Rosacea Skin Consultation & Recommended Rosacea Treatments
A chronic skin condition, roughly 40% of Irish people are affected by Rosacea.
Rosacea Skin Consultation & Recommended Rosacea Treatments Essentials
Identifying rosacea: redness and flushed appearance, dilated blood vessels and roughness of the skin which may develop acne like pimples
Causes: an autoimmune condition with multiple triggers whose root cause remains unknown but is thought to be multifactorial. It affects women more than men but is often more severe in men
Types: here are four major subtypes which are readily identifiable by their symptoms
Treatment: this depends on the type of rosacea but because the condition has no cure, treatment is about management -
(1) Identify lifestyle factors that may be causing breakouts
(2) Develop a working daily cleansing regime tailored to your skin
(3) Address redness and appearance of skin during breakout
(4) Ensuring the skin barrier is robust
Rosacea is a skin condition characterised by redness, swelling, pus filled pimples and dilation of small superficial blood vessels. While it can occur in many places, visible outbreaks of rosacea on the face are of greatest concern to most sufferers. The nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead are the areas commonly affected.
Rosacea is most common in caucasian patients with sun sensitive skin so it’s no surprise it is estimated up to 40% of Irish people are afflicted by it to some degree or another. It’s prevalence means we deal with this skin condition on a daily basis in Amara. It is more common in women, but can tend to be more severe when seen in men.
What is Rosacea?
Medically, rosacea is classified as a chronic autoimmune disease which means it:
- occurs over a long and sustained period of time and (that’s the chronic bit)
- is the result of the body’s own defense systems reacting improperly – in this case to inflammation within the skin (that’s the autoimmune bit)
Rosacea is not contagious and can come and go intermittently with gaps in between flare-ups and episodes.
Is there a cure for Rosacea?
There is currently no cure for rosacea but there are effective treatments that address the symptoms and reduce the impact of the condition on your daily life.
Not having your rosacea diagnosed properly and treated accordingly can result in worsening symptoms and long term damage to your skin.
Are there different types of rosacea?
There are four subtypes of rosacea that are well described in the medical literature. They have big fancy names but each is characterised by distinct features.
- “Flushing Rosacea” – erythematotelangiectatic rosacea – This is the most common type and is distinguished by a flushing red colour and dilated small blood vessels in the active area. It commonly looks like a rash and feels very hot or can sting.
- “Acne Rosacea” – papulopustular rosacea – This subtype is accompanied by the raised lumps and bumps you commonly associate with acne. They are raised and swollen and can be painful.
- “Texture Rosacea” – phymatous rosacea – This subtype is characterised by a noticeable thickening of the skin in the affected area which has a tendency to then become uneven and irregular. It may be accompanied by bumps and nodules and a bulbous nose can result. This is more common in men than in women.
- “Eye Rosacea” – ocular rosacea – This subtype affects the skin around the eyes which becomes inflamed and painful. There are high levels of irritation associated with ocular rosacea and blurred vision can occur.
What are the symptoms of rosacea?
The following table lists the common symptoms of rosacea:
Raised, pimply skin | Flushed and blushed skin appearance |
Patchy red skin on face | Rash like appearance that doesn’t go away |
Visible and dilated small blood vessels | Bumpiness |
Hot or stinging sensation | Swelling of the skin |
Irritated skin around eyes | Thickening of the skin |
Rough, uneven skin appearance |
What causes rosacea?
Rosacea is a multifactorial condition. Genetics, immune system factors, and environmental influences are all thought to play a part in the underlying condition and breakouts.
What triggers rosacea?
The following is an incomplete but common list of triggers for rosacea. Because of the fluctuating nature of rosacea, it can often be mistaken for a food allergy or response to something else.
Alcohol (red wine especially) | Exercise (excessive sweating) |
High and low temperatures | Hot drinks – caffeine |
Spicy foods | Stress |
Compromised skin barrier | Dehydrating skin products & hairspray |
How do you treat rosacea at Amara?
As there is no cure, we look to treat the symptoms of your particular case. Treatments will generally be aimed at the following:
- Identifying changeable lifestyle triggers
- Reducing redness
- Reducing the influence of bacteria in flare ups
- Ensuring the skin barrier is robust
This must be done without irritating the skin any further as rosacea sufferers generally have more sensitive skin.
A Skin Consultation is always recommended for Rosacea clients
The first port of call will always be a skin consultation with one of our Skin Health Specialists. This analysis will provide them with everything they need to design a treatment programme for your rosacea and your face.
We can then address your rosacea using medical grade skin care alone or in combination with machine led treatments. This can be tricky business however, because rosacea is so multifactorial and there are a lot of considerations in play.
Treatment Option | Aim | Considerations |
| Skin Consultation | To properly identify the nature and severity of your rosacea | Dietary factors, current skin care practices, lifestyle elements and other questions will be explored to develop a list of possible triggers for your breakouts. |
| ZO Skin Health Products | To address redness and overall skin health and so reduce rosacea symptoms | Vitamin C is known to be a skin ‘super product’ but only if used correctly. Some acids will help with certain presentations of rosacea but irritate others as they can be too abrasive for rosacea sensitive skin. The right products can be very helpful but considered decisions must be made. As always, a good SPF is not just recommended, but essential. Rozatrol is a product that will directly target rosacea symptoms. |
| Rejuvapen Microneedling | To reduce the appearance and inflammation of rosacea affected skin | Clinically significant improvements can be achieved using microneedling in the correct patients. Great care must be taken however as rosacea skin is highly sensitive and microneedling is controlled micro-damaging of the skin. It’s the repair mechanisms the body activates after the procedure that can really be of benefit. |
| Hydrafacial MD | To improve overall skin health and strengthen skin barrier | This is a light resurfacing treatment that uses a selection of acids and active ingredients. For this reason it is case dependent. This will not be suitable for some patients but where patients have seen great improvements in the appearance of their rosacea, this treatment can be a great addition, adding strength and robustness to your skin and hopefully preventing flare ups. |