Vascular Rosacea

This common but often chronic skin condition has 4 recognized stages and each stage has different signs and symptoms, all of which affect the face. The two stages in this article are the two early stages of Pre-Rosacea and Vascular Rosacea.

The signs and symptoms of Pre-Rosacea

The main symptom of this very earliest stage is frequent flushing. This flushing can affect the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. The skin can become so sensitive that a burning sensation may occur when cosmetics or creams are applied. The face may even become swollen. It is almost impossible to predict when this flushing will happen but there may well be triggers. These triggers will vary from person to person but could be emotional, chemical, environmental or even food.

Some sufferers have claimed that the following triggers have aggravated their condition:

• Heat (including hot baths) and saunas
• Sunlight or wind or very cold temperatures
• Strenuous exercise
• Hot or spicy foods and beverages
• Alcohol consumption
• Long term use of tropical steroids on the face
• Menopause
• Emotional stress, anger or embarrassment
• Drugs that dilate the blood vessels, including some blood pressure medications

In time the tendency to flush or blush easily will progress to a persistent redness in the central portion of the face, particularly the nose. This redness results from the dilation of blood vessels close to your skin’s surface. By this stage, those who suffer from even pre-rosacea may start to feel self conscious about their appearance so that they start to avoid social occasions and even going out in public. Depression, low self-esteem and embarrassment can all set in so that the condition becomes a psychological as well as a physical problem.

The signs and symptoms of Vascular Rosacea

As the signs and symptoms of pre-rosacea worsen, vascular rosacea may develop. There will be small blood vessels on the nose and the cheeks which will swell and become visible, showing through the skin as small red lines. This is called telangiectasia. The skin will feel warm and look puffy. The skin may become even more sensitive and the rosacea may be accompanied by oily skin and dandruff. Eventually, flushing and redness become persistent and then permanent. If you have telangiectasia, then this can be greatly aggravated by your lifestyle. Rosacea is much more likely in female adults with a fair skin between the ages of 30 and 60. If you have a lifestyle which includes a steady diet of hot, spicy food, above average alcohol consumption, smoking cigarettes and eating meals too quickly, then telangiectasia will surely follow.

If telangiectasia is present, those small delicate capillaries in the skin are affected as the elasticity deteriorates, so they remain slightly dilated. The skin gradually becomes congested and eventually the capillaries become visible through the skin’s surface.

There are even further advanced stages of rosacea. But of course you need to treat your early stages of rosacea and change your lifestyle long before you reach such stages.

Although there is no overnight cure for rosacea, it can be treated and controlled. The goals of treatment are to control the condition and improve the appearance of your skin. Unfortunately, rosacea rarely clears up unaided and it usually worsens over time if left untreated. Treatments tend to be more effective the earlier they commence. Avoid any over the counter products that contain ingredients such as acids, alcohol and other irritants as the chances are that they may actually worsen rosacea. It is safer to see your doctor or dermatologist so that they can prescribe a safe treatment or to use a natural healing product available on line. In addition to starting a course of treatment, you can help at home by avoiding anything which you think might trigger a flare up. Keep a diary of such flare ups so that you can identify what might be a cause.

In addition to the triggers we have already described:

• Protect your face from the sun or the cold in winter.
• Avoid touching or rubbing your facial skin
• If using a topical medication, apply any moisturizer once the medication has dried.
• Use products that are labeled noncomedogenic.

With sensible care and treatment, you can be successful in diminishing the appearance of rosacea and the accompanying flare ups.

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