Acne is the most common skin concern in North America, leaving many people stuck with acne scars. While often seen as a negative, these scars are actually a result of the skin attempting to heal itself following a breakout.
Mar 20, 2020
Rosacea is a frustrating condition that can affect the appearance of the skin, but it also affects the self-esteem of more than 90% of rosacea sufferers. Understanding the facts about the condition can help in treating flare-ups to keep symptoms under control and feel confident in your own skin. The first step: getting to the truth behind the top rosacea myths.
For those unbothered by occasional redness and more mild symptoms, it might be tempting to leave it be. But over time, avoiding proper treatment could lead to worse flare-ups and more permanent damage to skin texture and tone long-term. Seeking treatment for common rosacea symptoms—including a proper diagnosis from a certified dermatologist—is the best path for easier rosacea treatment and management later on.
While “acne rosacea” used to be a common term to describe the type that causes bumps and pimples, the inflammatory skin condition isn’t the same as acne. Rosacea may appear similar to acne, in that it can cause inflammation, redness, and bumps. But, unlike acne, rosacea is a vascular and inflammatory skin condition.
Because rosacea can be traced back to the body’s natural immune system, rosacea symptoms are best treated with anti-inflammatory treatments rather than the antibacterial treatments typically use to treat acne. It is possible that acne can make it more likely an individual will develop rosacea later in life, but there is no proven connection.
While rosacea symptoms can flare up after drinking or not properly protecting skin from environmental factors, neither alcohol nor poor skin care lead to rosacea. In fact, the cause behind rosacea is still largely a mystery. While genetics and environmental factors are expected to play a role, there’s no way to pinpoint its exact source, making it difficult to prevent. Treating symptoms with antibiotics, avoiding factors that may cause flare-ups, and laser or radio frequency skin resurfacing treatments can help.
Redness and bumps are two main symptoms, but they’re not the only ones. There are a total of four different types of rosacea, each with different symptoms. Depending on the type of rosacea, people may experience symptoms ranging from inflammation, to visible blood vessels, enlarged pores, thicker skin, uneven skin texture, breakouts, and even swollen or irritated eyes.
Unfortunately, because rosacea is a chronic condition, there is no cure, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t hope for controlling symptoms. When possible, flare-up prevention is the first step to treatment, so avoid typical triggers such as sun exposure, extreme hot or cold climates (that includes skipping the sauna and hot shower), harsh skincare products, stress, hot or spicy food and drinks, and alcohol. Sunscreen should be a skincare basic, alongside gentle cleansing and moisturizing treatments. Gels or creams as well as anti-inflammatory oral medications can also be prescribed to manage symptoms, but these treatments won’t rewind damage done by untreated rosacea flare-ups in the past.
For treating enlarged pores, uneven skin texture, and skin damage accumulated over time, consider radio frequency-based skin resurfacing treatments. Utilizing targeted heat and tiny pins to create micro-dermal wounds, these treatments help kick start skin’s natural healing cycle to renew collagen and elastin production and improve skin’s texture and appearance.
To discover if radio frequency skin resurfacing treatments may help reverse and manage your rosacea symptoms, contact a certified treatment provider near you using the search below.
