Rosacea

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes red, flushed skin on the face. It typically develops on the cheeks, nose, and forehead but can occur anywhere on the face. Many people with rosacea experience flare-ups in cycles. You can have red, inflamed skin for weeks at a time before your symptoms go away.

Are there different types of rosacea?

There are four main types of rosacea that the dermatologists at Idaho Skin Institute treat:

Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR)

ETR is a common type of rosacea that causes facial flushing, redness, and visible blood vessels on the face.

Papulopustular rosacea

Also called acne rosacea, papulopustular rosacea resembles acne breakouts. It causes tiny bumps and redness all over the skin on your face.

Ocular rosacea

Ocular rosacea develops in the eyes, leading to chronically red, itchy, irritated eyes.

Rhinophyma

Rhinophyma is a rare form of rosacea that causes a thickening of the skin on the nose. It most often affects middle-aged men and results in bumps and redness on the nose.

What causes rosacea?

While experts don’t yet know the exact cause of rosacea, they believe it’s linked to both genetic and environmental factors. There are a variety of triggers that can lead to a rosacea flare-up, such as:

• Spicy foods
• Alcohol
• Hot tea or coffee
• Demodex (skin mites)
• Sun exposure
• Exercise
• Medication

Many foods that contain the compound cinnamaldehyde, such as cinnamon, citrus, tomatoes, and chocolate, can, for some, also trigger a rosacea flare-up. Triggers are different for different people. These are some of the more common ones, but typically, over time, patients discover the items that seem to make their rosacea worse. In fact, some patients keep a log of the foods they eat to see which ones are associated with their flares.

How do dermatologists treat rosacea?

There is currently no known cure for rosacea, but the dedicated dermatologists at Idaho Skin Institute recommend a combination of lifestyle modifications and treatments to calm your facial redness.

Along with avoiding your known rosacea triggers, your dermatologist can prescribe a topical medication to reduce redness and inflammation. They may also fight inflammation and pus-filled bumps with oral antibiotics to clear harmful bacteria in your skin.

Currently, at our Pocatello/Chubbuck location, Idaho Skin Institute is proud to offer laser therapy with the state-of-the-art Cutera® Excel V laser. This powerful laser uses varying wavelengths of light to target pigment in your blood vessels, which can reduce redness in your skin.

To schedule an appointment with a dermatologist for effective rosacea treatment, call Idaho Skin Institute, or book a visit online today.