Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness, visible blood vesssels, red bumps and pustules, and sometimes other, more severe effects such as stinging and burning. It is often confused with acne, eczema, a rash, or other skin conditions. It is estimated to affect up to 16 million people in the United States alone.
Read on for more specific information on the causes of Rosacea, how to tell if you have rosacea, extreme symptoms of the condition and natural remedies for rosacea.
What Causes Rosacea
So far Doctors haven't been able to confirm 100% the cause of Rosacea, but there are a number of factors that are known to affect it. Rosacea flares up in respones to a variety of factors. Some of the factors that cause rosacea are:
Weather; exposure to sunlight, wind, extreme temperatures can all contribute to rosacea flare ups
Alcohol; drinking can help cause rosacea flare ups, though it isn't the root cause of the condition. According to WebMD, red wine seems to have the worst impact.
Cosmetics; Cosmetics and skincare products can irritate the skin and cause flare ups in those prone to rosacea, this is particularly true for products with artificial fragrances and other harsh chemicals
Drugs; pharmaceuticals that affect blood pressure can cause a flare up of rosacea symptoms, specifically making blood vessels appear visible
What we eat; food, particularly spicy food can help contribute to rosacea flare ups
Yourself: Whether its anxiety, strong emotions, or even just exercising, how we feel and live, especially our stress levels, can help contribute to flare ups of rosacea
How do I tell if I have Rosacea?
Rosacea often appears similar to, and is confused for acne, eczeme, or regular skin irritation and rashes caused by stress or other factors. If you've ever found yourself asking the following questions and don't have an obvious answer, go over the risk factors and symptoms to see if you are likely to have it:
Why is my face burning and red
Why is my nose red and shiny
Why is my skin red
Why do I have red bumps on my face
Why does my face hurt
Why are there veins on my face
Why won't my pimples go away
These are some common questions that rosacea sufferers may be asking if they don't know they have rosacea yet. There are number of reasons for any of those to be happening, to be sure if it's rosacea see if you match any of the risk factors.
Risk factors for Rosacea
Ethnicity: Rosacea can occur in everyone, but is most common in Caucasians
Age: Rosacea usually develops around 30 or later, and is sometimes linked with menopause for women
Gender: Women are more likely to have rosacea than men
Family History: it may be possible to inherent a tendency towards Rosacea, so if you have family with rosacea you may have it too
Acne: A history of acne may be linked to rosacea.
Symptoms of Rosacea
The most common symptoms of rosacea are facial redness. This redness is typically around the center of your face, usually encompassing the nose and cheeks. Blood vessels may become visible in these areas.
Red bumps and pustules often form, this is what commonly causes rosacea to be confused with acne. These pimples are usually small, and can sometimes be filled with pus. Areas most affected by these pimples can often feel pain and burning in these areas.
In more extreme cases sufferers may experience ocular rosacea or rhinophyma.
What is Ocular Rosacea?
Ocular rosacea is a form of rosacea that also affects the eyes. Your eyes may feel irritated, dry, and appear red and swollen. Your eyelids may likewise appear swollen. These symptoms of ocular rosacea usually appear before the skin conditions.
What is Rhinophyma?
Rhinophyma is a form of Rosacea specifically affecting the nose. It causes the nose to appear bulbous and red. The nose will often appear bumpy as well. This is most common in men over 50. However, some regular rosacea symptoms will appear as a much more mild form of Rhinophyma, leaving you with a red nose that looks larger than normal, often with bumps and some burning sensation.
Living With Rosacea
If I think I have Rosacea should I see a doctor?
It's always a good idea to see a doctor about possible medical conditions. They can refer a dermatologist who can provide treatment plans and prescriptions to help manage Rosacea. For severe sufferers this may be the best option. However millions of people live without ever even being diagnosed and many others without ever needing medical intervention. It's perfectly possible to live with Rosacea and there are natural treatments for Rosacea.
How to treat Rosacea naturally?
There are number of ways to get rid of Rosacea naturally. First and simplest is to minimize risk factors. You can adjust your diet as you notice different foods causing flare ups. Drink less, particularly if you're a red wine drinker, or switch to alternative drinks. Minimize sun exposure. For your skincare routine, make sure you select products that work for Rosacea. Lastly, you can look at the products available specifically to help treat Rosacea, such as Revitol's Lucent Skin Rosacea Cream which you can read about in our article on it here.
Is there a cure for Rosacea?
If you use natural skincare products suited for those who experience Rosacea and add in specialty Rosacea treatments you can minimize and control flare ups, and keep your skin looking crystal clear! However, there are currently no cures for Rosacea.
There is a program, titled 'Rosacea Free Forever' that many people have had success with. If you want to learn more about it, read our review of it here.
If you have any comments or questions, be sure to leave them below!