All You Need to Know About Rosacea

If you’re reading this, you probably think you have rosacea, which given that it affects 2 to 22% of fair-skinned people in Europe, is highly possible.

What is rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic facial concern characterised by redness and pimple-like spots. It typically affects people with light complexions, sun-sensitive skin, and individuals who have rosacea or severe acne going back in their family tree’s medical history—particularly those of English, Irish, and Scottish descent. While Rosacea impacts both sexes, it is almost three times more commonplace in women. It often begins in those who have a tendency to blush or flush in colour more easily than other people.

rosacea-4
rosacea-6
rosacea-5
rosacea-3
rosacea-8
previous arrow
next arrow
rosacea-4
rosacea-6
rosacea-5
rosacea-3
rosacea-8
previous arrow
next arrow

Rosacea Symptoms

The presence of rosacea can be indicated by the following symptoms:

Facial redness: It usually appears as redness on the main areas of the face across the cheeks, nose, or forehead. Rosacea can also—sometimes—appear on the neck, ears, chest, and even scalp.

Visible blood vessels: It is also possible to develop telangiectasia which is the dilation of superficial blood vessels on the face. This condition is when the small blood vessels on your cheeks and nose swell and become visible.

Swollen red bumps: People with rosacea are often prone to pimples on their face that look like acne. These pustules can also contain pus and leave the skin feeling hot and tender.

Eye issues: Both moderate and severe sufferers of rosacea experience problems with their eyes on different scales. From eye dryness and mild irritation to crusted, swollen, reddened eyelids. In some cases, people suffer from the eye symptoms before the skin symptoms.

An enlarged nose: Occasionally, rosacea can cause the skin on the nose to thicken and swell, making the nose appear bulbous and swollen (rhinophyma). This symptom appears more often in men than in women.


These symptoms also help categorise which of the four subtypes of rosacea you may be suffering from:

Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: Visible blood vessels, redness, and flushing
Papulopustular rosacea: Redness, acne-like breakouts, and swelling
Phymatous rosacea: Thickened, swollen skin which has a bumpy texture
Ocular rosacea: Red and irritated eyes, swollen eyelids, and what may look like styes

Over time, people who have rosacea experience a permanent redness across the centre of their face.

Rosacea or Acne?

Rosacea

With rosacea, a person may have a single symptom or a mixture of symptoms. These can include a constantly red nose and cheeks, flushes of redness on the nose and cheeks, visible thread veins, facial skin thickening, tender, sensitive bumps that look like acne but come and go, and persistent yellowish pimples. While oily skin and increased oil glands are commonly linked with rosacea, over-the-counter and prescription anti-acne medications, benzoyl peroxide for example, may irritate the skin rather than cause relief.

While acne is supposed to typically be the hallmark of the young, it’s common for one in five adults aged between 25 and 44 to get acne breakouts. Being older doesn’t mean you can’t have acne. With its telltale markers of whiteheads or blackheads, acne predominantly impacts the jawline and neck. The condition results from increased hormone fluctuations that cause excess oil secretion.

Still Unsure?

Rosacea info

If you’re still unsure which condition you’re suffering from in particular, sign up for a FREE skin consultation with us today.

When you come in for your free consultation, we’ll discuss your rosacea or acne concerns and carry out a fully holistic skin examination through a computerised scan which will help assess and determine the best solution for your skin type—whatever your skin trouble.

Our scans take place in a fully-relaxed environment to determine the best course of treatment and establish a new ongoing daily routine for your skin. With the latest in dermatological technology, CoLaz can identify early signs of underlying skin problems such as rosacea, scarring, and hyperpigmentation that are not visible to the naked eye.

All of this data serves to help our skin experts advise and customise a tailored treatment plan which is entirely unique to you and your skin concerns. We’ll help you achieve the realistic results you are hoping for and help you overcome those issues which have been plaguing you aesthetically and psychologically. Whichever skin issue you’re having, CoLaz has a treatment to help.

Not to be Ignored

The psychological impact of rosacea is often underestimated. The effects of the common dermatologic condition may seem skin deep, but Rosacea breeds low self-esteem, which in turn can cause social isolation. The anxiety individuals can feel with rosacea can lead to a vicious cycle of low self-confidence too, as embarrassment over the problem can exacerbate the physical blushing that is linked with the disorder.

Rosacea is typically thought of as a disease that is limited to the skin. However, there is an increasing amount of evidence to suggest connections between rosacea and other more significant health issues. Moderate to severe rosacea has been associated with cardiovascular problems, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, metabolic, and GI diseases.

Rosacea Triggers

People with rosacea are prone to sensitive skin and are often unable to use a variety of mainstream skin products. While there is no medical cure-all for rosacea at the moment, there are steps you can take to educate yourself about what triggers your individual condition. Many factors within your lifestyle that may be activating your flare-ups.

Rosacea worsens with particular environmental triggers which are usually unique to each individual. These factors can include:

Sun exposure: A vacation is a great way to rest the mind but stick to the shade where possible. Avoid the sun as much as possible, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Emotional stress: Probably the hardest trigger to mitigate given the busy lifestyles we all lead, but it’s critical to minimise its effect on your life and, consequently, your skin. Take a minute or two when you’re feeling under pressure and think calming thoughts.

Alcohol: Red wine is at the top of the list of alcoholic drinks most likely to cause a flare-up. Also avoid gin, vodka, or whiskey and soda or juice mixers as these things can make rosacea worse.

Spicy dishes: Exercise caution around food containing cayenne pepper, curry, red pepper flakes, and salsa.

Hot drinks: Hot chocolate, hot tea, and hot coffee are all drinks that cause the blood vessels to expand prompting flushing and redness.

Skin products: Cosmetics containing witch hazel, alcohol, menthol, and eucalyptus oil can irritate rosacea. Test new cosmetics on your neck before applying it to your face.

Temperature extremes: Heat from internal heating, saunas, and hot tubs can prompt rosacea flushes. Seek air conditioning in summer where possible and keep a moisturiser cool in your fridge for any flare ups you experience. When it gets cold, protect your skin from extreme cold too with a skin barrier ointment.

The root cause of rosacea is still medically unknown, but scientists do know through research that blood vessels within rosacea patient’s skin are significantly more unstable and sensitive than those who do not have the condition.

Colaz Treatments for Rosacea

CoLaz is passionate about providing our clients with the latest treatments on the market for skin conditions. Book in for a FREE skin consultation with us today to discuss your individual concerns and set up a unique solution tailored just for you. Check out our treatment range below for more insights on how we can help you with rosacea:

IPL Skin Rejuvenation

IPL Skin Rejuvenation

IPL can be tuned to help with a variety of skin issues. As well as targeting melanin for hyperpigmentation, IPL can also have a positive effect on fine wrinkles, large pores, and, more importantly, rosacea. It is a common rejuvenation therapy designed to restore a clear, healthy, and youthful complexion.


LED Light Therapy

LED Light Therapy

The blue and red LED lights in our Light Therapy treatment do complementary actions to improve the condition of rosacea. The lights interact with skin cells on an intense level prompting a photo-biochemical reaction. This stimulates cellular renewal from deep within the tissue and has an anti-bacterial effect. It helps rejuvenate skin by initiating new collagen production and repairing damaged cells.


YAG Laser

YAG Laser

This treatment is ideal for different skin types and at CoLaz, we treat both fair and dark skin tones. For rosacea, we optimise skin therapy with our laser machines, but we adjust both the spot size and handle to a size 10. With this course of treatment, you will need 6-8 sessions to see long-lasting results.