More than 16 million Americans and about 46 million all over the world may have rosacea but they don't know that they have it. You see, Rosacea's symptoms are not so marked especially if the case is just mild. People who have rosacea think that they easily blush or get flushed. They don't know that when they are exposed to the sun or when the weather is extremely hot, the redness that they see on their faces is not actually sunburn or flushing but Rosacea.
Rosacea is a skin problem characterized by patches of redness on some areas of the face particularly on the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. Blood vessels are seen through the skin. People afflicted with the skin problem also suffer from watery eyes and in some cases, pustules on the affected areas. Although almost similar to pimples, rosacea lets out a clear liquid when pressed unlike pimples which usually have whiteheads or blackheads.
For those who have only mild cases, rosacea's symptoms appear only when the skin is triggered by some factors. This is why not all people realize that they have the skin problem because incidents are few and far between. Usually, rosacea is triggered by high temperatures and continued exposure to the sun.
The same goes with spicy foods and alcohol consumption which raises the temperature level of the body. Stress can also be a factor especially when the person already has a predisposition to the skin problem. Others think that rosacea break outs are because of allergic reactions to certain chemicals. You see, cosmetics and other skin products can also trigger the occurrence of the symptoms. Some vegetables, marinated meat and dairy products can also trigger a full-blown breakout. Skin medications like benzoyl peroxide when it is used in large amounts can also lead to a rosacea break out.
But unlike most skin problems, rosacea does not have any cure. The most that a person can do is to manage the problem and make sure that no break outs occur. Often, people deal with rosacea by avoiding the triggers as much as they can. They always have sunglasses, umbrella and hats when they leave the house. Some do not eat spicy foods and those dishes that would trigger the symptoms. Those with symptoms involving the eyelids will need to frequently wash the area so as not to irritate the eyes. This is important to note because though rosacea is not exactly dangerous, it can pose a problem if it affects the eyes.
But these remedies are only effective if you have a mild case of rosacea. For extreme cases, you really need to see a doctor and ask for medications. Dermatologists usually antibiotics, which may be topical or oral. These are lifelong treatments because as mentioned before, rosacea does not have any cure. In fact, people who stop taking medicines often have remissions where in the rosacea will come back.
Others who are so lucky need to only undergo continuous treatment for one to two years, after which the skin problem will be completely controlled.
