Rosacea
If you suffer from the chronic redness and flushing that characterize facial rosacea, you know how aggravating this condition can be, and how it can negatively affect so much of your life. IPL (Photofacial) offers a practically painless and long-term solution for rosacea treatment.
Results that will not only change how you look … but how you feel.
Rosacea is a disorder that affects 16 million Americans, according to the National Rosacea Society and is characterized by facial redness (caused by overactive blood vessels under the skin that dilate and cause flushing), red bumps, and pus pimples, So, to gain a greater understanding of the disorder, here’s everything you need to know about this redness-inducing skin condition:
1. If your mom or dad has Rosacea, you probably do too.
There is definitely a genetic component to this disorder — you either have it or you don’t. If you don’t have it in your genes, you can never get it. But if you dohave it, according to many dermatologists, your genetic makeup determines whether your condition will be mild or more severe.
2. Rosacea is most commonly diagnosed in people with fair skin.
While rosacea can affect any skin tone, it’s more commonly diagnosed on lighter skin types, since the initial flushing (on the nose, cheeks, or chin) is more clearly visible. “That said, if you have a darker skin tone and have noticed a ruddiness or pink tone to your complexion that isn’t going away, talk with your specialist so (s)he can properly diagnose and address the issue.
3. Initial symptoms can be mistaken for sensitive skin or acne when you’re younger.
When you’re a teenager or twentysomething, rosacea’s signature flush can appear to be sensitive skin, turning your skin a subtle pink shade. Rosacea’s pus-filled bumps (aka acne rosacea) that show up on the central part of the face can also be mistaken for acne (aka vulagaris, the result of bacteria, dirt, and oil mixing together, which clogs your pores). Early detection is especially important in this case, because treating acne rosacea the same way you would acne vulgaris will definitely exacerbate your disorder, drying it out further and increasing redness without eradicating the pimple-like bumps.
4. Rosacea symptoms tend to get worse with time if left untreated.
As soon as you think you might have rosacea, get it checked. Here’s why: Rosacea can become more severe over time, so if you ignore early warning signs, like prolonged flushing, it will be harder to reverse the redness. Cases can even become so extreme(as you age) that the nose may grow swollen and bumpy from excess tissue — a condition, called rhinophyma, according to the NRS. Not to mention, your eyes can also be affected, looking and feeling irritated and bloodshot. Ouch!
5. Rosacea is not curable.
“While the exact cause of rosacea is unknown, and the disorder itself remains incurable, you canhelp keep it under control and prevent it from progressing with topical products which all have anti-inflammatory, soothing ingredients. There are oral medications you can also take, like Oracea, a low-dose antibiotic that’s used as an anti-inflammatory. Luckily, the dose is so low that it doesn’t have an antibiotic effect, so you can use it for long periods of time without developing bacterial resistance.
6. There are a ton of factors that trigger rosacea flares.
“Anything that makes your face flush is essentially a rosacea trigger,” Dr. Zeichner says. Specific ones include: stress, spicy foods, alcohol (particularly red wine), hot beverages, and extremes in weather, like hot to cold or cold to hot.
7. Using products that replenish hydration will help calm an inflamed complexion.
Since patients with rosacea have a dysfunctional skin barrier that also doesn’t maintain hydration as well as it should, you want to be sure you’re not using harsh cleansers. This means avoiding face wash with physical exfoliants and chemical scrubs (think glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids), and alcohol-based toners.
