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The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Nicole Hayre, MD
Pink Or Red Face? You May Have Rosacea
Cosmetic Dermatology Center
. http://www.cosmetic-dermatology-center.com

Pink Or Red Face? You May Have Rosacea

Are you sensitive to products? Is your skin always pink? Do you blush easily? Is the Winter weather especially hard on your skin? If so, you may have rosacea.

Acne rosacea or “adult acne” occurs in adults as its nickname implies, however contrary to its name, true pimples do not occur. Rosacea is thought to be in part due to instability in small blood vessels, especially in the central face. Hereditary is also believed to play a role.

Patients with rosacea tend to have a history of easy flushing and blushing. They may also have a history of sensitivities to facial products and cosmetics. Most patients develop dilated blood vessels giving the skin a ruddy or reddish complexion, which progresses over time. Patients may also suffer from breakouts including pimple-like bumps, which do not come to a head. If left untreated, rosacea may culminate in the development of a large, irregular, bulbous nose, or rhinophyma, previously associated with excessive alcohol intake (gin blossom).

How Is Rosacea Treated?

There are several things, which may cause rosacea to worsen, such as caffeine, spicy food, alcohol and sun exposure. These tend to increase circulation to the central face and cause one to flush or blush. Over time this contributes to the instability in the affected small blood vessels, and they become constantly dilated or enlarged, causing a ruddy or reddish complexion. Therefore, it is recommended that rosacea patients avoid excessive caffeine, spicy food, and alcohol ingestion.

Patients should also wear a daily sunscreen with at least an SPF 30. Patients seeking more help may visit a dermatologist. There are many topical prescriptions which help to decrease rosacea flares and breakouts. For more advanced or inflamed cases, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic which works through its anti-inflammatory properties.

How It the Redness Removed?

In the past patients had to live with their ruddy complexions because the topical medications primarily help with rosacea flares, and not with actual reversal of vessel damage. Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy targets dilated vessels, removing redness. Treatments are relatively quick and painless. Most patients describe the sensation as a gentle snapping. Some vessels are diminished immediately, while others fade over the next ten to fourteen days. The most common side effect is a temporary sensation similar to mild sunburn and pink skin. Some patients may require only one treatment, while others with more extensive rosacea may require more.

If you have concerns about rosacea or questions regarding rosacea or intense pulsed light treatments, contact a board-certified dermatologist.

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