Rosacea is an as-yet incurable skin condition in which you develop red patches on your face. You may also have red, angry pustules that look like acne. In severe cases, rosacea roughens and thickens your skin texture and may even deform your nose, a condition known as rhinophyma.
The expert dermatologists at Specialists in Dermatology help you take control of your rosacea. At their offices in Houston, Texas, or The Woodlands, Texas, they determine the factors involved in your disease, recommend lifestyle changes, and may prescribe medications and topical therapies, too.
If you’d like help for rosacea, the following tips help you manage your disease, so you can avoid flares and reduce your risk for complications such as rhinophyma.
Although researchers aren’t sure yet what exactly causes rosacea, doing anything that sends more blood to your face and stresses your blood vessels may worsen the condition and cause a flare. Each person with rosacea has different triggers that may cause their disease to suddenly manifest (it may then subside again for a while).
However, most women and men find that extreme temperatures — both inside and out — bring on an outbreak. Getting overheated, especially, is a problem for rosacea skin. Dress in layers during the winter, so you can easily peel them off if you find yourself feeling too warm.
Anything that raises your body temperature can be a trigger, including:
If you have fair skin, which is most common in rosacea, you’re even more susceptible to damage from the sun’s rays. Between keeping your skin safe and keeping your rosacea at bay, be sure to avoid the sun between 10am and 4pm, and wear sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses when outdoors.
Dehydrated skin is more prone to rosacea than well-moisturized skin. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you exercise. Water helps cool your body down and also hydrates your skin cells.
Use a moisturizer after bathing or showering (in warm, not hot, water). If your skin tends to be dry, reapply your moisturizer frequently.
Be sure to use a product that’s free of chemicals and fragrances and that contains ceramides to help your skin retain moisture. We can recommend medical-grade skin care products for your skin type.
Also be sure to replenish yourself emotionally, too. Though stress is a normal and essential part of life, too much stress taxes your body, raises your temperature, and may trigger a rosacea flare. Use meditation, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques to manage stress throughout the day.
One factor involved in some cases of rosacea is over infestation with the Demodex mite. The Demodex mite is a microscopic, eight-legged organism that lives in the sebaceous follicles in your skin. Demodex mites help keep your skin healthy by eating dead skin cells.
However, if you have rosacea, you may have more than the normal number of mites in your skin. Too many Demodex mites can trigger inflammation on your skin and also around your eyes.
If you have rosacea, in addition to red skin, you might develop red, dry eyes, and mites could be a factor. We may prescribe oral antibiotics to keep your Demodex mite population under control if you have severe rosacea.
In addition to helping you find appropriate, medical-grade skin care that won’t irritate your rosacea skin, we may also recommend topical therapies. For instance, brimonidine and metronidazole decrease redness and rosacea “acne” in mild cases.
Keep your skin free of rosacea rashes, pustules, and rough spots by getting help from the experts. Contact us at Specialists in Dermatology for rosacea treatment by phoning the office nearest you or using our online form today.
