Rosacea is one skin disease that has stumped even the best doctors and scientists. Until now, even with more than 16 million people in the United States afflicted with it and a total of 45 million worldwide, nobody knows about this problem. In fact, people who have them don't even know that they have it.
Rosacea can cause redness on the skin. Usually, it targets the face, the chin, the nose and the areas of the forehead. The redness is often patches of redness. In some cases, the eyes can be affected and they become watery. This is why people whose eyes are affected, particularly the eyelids always make sure that the areas are clean and hygienic. Otherwise, there can be an infection, which when left untreated can affect vision.
Rosacea affects Caucasian and has thus been called the "the curse of the Celts." Unlike acne, the skin problem affects people who are older. It is also three times more common in women than in men. What makes rosacea so unique is the fact that flare ups are triggered by a host of factors and not all people have the same set of triggers. The irregularity of its cause and even the occurrence of its symptoms make this skin problem harder to detect and harder to treat.
Those with only mild symptoms can just simply avoid contact with their triggers, provided that they do know what their triggers are. And herein lies the problem. Because there are so many triggers, it is sometimes hard to recognize which triggers the flare ups. This is especially true if there are more than one trigger. Triggers can be anything from the heat of the sun to an eggplant. Here are some tips to help you hunt down what is causing your flare up.
1. Start with the Common
Although there are many triggers for rosacea, there are surveys that narrow down the most common. From these surveys check out the triggers and see if any of them are also your triggers. That way, you can already watch out for incidents. Without checking this list, finding what causes the flare ups may be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
2. Be observant
When you have flare ups, check immediately what you have come into contact with or what you have eaten. This is the only way you can determine what your triggering factor is.
3. Test it
Remember also that observing just once is not enough. You have to be sure that it is the trigger by testing it. When you have already narrowed down the possible triggers or you already have your suspicions, check your theory. Deliberately expose yourself to the factor and see if your rosacea is going to flare up.
4. Record it
Another way to easily see what factors are triggering your rosacea flare ups is to keep a journal of the foods that you eat and things that you do. As much as you can, try to include the factors that are listed on the most common list.
