Facial Redness

Do you have persistent redness or flushing in your face that looks like a blush or sunburn? If so, you may have rosacea. Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness and inflammation on the face or neck. It usually affects the cheeks and nose, but it can also appear on the chin and forehead.

More about Rosacea

Rosacea is one of the common causes of facial redness apart from the usual reasons like acne, sunburn, and allergies. It is commonly mistaken for sunburn and is often misdiagnosed. Rosacea affects both women and men, but is a lot more common in females, especially those with fair skin. It often develops between the ages 30 and 50.

There are four subtypes of rosacea and their symptoms can depend on the severity of the condition. Here are the most common signs and symptoms of rosacea:

• Persistent redness
• Small papules and pimples
• Telangiectasia or spider veins
• Sensitive or easily irritated skin
• Swelling, often around the eyes, forehead, and cheeks
• Thickening skin
• Nasal bumps

People who have rosacea can exhibit some (but not all) of these symptoms. Many of the symptoms also appear and disappear. A consultation with a skin or aesthetic doctor can determine whether you have this skin condition.

What causes Rosacea?

The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but experts have found factors that can contribute to its development. These include:

• Genes – Rosacea tends to run in families. If you have close relatives that have this skin condition, you are also likely to get rosacea.
• pylori bacteria – This bacteria, found in the gut, can play a role in the development of rosacea. Many of those who have this skin condition also have an H. pylori infection.
• Demodex (skin mite) – This microscopic mite lives on the skin, and those with rosacea have higher numbers of this mite. Demodex tends to live on areas where rosacea often appears like the nose and cheeks.
• Cathelicidin (protein) – This protein protects the skin from infection and may cause facial redness. The way your body processes cathelicidin may determine whether you’ll have rosacea.

A few other factors can also cause your rosacea to flare or worsen. These include:

• Exposure to hot and cold temperatures (including sun, wind, and humidity)
• Eating spicy foods
• Anger, stress, embarrassment
• Some makeup and skin/hair care products
• Strenuous exercise
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Certain medications like corticosteroids and high blood pressure drugs
• Certain conditions like hypertension

As rosacea makes the skin very sensitive, a number of things can aggravate this skin condition. Identifying your triggers and taking simple actions can help reduce or prevent flare-ups.

How can we help?

Rosacea is visible on the face, which is why it can sometimes cause embarrassment, anxiety, and self-esteem issues. We at Cutis Laser Clinics are here to help. There is no cure for rosacea, but we have aesthetic treatments that can manage or control its signs and symptoms. Avoiding anything that triggers your rosacea also helps.

Your individualized treatment plan, depending on various factors such as your acceptable social downtime, your expected time frame and budget, will be explained in detail during your consultation with our Harvard trained Medical Director, Dr. Sylvia Ramirez.