Rosacea

Who gets rosacea?

It is estimated that somewhere between two and five percent of the Norwegian population develops the skin disease, but many walk around with rosacea without knowing it.

Because it is not always so easy to know if you have rosacea. This skin disease comes in different types and degrees. But certain signs may indicate that you have this chronic skin inflammation.

For example, does your skin often become irritated and red when you have exercised, are stressed, have eaten spicy food or take medication?

Yes, then you should read on for more facts and good advice from the skin therapist.

Facts about rosacea

• Rosacea is a chronic skin disease caused by an inflammation of the skin.

• The cause of rosacea is unknown.

• Characteristics are redness of the face, visible blood vessels, redness, warmth and a pimple-like rash.

• The redness usually occurs in central parts of the face such as the forehead, nose and chin and is usually symmetrical. Redness is often the first characteristic. Many people can feel stinging, tingling and an unpleasant feeling of heat in the skin.

• The condition occurs more often in women (30-50 years) than in men and often in people with fair skin type.

• Rosacea can be divided into four varieties.

Possible causes of rosacea

The cause of rosacea is not known, but it is assumed to be due to a combination of hereditary predisposition and environmental factors. Usually, the disease makes its debut between the ages of 30 and 50, with a tendency towards slight redness. Later it develops to give persistent redness in central parts of the face which is due to dilation of blood vessels in the skin surface. 3 - 5% of the population develops rosacea. Women are affected more often than men.

A number of factors can trigger or worsen the condition by increasing blood flow to the skin surface of the face. One should therefore try to avoid or reduce these factors:

• Strongly spicy food

• Alcohol

• Stress

• Large temperature fluctuations

• Sun

• Hot drink

• Hot bath and sauna

• Some skin care products

• Medicines in the form of ointment, cream or liniment containing glucocorticoids

• Medicines that dilate blood vessels, e.g. blood pressure medicines

Symptoms of rosacea

• Light and sensitive skin that reddens easily

• Red and embarrassing rash over the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin

• Stinging, tingling and a feeling of heat in the skin

• Dilated small blood vessels near the surface of the skin

• Raised skin

• Pimple-like bumps

• Red, watery eyes

• The ailments can get progressively worse over time, but can also come in outbreaks. The skin around the mouth and eyes is rarely affected. Some people get extra problems on the nose where the skin becomes enlarged and lumpy (rhinophyma).

Notice when the skin turns red

A rosacea skin can be quite nice for periods and then flare up.

Sunlight, stress, alcohol, strong spicy food, temperature changes, exercise and medication can provoke reactions in skin with rosacea.

- If you suspect that you may have rosacea, it might be a good idea to keep a diary where you write down when the skin was triggered and what could be the cause

Based on the diary, you can find a pattern and thus more easily take measures that can help to dampen the reactions.

Tips to prevent red skin

- Many people find that the sun triggers rosacea, so protect the skin with a high sun protection factor, preferably all year round

Use gentle cleansing and moisturizing so that you do not increase the chance of flare-ups of rosacea, but rather calm the skin.

- Avoid peeling the skin when it is irritated. It is also not good to use cortisone cream on the face