Rosacea

I recently spoke to a women's group about "Caring for your aging skin". One woman asked me about the redness on her nose and cheeks. She was wondering what it is and what can she do about it. I am often asked this question and so I thought I would give all of you the answer.

By our mid-thirties, many of us develop a red flush in our faces after we consume something hot, spicy or alcoholic. This flush is typical of rosacea, a form of adult acne. Rosacea is a chronic skin condition. Though, not every woman that is prone to redness and flushing has rosacea.

There are three components that comprise fully manifested rosacea: an acne breakout that runs down the center of the face and involves the forehead, nose and central cheeks and chin; redness and broken blood vessels that resemble a sunburn; and, in the most extreme cases, a condition called rhinophyma, or bulbous swelling of the nose.

Rosacea responds well to the antibiotic tetracycline. Talk to your dermatologist to see if you really have rosacea or not. There are other ways to reduce the likelihood of a "flare-up" if you are not interested in taking an oral perscription. These include clearing or limiting your diet of potential triggers, or using a perscription topical treatment.

However, the vast majority of facial redness and flushing is not caused by rosacea. It can also be caused by: hormonal fluctuations that begin well before menopause, usually by our late thirties; or an irritant our face has come in contact with.

My usual advice is this: make sure that you are using a good skin care regimin daily; keep your skin moisturized; try gently covering your cheeks when you go from a warm house/car to the cold outdoors or vice versa; do a diet check and see what if anything triggers your redness. And above all else, don't hesistate to talk to your dermatologist.