What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects over three million Canadians. Central face is the most commonly affected area.

The first sign may be intermittent redness or blushing. Over time, the redness may become persistent and more visible. The most common sites for symptoms are the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Sometimes rosacea may involve the eyes as well, and include symptoms such as bloodshot eyes that feel gritty. More than half of rosacea sufferers may experience eye symptoms.

Bumps, tiny pus-filled pimples and enlarged blood vessels can also appear, giving skin a rough, uneven appearance. Rosacea symptoms can vary from one person to another and severity is unpredictable. There is no known cure, but it can be managed with appropriate treatment and lifestyle changes.

Rarely, rosacea can present as thickened, swollen, and bumpy skin on the nose called rhynophyma. Rhynophyma develops when the oil-producing glands and surrounding connective tissues become enlarged. Rhynophyma develops in some men who have rosacea, and very rarely in women with rosacea.

Rosacea usually develops in adults between ages 30 and 50. It affects both men and women, although it seems to affect more women. It tends to affect people with fair skin, such as those of northern and eastern European descent (e.g. Irish, English, Scottish), although rosacea can develop in any skin type.

Signs and symptoms

• frequent flushing or blushing on cheeks, nose, chin, forehead
• persistent redness
• red lines, due to enlarged blood vessels becoming visible
• dry skin
• burning, stinging or itching
• pimple like bumps without blackheads or whiteheads

What causes Rosacea? Experts are not sure about specific causes of rosacea but they believe it is due to both genetic and environmental factors.

The key to caring for skin affected by rosacea is to treat it gently.

• Choose products that are non-drying, and free of alcohol or astringents.
• Use a mild cleanser; don’t rub or scrub skin.
• Make a habit of using sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) every day.
• Moisturize your skin, especially during colder months when the air is dry.

Five myths about rosacea:

1. It’s a form of acne — Don’t try acne creams to treat confirmed rosacea; they may dry out and irritate your skin even more.
2. It’s because of a drinking problem — Excess alcohol consumption does not cause rosacea. Alcohol is a known trigger, so it can worsen symptoms in individuals with rosacea.
3. It’s due to high blood pressure — It’s a common misconception that high blood pressure produces facial flushing.
4. It’s due to poor hygiene — Rosacea isn’t caused by not washing enough. In fact, because rosacea skin tends to be dry and sensitive over-washing it can make symptoms worse.
5. It’s actually a bad sunburn or a frost bite— Because of the redness that characterizes rosacea, people may assume that you have sun or cold burned skin.

Treatment Options for Rosacea

At Wellness ☤ Cosmetic Clinic by Body.Bar your professional and specialized medical esthetician can prescribe a combination of treatments and medical grade skin care products tailored to your skin conditions. Sticking with your recommended treatment can improve symptoms within a few weeks.

At Wellness ☤ Cosmetic Clinic by Body.Bar, we consider laser technology the best way to treat rosacea and its visible symptoms. We use only the safest and most innovative technology on the market to suit each client’s needs. Intense Pulse Light (IPL) and Nd:YAG laser both demonstrated superior, long lasting results when it comes to treating rosacea.