Rosacea is a skin condition causing chronic redness in the facial skin, sometimes with acne. It is mostly harmless and symptom-free, though it can be a cosmetic issue for some women. Typically, it appears in the t-zone of the face, along the forehead and nose, but also along the cheeks, ears, scalp, and neck at times. Rosacea causes are not limited to one factor, but may be due to anything from body chemistry to stress, sun exposure, skin irritants (perfumes, lotions, etc.), medications, or certain foods.

Rosacea treatments vary depending on the case and the cause of the inflammation. Identifying and avoiding triggers is key, and it can be helpful to seek professional guidance for this. When triggers have been identified, eliminating them can drastically reduce rosacea symptoms. This may mean changing body care products, avoiding stress and overexposure to sunlight, or cutting certain foods out of your diet.

For some whose rosacea is not caused by triggers, oral/topical antibiotics may be used. It is also important to avoid using steroids, if possible, as they can exacerbate rosacea (don’t stop or change medications without a doctor’s consultation, however). Some with severe cases of rosacea may opt for laser treatments, which damage the reddened capillaries in the face so they are absorbed by the body. The absorption results in reduced redness. Microdermabrasion, which exfoliates away the top layer of skin on the face, can also help, as well as Photorejuvenation or IPL treatments, which are non-abrasive and may help severe cases of rosacea.