What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a skin condition that makes your skin flush easily. Your rosacea flare-ups can cause bothersome symptoms beyond harmless skin redness. If you have rosacea, you might also develop:
- Broken blood vessels
- Swelling
- Acne-like pustules
- A rough skin texture
- Eye irritation
- An enlarged or bulbous nose
Many of these symptoms, like pustules and swelling, may appear for weeks at a time before diminishing. Because of this, it’s easy to mistake rosacea for an allergic reaction. Instead, rosacea is likely caused by environmental factors and genetics.
What causes my rosacea to flare-up?
Rosacea flare-ups don’t always have a specific cause or reason, but there are a few things that could trigger the redness and other symptoms. You might notice worsening symptoms after:
- Eating spicy foods
- Being exposed to hot temperatures
- Being out in the sun
- Wind exposure
- Drinking alcohol
- Taking certain medications
- Feeling emotional
If you’ve identified your triggers, you can avoid them. However, you might still get flare-ups after taking precautions and adjusting your lifestyle.
What are some rosacea risk factors?
There are a few factors that increase your likelihood of getting rosacea. You’re more likely to have the condition if you:
- Are a woman
- Are 30 or older
- Have light-toned skin
- Smoke
- Have family members with rosacea
Despite these risk factors, anyone can get rosacea. If you get symptoms but aren’t sure whether you can attribute them to something else, call Parkland Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery for an evaluation.
What are my treatment options for rosacea?
At Parkland Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Stephens offers a few treatment options to reduce your redness and the embarrassment that can come with rosacea’s effects on your skin.
Your rosacea treatment plan might include:
Medications
After assessing your case, Dr. Stephens may prescribe you with medications to reduce the flushing by constricting your blood vessels. For extreme inflammation, she may give you antibiotics to take by mouth.
Laser therapy
Laser therapy uses focused beams of laser light to target and reduce the expanded blood vessels causing your redness.
Lifestyle changes
In addition to dermatological treatments at Parkland Dermatology, Dr. Stephens may recommend using sunscreen, choosing gentle skin care products, and applying a green-tinted toner to reduce redness.
Facial flushing from rosacea can cause discomfort and can send unintentional messages to those around you. To explore rosacea treatments, call Parkland Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery or book a consultation online today.
