Red spots, visible veins and pustules on the face - so-called rosacea is a very common facial skin disease and mainly affects people around the age of 40. Rosacea, like neurodermatitis, is a non-contagious, chronic inflammatory skin disease. It occurs in phases and can occur in varying degrees of severity.
In this article we look at the causes, symptoms and treatment options for rosacea.
4. What is the best way to treat rosacea?
5. Take beautiful care of your skin!
What is rosacea?
As already mentioned, rosacea, also called "rosacea", "couperose" or "face rose", is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases that occurs on the face . Around four million people in Germany are affected, although the skin changes usually only develop after the age of 30. People with fair skin and women are particularly affected.
Rosacea manifests itself in different forms depending on the severity. Typical symptoms are reddening of the facial skin , which occurs in phases and is aggravated by certain triggers (eg UV light, alcohol) and an expansion of small skin veins, known as telangiectasias. Nodules and pustules can also appear, and in severe cases there can even be thickening of the skin on the nose and chin, known as phymas. This mainly affects men.
What causes rosacea?
There are various factors that influence this chronic skin disease - however, the exact cause of rosacea has not yet been fully determined. What is certain is that the skin disease is caused by inflammation, and genetic factors and the immune system also play an important role.
There is debate as to whether microorganisms such as the Demodex mite, which naturally colonize the skin, are present in larger numbers in rosacea. Neurovascular connections may also exist.
So-called trigger factors that promote rosacea and can trigger flare-ups are:
- Intense solar radiation (UV light)
- External factors such as heat, cold
- Psychological stress
- The consumption of coffee, alcohol or spicy foods
- Inappropriate cosmetics and skin care
What are the symptoms?
As already mentioned above, rosacea is characterized by bouts of redness on the face, which vary depending on the severity. The areas where the disease tends to appear are mainly the cheeks and nose, and less frequently the forehead and chin .
In the early stages of rosacea, the reddened skin with increasingly visible dilated blood vessels is often dry and flaky. As the disease progresses, in addition to redness and dilated blood vessels, nodules can also appear on the skin, which in the most severe cases can lead to lumpy skin thickening. In rare cases, the eyes and ears can also be affected by rosacea.
How is rosacea treated?
The treatment of rosacea is divided into general and specific measures, which are determined in consultation and after diagnosis by the treating physician.
The general measures include avoiding the trigger factors:
- Avoid UV exposure (wear protective clothing and consistent sun protection)
- Avoid foods that trigger flare-ups (alcohol, spicy foods, etc.)
- Reduce stress - we know how difficult that is ;-)
- Avoid highly irritating care products
Proper skin care plays a major role in rosacea. We recommend using mild, hypoallergenic and fragrance-free care products and avoiding coarse-grained peelings, for example. To avoid further irritating your sensitive skin, it is advisable to use mild washing lotions or gels when cleaning your face. It is also advisable to gently pat the skin dry to avoid sudden redness.
But the most important tip remains: apply sunscreen consistently! We would recommend our sensitive sunscreen with SPF 50 for your face.
Depending on the severity, the specific measures are only determined in consultation with the treating doctor and can include, for example, antibiotic ointments or tinctures for the face. Some are also treated with a so-called topical, anti-inflammatory vasoconstrictor, a preparation that shrinks the dilated blood vessels in the skin again.
Take beautiful care of your skin!
We understand how stressful rosacea can be for each individual. It is important that you can generally stabilize your skin condition by consistently avoiding the trigger factors, which can be different for each individual. However, there is currently no "classic cure". We recommend our med basic cream with 5% evening primrose oil and high-quality vegetable glycerin as a facial care product and our Sensitive Sun Cream SPF 50 with extra high protection for the face.
It is important to emphasize again at this point that every skin reacts differently to certain ingredients. To do this, test individually which ingredients you can tolerate and which products promote your symptoms.
OUR EXPERT
Dr. med Michaela Hagemann I boep founder, doctor & mother of three
