Rosacea: Know What It Is And Learn Care Tips For This Skin Disease

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For some people having pink cheeks can be charming, but in some cases this can be a disease: rosacea. In addition to reddened skin, there are other symptoms, which may vary depending on the way it manifests. For questions, we talked to Gabriela Lubiana (CRM-SP: 164888), dermatology specialist and João Vicente Felici (CRM-SP: 151210), dermatologist.

What is rosacea

It is a chronic inflammatory process that manifests mainly in the center of the face but can expand to other areas. It is characterized by more pronounced periods and others with improvement of the picture. In addition to redness, there are symptoms of pain, itching and burning. It is more common in people with clear and sun-sensitive skin. It also appears most often in adults between 30 and 50, with women being the hardest hit, says Felici.


Rosacea Types

There are different types of the disease and each of them manifests in a different way. Check out what they are:

  • Erythematous-telangectatic rosacea: it is the dilation of small permanent vessels, says Lubiana. It also has persistent episodes of redness in the center of the face, says Felici.
  • Papulopustular rosacea: also has persistent redness in the center of the face. In addition to the presence of papules and pustules. They are balls with pus and skin changes, says Felici.
  • Fimatous Rosacea: It is characterized by irregular thickening of the skin of the nose and follicular dilation, which can lead to enlargement of the nose. Other areas may also be affected, such as cheekbones and ears, says Gabriela.
  • Eye Rosacea: It occurs in 50% of cases with eye irritation and dryness, blepharitis, conjunctivitis and keratitis. It can be accompanied by the other types or manifest itself, says Gabriela.

Even if rosacea is divided into different categories, it is possible for the same person to have more than one type of the disease.

Causes Of Rosacea

Felici says clinical findings suggest that "rosacea is a response to the superficial dermal vasculature that leads to edema and inflammation." According to him, it is also believed that the condition may be associated with digestive changes. Gabriela adds that several factors can trigger the disease, ranging from genetic predisposition to environmental factors. Check out some of them:


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  • Genetic predisposition;
  • Heat and climatic variations;
  • Consumption of alcoholic beverages;
  • Intake of spicy foods;
  • Exposure to violet radiation;
  • Stress;
  • Certain medications;
  • Irritating cosmetics.

The above causes are some of the factors that contribute to the onset of a crisis, however, it is worth remembering that each skin reacts differently to each one of them. In addition, "rosacea patients have sensitive, drier skin and are therefore more susceptible to temperature changes," says Felici.

Rosacea Symptoms

  • Redness, especially on the cheeks;
  • Papules;
  • Pustules;
  • Roughness on the skin;
  • Burning sensation;
  • Small vessel dilation;
  • Nose skin thickening;
  • Follicular dilation;
  • Edema;
  • Reddish plaque lesions with elevation;
  • Skin dryness;
  • Burning;
  • Eye changes

The above symptoms may appear alone or in combination. Therefore, if you have any of them, it is important to consult a dermatologist.


Rosacea itches?

If the skin is dry, the skin itches, says Lubiana. It is therefore important to drink plenty of fluids and to keep the skin hydrated with specific products.

Is rosacea curable?

Because it is a chronic skin disorder, there is no cure for rosacea. But there are treatments for symptom control, says Lubiana. The results depend on the clinical phase the patient is in. In addition, it is also necessary to avoid the factors that help trigger or aggravate the symptoms.

Rosacea Treatments

There are several ways to treat rosacea, but it depends on the type that affects the skin and also the stage it is. Check it out below:

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  • Soap: The care with rosacea begins with the use of a suitable soap for the skin that presents this condition.
  • Sunscreen: sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection that fits the patient's skin type must be used.
  • Medicines: Topical and oral antibiotics, topical antimicrobials and antiparasitics are some recommendations that can also be made by the doctor to treat rosacea.
  • Laser: As some treatments close the vessels, they help in controlling the redness. According to Gabriela, for those who have rosacea the best options are ND-Yang and pulsed light.

Since the skin of the rosacea patient is very sensitive, you need to be aware of the products that are used on her and be careful in choosing.

Even though it is a chronic disease, it is possible to perform treatments that help improve the condition. For this, it is important that you consult a specialist so that he can identify your type and tell you what care is needed.

Rosacea Diagnosis and Treatment - OnlineDermClinic (March 2024)


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