Rosacea
Rosacea is a common but poorly understood it’s a long-term skin condition that mainly affects the face and needs to be treated with a unique approach.
Symptoms of rosacea
Symptoms often begin with episodes of flushing, where the skin turns red for a short period, but other symptoms can develop as the condition progresses, such as:
• burning and stinging sensations
• permanent redness
• spots (papules and pustules)
• small blood vessels in the skin becoming visible
• Rosacea is a relapsing condition, which means there are periods when symptoms are particularly bad, but less severe at others.
Treating rosacea
There's currently no cure for rosacea, but treatment can help control the symptoms. Long-term treatment is usually necessary, although there may be periods when your symptoms improve and you can stop treatment temporarily.
For most people, treatment involves a combination of self-help measures and treatment, such as:
• avoiding known triggers – for example, avoiding drinks containing alcohol or caffeine
• creams and gels – medications applied directly to the skin to reduce spots and redness
• oral medications – tablets or capsules that can help clear up more severe spots, such as oral
Persevering with a treatment plan and avoiding your individual triggers are the best ways of controlling your symptoms.
