Professional Documents
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Word Count:
492
Summary:
If you suffer from a red complexion, flushing or blushing, a red nose and cheeks
and dry, flaky skin with pimples, you may suffer from the chronic skin condition
rosacea. This article explains the symptoms, causes and treatments of this chronic
skin condition.
Keywords:
rosacea symptoms, rosacea treatment, acne, acne rosacea
Article Body:
If you suffer from a red complexion, flushing or blushing, a red nose and cheeks
and dry, flaky skin with pimples, you probably suffer from the chronic skin
condition rosacea. Formerly known as acne rosacea, rosacea is more common in women
than men, although men often have more severe symptoms. Most people who have
rosacea are fair-skinned, fair-haired and blue-eyed, although it is also seen more
rarely in dark-skinned people. The disease affects at least 14 million people in
the United States of America, typically between 20 and 50 years of age.
The true cause of rosacea is not really known but certain factors are known to
aggravate the condition. Sufferers should avoid exposure to extreme temperatures
and weather, such as the sun, the cold and wind. Sun avoidance is particularly
important, and sun screens, hats and parasols are useful ways to avoid sun-related
flare-ups. Alcohol and hot drinks and food are also known to excacerbate rosacea,
as is exercising in hot temperatures and hot showers, baths, steam rooms and
saunas. Loofahs, rough towels, exfoliators, astringents and cosmetics with perfumes
and many additives should also be avoided. Gentle perfume-free cover-up cosmetics
can help disguise a flare-up and reduce the psychological and social effects of
rosacea.
Rosacea is a condition that is controlled rather than cured and many people find
that keeping a diary helps them to pin-point their own triggers. Keeping cool,
drinking water to stay hydrated and using natural gentle skin care products go a
long way to controlling this chronic condition.
You should, of course, consult your dermatologist for advice about prescription
creams and other procedures that may be available to relieve the symptoms of
rosacea. Generally, rosacea treatment is aimed at the control of redness,
inflammation and skin eruptions, and this treatment is necessary to prevent
permanent damage to the skin.
Steroids are also often prescribed for rosacea because they appear to relieve the
symptoms quickly, but sufferers should be aware that topical steroids are thought
to make the symptoms worse longterm. The steroids dilate the blood vessels in the
face and thin the skin and dermis by breaking down elastin and collagen in the
skin's structure. Topical steroids have actually been thought to cause rosacea in
the first place in some instances.