Rosacea is a flush or rash on your chin, nose, cheeks, and forehead. You may also have small bumps and pimples on your cheeks, sore eyes and eyelids, and, more rarely, a swollen, red nose, Rosacea is triggered by factors such as emotional stress, alcohol, or hot, spicy food. Flare-ups are due to inflammation of the tiny blood vessels under the skin but why rosacea develops in the first place is unknown. The condition seems to run in families, is more common in women aged 30-55, and may be lifelong.
Seek your doctor first
Make an appointment to see your doctor if you think you have rosacea.
PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
Identifying trigger substances
This should help you to avoid particular foods and drinks, such as coffee, alcohol, and spicy food, that can cause flare-ups of rosacea.
* Keep a diary of your symptoms and what you have eaten when they occur.
* Try eliminating any suspect foods or drinks for up to 6 weeks to see if there is an improvement.
* Reintroduce foods and drinks one at a time, noting which provoke an attack and need to be avoided.
PREVENTION
Avoiding attacks If you are prone to flushes, following the advice given here may help to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.
* Sunlight can cause flare-ups, so stay in the shade on hot summer days and wear a hat. When you are in the sun, use a sunscreen; a titanium dioxide sunblock is less likely to irritate your skin.
* Avoid rapid changes of temperature – for example, going straight form the cold outdoors into a hot room.
* If you tend to have flare-ups of rosacea when you are feeling under stress, try practicing deep breathing exercises and muscle relaxation techniques.
What you can do yourself
Flare-ups are usually caused by something that makes you flush or overheat. There are several things you can do to reduce the symptoms.
* Put a cold compress ( a face cloth soaked in ice-cold water) on the flushed areas to cool your skin.
* Some foods and drinks trigger attacks. Try to identify which, if any, are affecting you.
* Use mild cleansers and avoid any that contain alcohol, Don’t rub your face hard or use a face cloth.
* Bathe or shower in tepid, rather than hot, water.
* Wear cotton rather than wool and dress in layers so you can remove a layer if you begin to feel hot.
* To minimize redness, try a green-tinted foundation; choose one that is specially formulated for sensitive skin. Camouflage creams are also available but you may need specialist advice on selecting and applying them.
* Use a moisturizer to protect your skin against the drying effects of cold weather.
* If you are a man with rosacea, use an electric shaver rather than wet shave.
Seek your doctor first
Make an appointment to see your doctor if you think you have rosacea.
PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
Identifying trigger substances
This should help you to avoid particular foods and drinks, such as coffee, alcohol, and spicy food, that can cause flare-ups of rosacea.
* Keep a diary of your symptoms and what you have eaten when they occur.
* Try eliminating any suspect foods or drinks for up to 6 weeks to see if there is an improvement.
* Reintroduce foods and drinks one at a time, noting which provoke an attack and need to be avoided.
PREVENTION
Avoiding attacks If you are prone to flushes, following the advice given here may help to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.
* Sunlight can cause flare-ups, so stay in the shade on hot summer days and wear a hat. When you are in the sun, use a sunscreen; a titanium dioxide sunblock is less likely to irritate your skin.
* Avoid rapid changes of temperature – for example, going straight form the cold outdoors into a hot room.
* If you tend to have flare-ups of rosacea when you are feeling under stress, try practicing deep breathing exercises and muscle relaxation techniques.
What you can do yourself
Flare-ups are usually caused by something that makes you flush or overheat. There are several things you can do to reduce the symptoms.
* Put a cold compress ( a face cloth soaked in ice-cold water) on the flushed areas to cool your skin.
* Some foods and drinks trigger attacks. Try to identify which, if any, are affecting you.
* Use mild cleansers and avoid any that contain alcohol, Don’t rub your face hard or use a face cloth.
* Bathe or shower in tepid, rather than hot, water.
* Wear cotton rather than wool and dress in layers so you can remove a layer if you begin to feel hot.
* To minimize redness, try a green-tinted foundation; choose one that is specially formulated for sensitive skin. Camouflage creams are also available but you may need specialist advice on selecting and applying them.
* Use a moisturizer to protect your skin against the drying effects of cold weather.
* If you are a man with rosacea, use an electric shaver rather than wet shave.
