Can Rosacea Be Cured Permanently?

By Ash 5th July 2021 Category: Advice
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Rosacea is a  chronic skin condition that mainly affects the face, causing facial redness across the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. Rosacea is a common yet long-term condition, predominantly affecting women, though the symptoms can often be worse when found in men and those with lighter skin. 

As well as the usual redness, rosacea can cause thread veins, thickening of the skin and excess, bumpy tissue, especially around the nose, as well as spots

The cure for rosacea is unknown, but treatment can help to control or minimise the symptoms. Read on to discover more about rosacea and its treatments. 

Rosacea Classification

The different kinds of rosacea are lesser-known, many people with rosacea think there is just the usual flushing or redness, but there are actually four types. Understanding the differences between them can help you find the best rosacea treatment. 

The four kinds of rosacea are: 

  • Subtype One – Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea is identified with redness, flushing, and thread veins. 
  • Subtype Two – Papulopustular Rosacea is often known as acne rosacea, is associated with spots and breakouts.
  • Subtype Three – Phymatous Rosacea is a rarer form of rosacea linked to thickening of the nose skin, often more commonly found in men.
  • Subtype Four – Ocular Rosacea usually only affects the eye area. 

As everyone is different, people can experience symptoms of more than one type of rosacea, which means  you may experience a mix of symptoms from each kind. Your symptoms may also change or develop over time. 

Discover all about the different subtypes of rosacea here. 

Dealing With Rosacea 

If you’re struggling with rosacea, you may have noticed particular food, temperatures, emotions, or activities have caused your rosacea to flare up. These are rosacea triggers. Understanding your rosacea triggers can help you reduce your flare-ups, prevent your rosacea from worsening further, and it can enable you to get better results from your treatments. 

Repeated flare-ups can make rosacea more challenging to treat; some patients have even noticed treatments have lost efficacy as time goes on. Here are some of the most common triggers for rosacea, so you know what to watch out for. 

  • Alcohol 
  • Caffeine
  • Hot drinks
  • Dairy products
  • Spicy foods
  • Aerobic exercises 
  • Hot baths or saunas
  • Hot or cold weather
  • Humidity 
  • Strong winds
  • Stress or anxiety
  • Exposure to sunlight
  • Skincare or make-up products
  • Some medicines

If you’re unsure what your triggers are, keeping a journal or digital diary to determine what may be causing flare-ups will help you get them under control. Read our guide on rosacea triggers here. 

You may also have genetic predispositions to rosacea. Those at a higher risk of developing rosacea include those who:

  • Have fair or light skin
  • Have parents or close relatives with rosacea
  • Are between 30 and 50 years of age
  • Are female
  • Have blood vessel abnormalities
  • Have skin peptides
  • Have microscopic mites
  • Have helicobacter pylori bacteria

Rosacea’s Link To Other Conditions

Research by the National Rosacea Society has found various medical conditions that may be more common in those with rosacea. This study found that if you have rosacea, you may be at higher risk for the following: 

  • High cholesterol and blood pressure
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Certain kinds of cancer, such as thyroid and basal cell skin cancer
  • Gastrointestinal diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, or ulcerative colitis 
  • Neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis 
  • Food or seasonal allergies 

Though more research is needed, learning more about these connections could help researchers understand the underlying causes of rosacea, and, in turn, identify new treatments. 

How To Treat Rosacea 

It’s important to know which symptoms of rosacea you have in order to choose your treatment effectively. Our clinics provide expert rosacea treatments that can help with persistent redness and work to reduce the signs of this condition visibly. 

We offer the following methods of rosacea treatment:

  • Laser Treatment

For patients with visible blood vessels, laser treatment can be used to shrink them. This treatment uses brief pulses of light energy that target only the blood vessel, leaving the surrounding skin unharmed.

  • Skin Peels

Skin peels help rosacea by exfoliating the top layers of skin, speeding up skin renewal and cell turnover, whilst preventing pores from becoming clogged with dead skin cells, which can aggravate rosacea. They can also help to reduce inflammation and promote skin healing.

  • Medication

There is a range of oral and topical medications available, which are capable of treating the redness, pimples, and bumps associated with rosacea. Such treatments are usually prescribed to gain immediate control over the condition, and subsequent long-term use of topical therapy is advised to maintain remission.

  • Skincare Products

A gentle skincare routine can be invaluable in helping to control rosacea. In general, non-irritating skincare products are advisable, and protection from sun exposure by using a solid sunscreen also helps. Discover our skincare tips to help with rosacea here. 

Other treatments for rosacea include oral antibiotics. However, it is best to avoid over-the-counter medications and creams as scented, oil-based and alcohol-based products can often worsen the condition.  

Key Takeaways 

  • Rosacea is a long-term, chronic skin condition that mainly affects the face. Though it is incurable, it can be significantly managed.
  • There are four subtypes of rosacea, with many people experiencing a mix of symptoms from each kind. 
  • Identifying which symptoms of rosacea you suffer from can help you choose the right treatment.
  • Understanding your triggers and genetic predispositions can help you reduce a further outbreak. 
  • Connections between rosacea and other conditions can help researchers understand the underlying causes of rosacea and identify new treatments. 
  • Laser treatments, professional skin peels, facials and skincare products can help to reduce rosacea across the face.

Find your nearest clinic and arrange a consultation with one of our dermatologists for advice on how to manage rosacea and related symptoms.

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