Here are the top interesting facts about rosacea:
#1 Rosacea, also referred to as adult acne, is a common skin disease that frequently starts with a tendency to flush or blush more easily than healthy people. It is considered an incurable auto-inflammatory skin condition.
#2 Many people have observed that it generally starts anytime after age 30 as a redness on the nose, cheeks, chin, or forehead which may come and go. It can become worse into the 40s.
Statistics
#3 It is estimated that in the US this skin condition affects more than 16 million people. It is highly prevalent in Russia (5.0 percent) and Germany (12.3 percent). Worldwide, it affects about 47 million people.
Symptoms
#4 Note – there are 4 subtypes of rosacea and each subtype has its own set of signs and symptoms. Furthermore, it is possible to have more than one subtype at a time.
#5 Common symptoms may include:
- Flushing – you may observe that you blush frequently or that the skin gets flushed easily. You may experience a red-faced appearance all the time or it may come and go.
- Enlarged nose – it can thicken the skin on the nose, causing the nose to appear bulbous. However, this symptom happens more frequently in men than in women.
- Tiny blood vessels – they can become quite prominent on the face.
- Eye problems – approximately fifty percent of the patients experience eye irritation, dryness, and swollen eyes. In some sufferers, these eye symptoms precede skin symptoms.
- Small cysts (pustules) on the face and small lumpy red spots (papules) – these may come and go in some cases, however, in most patients, they remain long-term unless treated.
Causes
#6 The exact cause of this skin condition is not completely understood, but many doctors think that there is a problem in the blood vessels in the skin of the face, that dilate too easily. Also, it is known that some things may make your symptoms worse, including:
- the presence of cathelicidin, a type of protein that protects the skin from infection;
- having the intestinal bacteria H. pylori;
- a skin mite called Demodex (found on the facial skin, mainly the forehead);
- intense or excessive physical exercise overheat the body and may increase the redness;
- some facial cosmetics and creams because they contain alcohol;
- emotional stress – it is also a common trigger of this skin condition;
- some medications, especially statins;
- extreme cold or hot temperatures;
- excessive exposure to sunlight;
- drinking alcoholic beverages. According to studies, people who drink five or more glasses of white wine a week, have an increased risk of 49% of developing this condition.
Diagnosis
#7 There are no diagnostic laboratory tests. But your healthcare professional will recognize this condition just by looking at your skin. A biopsy is rarely done since it may leave a scar.
#8 This skin condition frequently goes undiagnosed, especially among dark-skinned people. Also, it may be confused with seborrheic dermatitis (causes red skin, scaly patches, and stubborn dandruff) and systemic lupus erythematosus (when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue).
Treatment
#9 There is no cure for this skin condition, however, there are many methods to relieve symptoms, including:
- Brimonidine, a medication used as eye drops under the brand names Alphagan-P and Alphagan, helps to reduce the facial redness caused by this condition. It works by restricting the widening of the blood vessels in the skin.
- Blephamide (prednisolone/sulfacetamide ophthalmic) is an eye drop steroid that is occasionally prescribed for people with ocular rosacea.
- Laser therapy – it could reduce the appearance of large blood vessels, but this is a very expensive treatment.
- Surgery – it can reduce rhinophyma, that is the excess tissue that can accumulate on the nose. Doctors can also remove visible blood vessels.
- Azelaic acid – it is a topical cream or lotion, commonly used to treat acne, but has proven to be quite effective in treating this skin condition.
Side Effects Of Rosacea Medications
#10 Some of the drugs used can have plenty of side effects, including:
- redness, itching and burning sensation, or pain where the medicine was used;
- contact dermatitis;
- increased facial redness;
- increased skin sensitivity to artificial sources of light and sunlight.
Natural Treatments For Rosacea
#11 Lavender essential oil – you can make an essential oil treatment for this condition by using Lavender essential oil since it possesses strong healing and anti-inflammatory attributes.
#12 Aloe Vera – it is one of the most popular natural remedies for skin problems. It works by relieving inflammation and reducing redness, making it a valuable alternative treatment for individuals who suffer from irritation and redness.
#13 Tea Tree Oil – it has become a favorite natural ingredient in all forms of face soaps, shampoos, and ointments due to its remarkable healing powers. According to research, tea tree essential oil may help kill off Demodex Mites.
#14 Oatmeal – it has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which help calm the itchiness and redness of rosacea. You just need to boil 1/2 cup of oatmeal in 1/3 cup of water and allow it to cool.
#15 Rose Water – it has amazing cooling and soothing properties when applied to the skin. Moreover, rose water helps reduce redness and inflammation, therefore, it is helpful for this condition.
#16 Chamomile Compress – it might help lessen the redness. Also, applying green tea to the face helps to decrease inflammation and redness.
#17 Diet – changing your eating habits is probably the single most important thing you will ever do to treat this condition. According to studies, foods that aggravate this skin condition include – alcoholic beverages, spicy foods, dairy products, and hot, caffeinated drinks.
Prevention
#18 Prevention methods include:
- Reduces your stress levels since it is one of the most frequent triggers associated with this condition. Effective methods to reduce stress include – deep breathing exercises, Tai Chi, yoga, and meditation.
- Getting sufficient sleep – a good night’s sleep can mean good skin health since when you are sleep-deprived, the human body makes more cortisol, a stress hormone produced in the cortex of the adrenal glands.
- Cold weather – minimize your exposure to the cold by covering any exposed areas of the face.
- Avoid washing your face with chemical scrubs (such as – salicylic acid), physical exfoliants (crushed shells or jojoba beads), and alcohol-based toners.
- Regular exercise – a low-intensity exercise program, like – swimming or walking, may be better than high-intensity physical activities.
- Lose weight if you are obese – according to a 2017 study, the risk for this condition is considerably increased among overweight and obese women.
- Avoid hot beverages.
- Avoid hair sprays since they contain harmful chemicals which can penetrate the skin and can cause toxic reactions.
#19 Eat foods rich in fiber – dietary fiber prolongs digestion times and makes the stomach feel full, hence, prevents facial redness or flushing of the skin caused by blood sugar spikes. In addition, these foods have potent anti-inflammatory properties.
#20 Foods high in fiber include – red kidney beans, chickpeas, dates, lentils, flax seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, oat bran, almonds, pistachios, papaya, hazelnuts, pecans, figs, passion fruit, macadamia nuts, and broccoli.
Images credit – Shutterstock & Getty
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References https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28452093 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22564022