exercise when and where it is cool (early morning, evening, or in an air-conditioned gym).  Avoid alcoholic beverages and hot beverages if you know this causes a flare. 
There are also many prescription medications and treatments that can be done to help treat and manage your rosacea.  There are very effective prescription medications that can be prescribed by your dermatology provider.  Laser treatments are also very effective in treating broken blood vessels caused by rosacea.  You don’t have to suffer any longer. If you think you are suffer from rosacea please talk to your dermatology health care provider.

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