Rosacea - Undisclosed!

What is common between Bill Clinton, Mariah Carey, J.P. Morgan and W.C. Fields? Rosacea is the common factor. This disease affects nearly 14 million Americans and yet, most people are unaware of the affliction. It is an ailment of the facial skin wherein the skin becomes reddish, pimples appear, blood vessels become visible, and irritation in the eyes occur. It is non-infectious and chronic. Fair complexioned people of European or Celtic origin are more likely to suffer from this disease. It usually affects persons between the ages of 30 and 50. More women are diagnosed as suffering from this ailment than men.

What Happens In Rosacea

This problem generally starts with red patches appearing on the face, around the cheeks. These patches may come and go. The skin becomes sensitive, dry and rough. Simultaneously, irritation in the eyes may be experienced. These red patches slowly spread to the chin and forehead. The blood vessels of the face expand and become visible in the form of thin red lines. Red pimples also begin to appear. The skin may start thickening and in extreme cases, it may result in a swollen, bumpy red nose. The vision may become blurry and one may experience grittiness in the eyes.

Causes And Triggers

There is no consensus on what causes rosacea. There are certain factors or triggers that can cause the symptoms to worsen. These factors vary from person to person. By identifying which of these triggers initiate a flare up in a person, he can avoid them and prevent the ailment from worsening. Some of the most common triggers are humid or hot climate, exposure to sun, stress, exercise, hot beverages that contain caffeine and spicy food.

Treatment And Precautions

There is no known cure for this disease. Nonetheless, the symptoms can be treated so as to improve the skin condition. Since these vary from one person to another, the treatment would have to be tailored to address those particular symptoms. One should definitely consult a dermatologist. Generally he would prescribe some oral antibiotics and topical medication to treat pimples and the sensitive red facial skin. In extreme cases, surgery or laser treatments can be considered.

Certain general precautions can be taken to prevent the symptoms from worsening. These are:

• Applying sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
• Applying moisturizer during cold weather.
• Using skincare products made for sensitive skin.
• Treating your skin with care.
• Using a prescribed eye solution to moisten your eyes when they dry up.

The duration of the treatment for rosacea varies in each individual case. Some may be treated in a short span of time while for some cases the treatment would have to be continued throughout the lifetime. You should consult a reliable dermatologist to diagnose and treat the ailment as soon as you identify the symptoms.