Rosacea

Although more frequently diagnosed in women, rosacea tends to be more severe in men. Most often it first appears after age 30, but not always. Symptoms of rosacea include flushing, persistent redness, pimples and enlarged or broken blood vessels. In advanced stages of rosacea, the nose can become enlarged and bumpy.

While rosacea can't be cured, medical treatment and lifestyle modifications can help manage the condition. Your dermatologist will prescribe an appropriate course of treatment, which may include prescription medications. It's vital that you adhere to your dermatologist's treatment plan, because rosacea is a chronic disorder. Another important element of managing rosacea is identifying your individual "triggers" (things that cause flare-ups of more intense redness and bumps) and taking steps to minimise or avoid them. Some of the most common triggers include sun exposure, stress, hot weather, alcohol, spicy foods and irritating skin care products.

A few suggestions for minimising the effects of common rosacea triggers include protecting your skin from the sun, staying in cool indoor environments when it's hot outside, wearing protective clothing like a wide-brimmed hat or scarf when you know you'll be exposed to extreme weather, and reducing the temperature of the hot beverages you drink.

Establishing a good daily skin care regimen will also help to keep skin redness under control. Start by cleansing your face with a gentle, soap-free cleanser to reduce the potential of irritating the skin. Be sure to keep water lukewarm, since hot water can trigger a flare-up. It's also important to keep your face moisturised; look for a non-comedogenic facial moisturiser with an SPF factor of at least 15, to protect against redness-provoking UV rays. Make-up can also be used to reduce the appearance of rosacea symptoms. Products with green tones are especially helpful in reducing the appearance of visible redness.