Red spots, visible veins, and pustules on the face - rosacea is a very common facial skin condition that primarily affects people around the age of 40. Like neurodermatitis, rosacea is a non-contagious, chronic inflammatory skin disease. It occurs in flare-ups and can manifest in varying degrees of severity.
In this article, we explore the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for rosacea.
2. What are the causes of rosacea?
4. What is the best way to treat rosacea?
5. Take good care of your skin!
What is rosacea?
As already mentioned, rosacea, also known as "couperose" or "facial rose," is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases that occurs on the face. Around four million people in Germany are affected, with skin changes usually developing only after the age of 30. People with fair skin and women are particularly affected.
Rosacea manifests in different ways depending on its severity. Typical symptoms include redness of the facial skin, which occurs in flare-ups and is exacerbated by certain triggers (e.g., UV light, alcohol), and the dilation of small skin blood vessels, known as telangiectasias. Nodules and pustules can also appear, and in severe cases, skin thickening on the nose and chin, known as phymas, can occur. Men are primarily affected by this.
What are the causes of rosacea?
Various factors influence this chronic skin condition – however, the exact cause of rosacea has not yet been definitively determined. What is certain is that the skin disease is inflammatory, and genetic factors as well as the immune system play an important role.
It is debated whether microorganisms such as the Demodex mite, which naturally colonize the skin, occur in larger quantities in rosacea. Neurovascular connections may also exist.
So-called trigger factors, which can promote rosacea and cause flare-ups, include:
- Intense sun exposure (UV light)
- External factors such as heat, cold
- Psychological stress
- Consumption of coffee, alcohol, or spicy foods
- Unsuitable cosmetics and skincare
What are the symptoms?
As mentioned above, rosacea is typically characterized by intermittent redness in the face, which varies depending on the severity. Predilection sites, i.e., areas where the disease preferentially occurs, are primarily the cheeks and nose, and less commonly the forehead and chin.
In the initial stage of rosacea, the reddened skin with increasingly visible dilated vessels is often dry and flaky. Over time, in addition to redness and vascular dilation, nodules can also appear on the skin, which in the most severe cases can lead to bulbous skin thickenings. Rarely, rosacea can also affect the eyes and ears.
How is rosacea treated?
The treatment of rosacea is divided into general and specific measures, which are determined in consultation with and after diagnosis by the treating physician.
General measures primarily include avoiding trigger factors:
- Avoid UV exposure (wear protective clothing and consistently apply sunscreen)
- Avoid flare-up-triggering foods (alcohol, spicy foods...)
- Reduce stress - we know how hard that is ;-)
- Avoid highly irritating skincare products
Proper skincare plays a significant role in rosacea. We recommend opting for mild, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free skincare products and avoiding coarse-grained exfoliants, for example. To avoid further irritating your sensitive skin, it is advisable to use mild cleansing lotions or gels for facial cleansing. Additionally, gently patting the skin dry is recommended to prevent sudden skin redness.
The most important tip remains: consistently apply sunscreen! At this point, we would recommend our Sensitive Sunscreen with SPF 50 for your face.
Specific measures are determined only in consultation with the treating physician, depending on the severity, and may include, for example, antibiotic creams or tinctures for the face. Some are also treated with a so-called topical, anti-inflammatory vasoconstrictor, a preparation that reduces the dilated blood vessels of the skin.
Take good care of your skin!
We understand how distressing rosacea can be for each individual. It is important that by consistently avoiding trigger factors, which can vary individually, you can usually stabilize your skin condition well. However, there is no "classic cure" yet. We recommend our med Base Cream with 5% evening primrose oil and high-quality, plant-based glycerin as a facial care product, and our Sensitive Sunscreen SPF 50 with extra high protection for the face.
It is important to emphasize here again that every skin reacts differently to certain ingredients. Individually test which ingredients you tolerate and which products exacerbate your symptoms.
O U R E X P E R T
Dr. med Michaela Hagemann I boep founder, doctor & mother of three
