Rosacea Specialist

What is rosacea?

A newly-developed tendency to blush or flush more easily than before is often the first sign of rosacea, a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by red patches on your nose and cheeks that may spread to your forehead or chin. People who have rosacea may also notice that their ears, chest, and back are also red some or all of the time.

Although rosacea isn’t always uncomfortable, sometimes it makes facial skin feel sensitive, hot, raw, or tender. Symptoms can also include red, swollen bumps that contain pus and resemble acne. Because the condition is so visible, long-lasting, and sometimes painful, it can affect your overall quality of life. Frustration, embarrassment, and low self-esteem are a just few issues brought on by living with rosacea.  

Are there different types of rosacea?

Yes — there are three general types of rosacea, and each type can co-exist with the other types. The most mild type involves easy flushing of the skin, which is often triggered by hot foods or drinks, alcohol, caffeine, exercising in the heat, or sun exposure.  

The best way to treat mild rosacea is by avoiding known triggers. If the redness becomes more persistent, laser treatments that target the blood vessels in your skin are often the best option. Green tinted moisturizers may also help mask the redness.

The second type of rosacea, called papulopustular rosacea, is characterized by persistent redness. Small red bumps, some of which may contain pus, will also appear. Treatments for this type rosacea include topical creams, lotions, gels, and washes, as well as oral antibiotics which can reduce surface bacteria and decrease inflammation.

The third, more advanced type of rosacea can lead to a skin condition known as rhinophyma. This happens when your oil glands enlarge, causing a bulbous, red nose and puffy cheeks. Rhinophyma may require surgery.

What causes rosacea?

More than 14 million people in the United States have rosacea. Anyone can develop the condition, but it most commonly affects fair-skinned women between the ages of 30 and 60. Although medical researchers don’t know exactly what causes rosacea, it’s thought that heredity and the immune system may both play a role, along with specific environmental factors which may trigger or exacerbate the condition, including:

• Intense exercise
• Emotional stress
• Sunlight, wind, and temperature extremes
• Hot drinks, spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol
• Medications that dilate blood vessels
• Menopause

Rosacea is sometimes mistaken for eczema or an allergy, which is why an accurate diagnosis is essential to proper treatment and symptom relief.  

How is rosacea treated?

The team at Easton Dermatology Associates primarily uses advanced laser technology to help reduce the appearance of rosacea and control flare-ups. They use the state-of-the-art Icon™ Aesthetic System to remove or diminish the appearance of rosacea, as well as spider veins and dilated capillaries. The system uses photorejuvenation technology to deliver gentle pulses of intense, optimized light into unwanted vessels. Like other types of laser treatments, this procedure stimulates collagen production to reduce flushing and skin discoloration, and diffuse capillaries and redness.