What Is Rosacea, And How Can It Be Treated?

Rosacea is a fairly common disorder, and can be the cause of a major loss of confidence in sufferers if left untreated. But that doesn’t have to be the case! The symptoms of rosacea can be controlled if caught early with a good treatment plan, and that’s one of the many skincare services we’re happy to provide here in our clinic here at AP Skincare.

What Is Rosacea?

Basically, rosacea is a common but still relatively poorly understood skin condition, one of many we deal with using our skincare treatments here at AP Skincare. Rosacea mainly affects the face, but can sometimes spread to the neck, scalp or ears. The symptoms can vary, but almost always start off small. If left unchecked though, they can become quite severe, with more symptoms possibly developing over time.

The condition often starts with episodes of frequent or prolonged flushing of the skin, but other symptoms include:

• Burning and stinging sensations
• Spots and facial swellings
• Dry appearance of skin (as well as being rough to the touch)
• The visibility of small blood vessels in the skin
• Permanent redness that resembles a blush or a sunburn that won’t go away
• Eye irritation – your eyes might appear irritated and watery (this is known as ocular rosacea, which is a particular priority!

What Are The Causes of Rosacea?

The short answer is that the medical community isn’t quite clear on one single cause at the moment. There are several theories, but nothing concrete as yet. However, several factors have been put forward as triggers that might make the symptoms worse. These include:

• Stress
• Strenuous exercise
• Extreme temperatures in weather
• Exposure to sunlight
• Hot drinks
• Alcohol and caffeine
• Certain types of food (such as spicy ones)

If you think that sounds like a frustrating vague list, we agree with you! The symptoms also vary from person to person, making it even harder to pin down an underlying cause. It goes some way to explaining why rosacea is so common – around 1 in 10 adults have it, many of them without even knowing. But although the condition is technically incurable, it can still be effectively treated, minimising its effect on your appearance and confidence. And that’s exactly what we’re here for at AP Skincare.

How AP Skincare Can Help With Treatment of Rosacea

As with many health conditions, the absolute key in successful treatment of rosacea is to get seen early. The moment you’re able to identify persistent symptoms, come see us! Early diagnosis and treatment can limit the effects of most symptoms, making it far easier for you to manage the condition.

There’s no single specific procedure to test for rosacea, but instead one of our skincare experts will hold a detailed consultation with you – as we do with almost all of our skincare treatments. During it we’ll assess the overall condition of your skin, ask about any symptoms you may be suffering, and try and pin down some of your possible triggers.

From there, we’ll develop a long-term treatment plan that will control your symptoms. This can help you avoid your specific triggers, minimising the risk of another onset. Alongside this, we can use specialised creams and gel to reduce spots and redness. There’s also the option of oral medications (like antibiotics) that can clear up the more severe symptoms and spots. Whatever the case, you can rest assured that at AP Skincare we’re fully committed to helping you look your best, and we’ve got the expert knowledge and sophisticated technology to do it.

Living With Rosacea

Even though rosacea is a chronic condition, it’s important to remember that it’s still manageable, and there are always options available to you for doing so. At AP Skincare we can assist you in working out the specifics of your condition over time, which means that you increase your knowledge and techniques of how to manage it.

Above all else, remember if you do have rosacea, you’re far from alone. There are millions of people living with the condition, and that’s just in the UK. As we mentioned above, it affects around 1 in 10 adults to some extent, and it’s more common in people with fair skin (especially those prone to blushing easily). It also affects more women then men, although men are the ones who usually have the more severe symptoms.

At AP Skincare, we’re here to help. If you think you might be experiencing symptoms of rosacea, or you have any questions about the condition, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call us on 01254 297 000, or visit our skincare clinic in Blackburn to find out more about how we can help.

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