What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a long-term condition that causes reddened, sometimes inflamed skin, most commonly on the face. Rosacea can also develop on your neck, chest, and elsewhere, but the cheeks and nose are likely to be worse.

You might first notice the condition as a tendency to flush or blush more readily than others. This could develop over time until your skin stays constantly red. There are four rosacea subtypes, whose symptoms can vary. Depending on the kind of rosacea you have, you might experience problems like:

• Thickened skin
• Broken blood vessels
• Acne-like pimples or skin bumps
• Rhinophyma (a bulbous, red nose)
• Spider veins
• Eye problems

The rosacea subtype that affects your eyes can cause stinging, burning, blurred vision, and itching.

Rosacea sometimes resembles other skin conditions like eczema and acne. The Integrated Dermatology of NJ team identifies the cause of your reddened skin to ensure you get the proper treatment.

What causes rosacea?

It’s not known why some people develop rosacea. Possibilities include an overactive immune system, genetic tendencies, environmental factors, or some combination. Rosacea isn’t contagious and is not a result of poor hygiene.

Many people find their symptoms worsen in response to triggers. Common rosacea triggers include:

• Dairy products
• Alcohol
• Sunlight
• Stress
• Warm temperatures
• Eating spicy food
• Sun or wind
• Some skin, hair, and beauty products

You can control your rosacea symptoms to a degree if you identify and avoid your triggers. However, that won’t completely clear the redness.

How is rosacea treated?

The Integrated Dermatology of NJ team provides several treatments that minimize redness and other rosacea symptoms, including:

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy

IPL is a bright, scattered light source — a form of photodynamic therapy — that reduces the redness of your skin. IPL also treats spider veins, which often affect people with rosacea.

Prescription medications

Medicated creams containing drugs like brimonidine and oxymetazoline effectively reduce rosacea inflammation. Other creams like azelaic acid, metronidazole, and ivermectin can help control pimples if you have mild rosacea. It could take up to six weeks to see significant results and maybe more with ivermectin, but the effects last longer.

Call Integrated Dermatology of NJ or book an appointment online today to learn more about effective ways of reducing rosacea symptoms.