Rosacea: This is a common skin condition that causes redness and the appearance of blood vessels in the face. Let us take a closer look at it.
Rosacea is an extremely common condition of the skin that has the effect of causing redness and the appearance of blood vessels in your face. The other thing it can do is that it can produce small, pus-filled bumps that are red. It is important to note that these signs and symptoms have the potential to flare up for weeks to months and then they can go away on their own for a while. This condition is often mistaken for scenes or other problems of the skin or even natural ruddiness.
This condition can affect just about anyone. It is, however, the most common in women who are in their middle ages and have skin that is light. While there isn’t a cure for this condition, treatment can help control and also reduce the signs and the visible appearance of symptoms.
Table of Contents
Symptoms
The following are the most common symptoms of this ailment.
Redness of the face:
This skin condition normally causes redness in the central part of the face that is persistent. The small blood vessels that you have on your nose and cheeks very often swell and, as a result, become visible.
Red bumps that are swollen:
A lot of the people who suffer from this condition also happen to develop pimples on their faces and these generally resemble acne. These bumps are also known to have pus sometimes. The skin can also feel tender and hot.
Eye Problems:
A lot of the people who suffer from Rosacea also, at times, experience problems with their eyes. This includes issues such as dryness, irritation, swollen and red eyes, and swollen eyelids as well. This happens to be called by the name of ocular rosacea. In a few people, the symptoms of the eyes will appear before the other symptoms.
Causes and Risk Factors
While the main cause of the ailment may be unknown, much research suggests that it could be due to a combination of two factors. This includes hereditary factors and environmental factors as well. This disease is not a result of poor hygiene. Some of the things that can trigger a flare-up of this illness include the following:
- Food that is too spicy
- Drinks that are too hot
- Red wine and other alcoholic beverages
- Experiencing extreme temperatures
- Wind or sunlight
- Emotions
- Exercise
- Drugs that have the ability to dilate the vessels of the blood, which also include some blood pressure medications.
- Some cosmetic products may also cause a flare-up
Risk factors
While just about anyone can potentially develop this illness, you are more likely to get it if the following apply to you:
- You are a female
- You have skin that is light
- Over the age of 30
- You smoke
- Family history of the illness
Diagnosis
While there isn’t a specific test that is used to diagnose the disease, your doctor will more or less rely on the history of the symptoms that you provide and will also base the diagnosis on an examination of the skin. It may be necessary to conduct some tests to rule out other possible causes. There are certain conditions that cause similar signs and symptoms that rosacea also shows. If the list of your symptoms also includes your eyes, you may be very well-referred to a specialist for eyes to get them evaluated.
Treatment
The treatment available for the condition mainly focuses on managing the signs and symptoms of the disease. This will, in most cases, require a combination of excellent skincare and some prescription drugs.
The duration of the treatment is also subjective to the individual and will depend on the type and severity of the signs and symptoms you have. Also, note that recurrence is very common with this disease.
Light Therapy
If you happen to suffer from Rosacea, you will, in every likelihood, be recommended to undergo light therapy. It is very likely to be part of your overall treatment plan. However, it is very important to note that it will not be your only form of treatment. It acts very well when it is treated as a supplementary type of therapy that is administered for its wide range of benefits.
When dermatologists make a treatment plan for this disease, the plan will normally consist of medication, and a skincare plan that is rosacea friendly, and they will also give you additional tips on how to best avoid any future flare-ups. In some cases, this plan for treatment will also include a therapy model which is light therapy.
The likelihood of your treatment plan including light therapy, depends on some variables. You are more likely to be prescribed light therapy if rosacea has caused the following issues in you:
- The visibility of blood vessels
- Skin is thickening
Light therapy has a very real potential to reduce or even completely get rid of the vessels of the blood. Also, to remove skin that has gotten thick, dermatologists may even make use of laser resurfacing.
Laser treatment can also reduce redness. In a few studies that were relatively small, lasers were used to treat permanent redness on the face and also the redness that surrounds blemishes that are like acne. A lot of the patients did see a noticeable reduction in redness.
So, in summary, while there isn’t any cure for Rosacea, there are a lot of treatment options available that can manage the signs and symptoms of the disease very well. Light therapy is one of those treatment methods that shows a lot of promise as well.
