Rosacea

Rosacea, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that appears on your face, mainly the forehead, cheeks, chin, and the lower half of the nose. It may present as increased redness, visible red veins and bumps which may resemble acne. Rosacea usually appears on adults over the age of 30. It may also appear around the eyelids where is can cause soreness and burning or styes.

There is no defined cause for rosacea, and it is more common in people with lighter skin color. Rosacea is not an infection caused by bacteria. It can be worsened by sun exposure.

Don’t let rosacea diminish the way you feel about yourself in social situations. Dr. Steve Musick and his team are here to help you treat this skin condition and increase your confidence.

These are common signs and symptoms of rosacea:

• Facial redness — Persistent redness in the central area of the face. Small blood vessels on the nose and cheeks often swell and become visible.
• Swollen red bumps — People with rosacea may develop red bumps that resemble acne. They may contain pus, and the skin may feel hot and sensitive.
• Eye problems — About half of the people with rosacea have eye dryness, and irritated, swollen, reddened eyelids. Frequent styes are common. 
• Enlarged nose — In rare cases, rosacea can cause the skin on the nose to become thicker. This makes the nose appear bulbous. This occurs much more frequently in men.

The causes of rosacea are still somewhat of a mystery. It is thought to be a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. There may be an immune function relationship. Personal hygiene, or lack thereof, does not cause rosacea.

A number of factors can trigger an outbreak or aggravate your symptoms because they increase blood flow to the surface of the skin. These factors include:

• Alcohol
• Spicy foods
• Hot drinks
• Temperature extremes
• Sun exposure
• Wind exposure
• Emotions
• Exercise
• Cosmetics
• Drugs that dilate the blood vessels

While rosacea is anything but rare — anyone of any skin color, background and age can get it — it is much more likely in people with these characteristics:

• Between the ages of 30 and 50
• Fair-skinned, often with blonde hair and blue eyes
• Celtic or Scandinavian ancestry
• Family history of rosacea or severe acne
• Women (although men are more prone to severe rosacea)

Physical pain isn’t a symptom of rosacea. The person’s skin can become more sensitive during a flare-up, and it can become swollen and may sting or burn somewhat. In ocular rosacea, the eyes may burn, sting, or itch.

But for most people, rosacea’s “pain” is emotional in the way the chronic skin disease can impact their quality of life. The National Rosacea Society has conducted research into how rosacea can affect the lives of people with the condition. The group reports these numbers from that research:

• Feelings of frustration and embarrassment — 41 percent said their rosacea caused them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements.
• Worry — People worry their rosacea will worsen or cause scarring. They worry about side effects from long-term medication use.
• Self-esteem issues — 70 percent of people living with rosacea said the condition lowered their self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Work-related problems — When a person’s rosacea is severe, 70 percent of people say the disease affects their work interactions. Nearly one third say rosacea causes them to miss work.
• Anxiety and depression

It’s estimated that 14 million Americans live with rosacea, but many people never look for treatment. All of them could benefit from seeing a dermatologist. Not usually overly uncomfortable physically, rosacea can be difficult to live with emotionally, causing a person to be embarrassed when he or she has an outbreak, leading to avoiding social situations and lowered self-esteem.

There isn’t a cure for rosacea, but Dr. Musick and his team of expert midlevel providers can help patients manage this condition and identify triggers that may be causing their flare-ups.

Rosacea is not contagious.

• It is extremely important that you minimize your direct sun exposure and use a minimum of SPF 30 or higher on your face every day.
• Use a mild cleanser when washing your face using lukewarm or cooler water and apply using only your fingertips. Avoid using a coarse face towel.
• A series of laser and light-based treatments may be effective to minimize the redness and appearance of blood vessels. Do not allow untrained professionals to perform laser procedures as severe burns and scarring may occur.
• Topically applied or oral prescription medications often significantly improve rosacea.

Dr. Steve Musick and his team are highly trained in the use of lasers and light-based therapy and the overall management of rosacea and they look forward to evaluating you to determine the next steps in your treatment.

Dr. Steve Musick is a Board-Certified Dermatologist by The American Board of Dermatology and treats all types of skin conditions in the Swansea, IL and St. Louis metropolitan area. There are numerous treatments that Dr. Musick and his team can perform, and it is best to make an appointment for proper evaluation of any skin condition.

To make an appointment, call Musick Dermatology & Advanced Clinical Spa in Swansea, IL today at 618-628-2588. We accept most health insurance programs.

Rosacea can worsen or become more severe if you don’t treat the condition. Most people come to see Dr. Musick because they’re at the end of their rope trying to address the redness in their skin on their own.