Here is a big old announcement!! Hold onto your hats.. I have roseacea. When I was a teenager, I was one of those girls who other girls hated, not because I was exceptionally pretty, skinny or anything like that, but because I had PERFECT skin. I can count the pimples I had between the ages of 13 and 18 on both hands. My skin was smooth as silk and I had TIGHT pores. I didn't have pimples or blackheads because my pores were so dang tight that nothing could get in there LOL
But, one thing that I always noticed is that my face would get red very easily. I never understood it. When I got hot, my face would be red as blood. When I got tired, my face would be red, red, red.. and certain kinds of makeup would irritate me so bad. But, it was all good because I didn't have the dreaded pimples.
As I grew older, probably when I hit about 30, the redness, the irritation, the itchiness on my face got much worse. I was diagnosed with Rosacea. What is Rosacea?? Here is the definition from PubMed Health:
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition involving inflammation of the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, or eyelids. It may appear as redness, prominent spider-like blood vessels, swelling, or skin eruptions similar to acne.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Although the cause of rosacea is unknown, you are more likely to develop this harmless skin condition if:
- You are fair-skinned
- You blush easily
- You are a woman (however, men with the condition are usually more severely affected)
- You are between the ages of 30 and 50
Rosacea involves swelling of the blood vessels just under the skin. It may be associated with other skin disorders (acne vulgaris,seborrhea) or eye disorders (blepharitis, keratitis).
Symptoms
- Redness of the face in discrete areas or covering the entire face
- A tendency to flush or blush easily
- Increased number of spider-like blood vessels (telangiectasia) of the face
- A red, bulbous nose
- Acne-like skin eruptions (may ooze or crust)
- A burning or stinging sensation of the face
- Irritated, bloodshot, watery eyes
I'm lucky, I don't have all of the signs and symptoms of Rosacea. My nose looks pretty normal to me. Have you ever seen an old man that has a big huge honker that has a big old red bulb on the end? That's Rosacea.
My face does get, and stays, very red. The summer is harder on my skin than the winter. I don't have spider veins, but I do occasionally get a sore bump. I have a lot of stinging on my face, and my eyes bother me. Eeehhhh.. so I have a lot of the symptoms, not all though.
Anyway, once a year, I go on a makeup strike. I just get tired of the daily grind of putting on makeup every morning and I go natural. This year, I have noticed an increase in people who feel that they have a right to make comments about my face. These are grown, college educated women who think that they have a right to say something about how my complexion is! Would these women tell me that my ass is getting bigger by the day? I doubt it. If I was covered in zits, would they make comments about it? Naa.. So what is it about a red, itchy face that they think gives them the right to tell me how tired I look, ask if my blood pressure is up, ask if I am very hot???
More from PubMed
Treatment
There is no known cure for rosacea. The goal is to identify and avoid possible triggers, and thus reduce flare-ups. By keeping a symptom diary to identify the specific triggers you may have, you may be able to see a pattern of what makes your rosacea worse. Use this information to avoid future flare-ups.
Here are some steps that may help:
Avoid sun exposure. Use sunscreen every day.
Avoid prolonged exertion in hot weather.
Try to reduce stress. Try deep breathing, yoga, or other relaxation techniques.
Limit spicy foods, alcohol, and hot beverages.
Triggers vary from person to person. Other triggers may include wind, hot baths, cold weather, specific skin products, exercise, or other factors.
Antibiotics taken by mouth (such as
tetracycline, minocycline, or
doxycycline) or applied to the skin (such as metronidazole) may control skin eruptions. Other medications (isoretinol or Accutane), which are similar to vitamin A, are stronger alternatives that your doctor or dermatologist might consider. Rosacea is not acne and will not improve with over-the-counter acne treatment.
In severe cases, laser surgery may help reduce the redness. Surgical reduction of enlarged nose tissue may also improve your appearance, if you so choose.
Expectations (prognosis)
Rosacea is not medically dangerous. It is not curable, but can usually be controlled with treatment. It may be persistent and chronic.
Complications
Permanent changes in appearance (for example, a bulbous nose)
Psychological damage, loss of self esteem
I have talked with my dermatologist.. I have chosen not to go on daily antibiotics. There are just too many superbugs out there and I don't want to be on antibiotics everyday. Honestly, the best thing that I have found for my Rosacea is wearing only Bare Minerals makeup, and once a year, taking a break from everything and letting my face just rest. Just leaving it alone.. My body gets a vacation from work, and my face gets a vacation from makeup.
But how interesting that of the two complications that is caused by this disorder... one can be seriously influenced by those around us. Everyone needs to remember that old saying from Kindergarten, 'If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!"
