Are You a Little Rosy?

Did you know that April is Rosacea Awareness Month? Designated by the National Rosacea Society to educate the public on the impact of this chronic and widespread facial disorder now estimated to affect more than 16 million Americans.

The goal of Rosacea Awareness Month is to spread public education on this disease so that more people who may have rosacea seek medical help before it gets worse, and so those whose lives are affected can find greater public acceptance and understanding.

Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness and visible blood vessels in your face. It may also produce small, red, pus-filled bumps. These signs and symptoms may flare up for a period of weeks to months and then diminish for a while. Rosacea can be mistaken for acne, an allergic reaction or other skin problems.

Rosacea can occur in anyone. But it most commonly affects middle-aged women who have fair skin. While there's no cure for rosacea, treatments can control and reduce the signs and symptoms. If you experience persistent redness of your face, see your our skin master Amanda Massey for a diagnosis and proper treatment.

• Facial redness. Rosacea usually causes a persistent redness in the central part of your face. Small blood vessels on your nose and cheeks often swell and become visible.
• Swollen red bumps. Many people who have rosacea also develop pimples on their face that resemble acne. These bumps sometimes contain pus. Your skin may feel hot and tender.
• Eye problems. About half of the people who have rosacea also experience eye dryness, irritation and swollen, reddened eyelids. In some people, rosacea's eye symptoms precede the skin symptoms.
• Enlarged nose. Rarely, rosacea can thicken the skin on the nose, causing the nose to appear bulbous (rhinophyma). This occurs more often in men than in women.

When to see a skin therapist:

If you experience persistent redness of your face, see our skin specialist  for a diagnosis and proper treatment.

Causes:

The cause of rosacea is unknown, but it could be due to a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. Rosacea is not caused by poor hygiene.

A number of factors can trigger or aggravate rosacea by increasing blood flow to the surface of your skin. Some of these factors include:

• Hot drinks and spicy foods
• Alcohol
• Temperature extremes
• Sunlight or wind
• Emotions
• Exercise
• Cosmetics
• Drugs that dilate blood vessels, including some blood pressure medications

Anyone can develop rosacea, but you may be more likely to develop it if you:

• Are a woman
• Have fair skin, particularly if it has been damaged by the sun
• Are over age 30
• Smoke
• Have a family history of rosacea

 In honor of National Rosacea awareness month we have some exciting product & treatment specials during the month of April to help you begin your healing journey!