What is rosacea? The term ‘rosacea‘ refers to a treatable skin condition that primarily affects the face. If you have rosacea, you will experience redness or blushing across your face, especially on your cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. This redness may be transient or permanent and may be accompanied by a stinging when water or skincare products are applied to the face. You may also experience small, pus-filled pink or red bumps on your skin.

While some people with this skin condition choose to embrace it and draw confidence from their unique looks, others find that it causes them great physical and emotional discomfort and makes them feel self-conscious. If this is the case for you, read on to discover how to treat rosacea and tips for avoiding and calming flare-ups.

What Is Rosacea? Our Guide To Understanding & Treating Rosacea

As experts running a cosmetic clinic in Milton Keynes, our team have treated many patients with rosacea of varying severity. This means that we have the expertise and experience required to help patients minimise symptoms and boost their physical comfort and self-esteem. We place the well-being of patients at the forefront of everything we do, which is why we encourage all clients to book a consultation to discuss your treatment goals and options with a practitioner. If you have any questions or would like to know more, please feel free to get in touch with our team today.

Mild Rosacea On Cheek

What Is Rosacea Skin?

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that primarily affects the face, it has various symptoms that can vary from person to person, but they all usually come and go in flare-ups. It is believed to result from a combination of genetic, environmental and immune system factors, not caused by bacteria or viruses. It presents itself differently in each person who suffers from it; some may experience mild symptoms, such as redness and occasional flushing, whereas others may experience more severe symptoms, such as visible blood vessels, inflammation and severe redness.

close up of rosacea on skin

What Does Rosacea Look Like?

If you’re unsure as to whether or not you have rosacea, you may be wondering what the skin condition looks like. Here are some common signs of rosacea to look out for:

  • Redness across the forehead, cheeks, nose and chin
  • Stinging or burning sensations
  • Visibly broken blood vessels at the surface of the skin
  • Small red or pink bumps known as papules and pustules
  • Dry skin
  • Swelling and pain around the eyes
  • Yellow/orange patches on the skin

Rosacea is commonly misdiagnosed as regular acne, but there are several differences between these skin conditions. For example, acne tends to be more widespread across the face, while rosacea typically presents in the centre of the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. For more tips on differentiating between rosacea and regular acne, check out the video below.

What Causes Rosacea?

While the exact cause of rosacea is not known, there are a number of things that are known to trigger flare-ups of the condition. These include the following:

  • Drinking alcohol and hot beverages
  • Consuming caffeine
  • Eating spicy foods and dairy
  • Extremely hot or cold temperatures
  • Sun exposure
  • Strong emotions
  • Aerobic exercise
  • Some medications and cosmetic products

Try to monitor how your symptoms respond to these common triggers to find out which apply to you. If you are aiming to minimise your rosacea symptoms, avoiding these triggers may help ease pain and redness.

Rosacea On Cheeks

How To Treat Rosacea

If your rosacea is affecting your self-esteem, you don’t have to put up with it. Our specialised rosacea treatment in Milton Keynes is highly effective and can help minimise the appearance of rosacea by reducing facial redness, papules and pustules, and red thread veins. Each treatment plan is created bespoke to the patient, based on their goals for treatment as expressed in their initial consultation. Below are the various treatment options we offer:

Intense Pulsed Light

Intense Pulsed Light is used to reduce the facial flushing characteristic of rosacea by shrinking blood vessels in the face. It is also used to treat the appearance of papules and pustules, which commonly occur in people with rosacea. It works by using light energy to target unwanted pigmentation, resulting in a more even skin tone. Our highly trained doctors will work with you to design a tailored treatment plan that aims to significantly reduce symptoms with multiple sessions over 4-6 months.

Ndyag Laser

The Ndyag laser is used to remove the thin red facial veins that appear in people with rosacea. It works by producing heat energy that causes the blood inside thread veins to coagulate, and the vein will collapse and seal. The Ndyag laser will be incorporated into your rosacea treatment in Milton Keynes and only ever used by a qualified practitioner, meaning that you can be confident that you will be in the best hands, and your safety, well-being and satisfaction will be the top priority.

IPL

Skin Peels

Skin peels exfoliate the surface of the skin and stimulate the production of new, healthy skin cells, meaning that they can be used to even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of acne bumps. This makes them an ideal option for those looking to reduce rosacea symptoms. Our skin peel, known as ‘the Perfect Peel‘ is suitable for all skin types, including those with rosacea.

HydraFacial

The HydraFacial is an extremely popular cosmetic treatment that cleanses, hydrates and nourishes the skin. Not only is it completely safe for those with rosacea, but it can also even help reduce symptoms of the condition. This treatment deeply detoxifies and cleanses the skin, reducing the formation of papules and pustules. It also thoroughly hydrates the skin, which is perfect for those who experience dry, itchy skin due to rosacea. The massaging techniques used in the process of our HydraFacial in Milton Keynes can also help soothe red, inflamed skin, leaving you with a brighter, more even complexion. Take a look at our previous article to find out more!

Skincare

In between cosmetic treatments, you can treat your rosacea at home using skincare products targeting redness. We recommend the IMAGE skincare redness and sensitivity set, which contains four specialised products that comprise a complete skincare routine for both the AM and PM. This regimen is designed to be cleansing yet soothing and hydrating, helping combat rosacea-associated acne, redness and dryness. The SPF 50 moisturiser in this set offers protection against UV rays which is absolutely essential to avoid a flare-up.

If you are interested in any of our treatments, contact our cosmetic clinic in Milton Keynes to get started on your journey with us!

Skincare

How To Calm A Rosacea Flare-Up

People with rosacea typically experience flare-ups which may be caused by one of the previously mentioned triggers or have no discernible cause. Either way, it is important that know how to reduce symptoms, should you experience a flare-up, so that you can minimise pain, redness and the formation of bumps. Here is how to calm a rosacea flare-up:

  • Moisturise – use a gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser to soothe inflamed skin.
  • Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water to prevent your skin from feeling dry and irritated.
  • Avoid harsh products – ensure that you only use rosacea-friendly skin products with calming, gentle ingredients.
  • Place ice in your mouth – while placing ice directly onto your skin has the potential to worsen your flare-up, placing an ice cube on your tongue and pressing it to the roof of your mouth may provide you with some relief.
  • Home remedies – some anti-inflammatory home remedies for rosacea can be found over on Healthline.
  • Avoid triggers – take note of activities and products that seem to trigger your rosacea and do your best to avoid them.

These tips for calming rosacea flare-ups are especially effective when used in conjunction with our rosacea treatment in Milton Keynes. If you have any questions about managing your rosacea symptoms through treatments, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team.

Person With Rosacea Touching Face

Rosacea FAQs

To finish our guide, we thought we’d answer some common questions people have surrounding rosacea:

Is Rosacea Itchy?

Burning, stinging and itching sensations in the face are commonly reported by those with rosacea. Facial itchiness can be combatted through the use of a gentle, fragrance-free and rosacea-friendly moisturiser.

Is Rosacea Genetic?

It is believed that both genetics and the environment influence the development of rosacea. Those with the skin condition are more likely to have a family history of it than those who do not have it, suggesting that genetics play a role in the development of the condition.

Does Rosacea Get Worse With Age?

If left untreated, rosacea can usually get worse with age, it develops over time, and whilst it affects people of all ages, it is more common in those over 30. Different factors such as sun exposure, food, alcohol, stress and temperature changes flare rosacea up, so the symptoms can become more pronounced and severe over the years.

Is Rosacea Contagious?

There are myths about rosacea, such as it is triggered by poor hygiene and that it is contagious; however, this is not the case. It cannot be spread from person to person and is a condition that develops within an individual.

Can Rosacea Be Cured?

There is no known cure for rosacea; only treatments can help treat flare-ups and the symptoms that come with them. For example, topical creams, oral medications, lifestyle changes and skin care. Many people can successfully manage their symptoms and maintain a good quality of life even though there is no complete cure for the condition!

What Ingredients Should You Avoid If You Have Rosacea?

Certain ingredients in cosmetic products are suspected of triggering rosacea flare-ups in some people. These include alcohol, menthol, fragrances, lactic acid, glycolic acid, camphor, urea and sodium laurel sulphate, which can be found in shampoos and toothpaste.

Rosacea On Cheek

Treating Rosacea Symptoms

While rosacea is nothing to be ashamed of, many people find the pain, discomfort, redness, and bumps caused by the condition to be unpleasant and even unbearable. We hope that our guide to rosacea and its treatments has helped to inform you on how you can go about seeking relief from your symptoms should you wish to, whether they are severe or mild. If you are interested in the treatments outlined in this article and would like to find out more, please feel free to get in touch with our team at our skin clinic in Milton Keynes who will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Previous Post What Is The Best Anti-Ageing Treatment?
Next Post How To Get Rid Of Dry Skin