April is National Rosacea Awareness Month

April is National Rosacea Awareness Month, so it’s important to know what this skin condition is, what contributes to its onset, and how to prevent and control it.

Rosacea is a very common skin condition that typically affects people over the age of 30. It causes redness on your nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead. Some people experience small bumps and pimples on the red parts of their faces. In some cases, rosacea can cause burning and soreness in your eyes. In rare cases, rosacea that is not treated may cause permanent damage, such as thickening of facial skin or loss of vision.

This poorly understood skin condition affects more than 16 million people in the U.S.—and most of them don’t know it. In fact, while rosacea is becoming increasingly widespread as the baby boom generation ages, a Gallup survey found that 78 percent of Americans are unaware of this condition, including how to recognize it or what to do about it.

Lifestyle and environmental triggers contribute to rosacea and its severity. Important triggers include food, drink, exercise, weather, emotions, and medications. Avoiding food and alcohol that causes you to flush, such as spicy foods, red wine, or hot drinks will help to control the severity of rosacea. Incorporating more anti-inflammatory foods, such as fish, fruits, and vegetables will also be beneficial.

Some other ways to control rosacea include avoiding over exertion, protecting your skin from the sun, and drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Rosacea flushing is also common with emotional stressors, so it is important to reduce the stress in your life as much as possible.

While there is no cure for rosacea, there are medications that can help control the symptoms and keep the condition from worsening. If you are showing signs of rosacea, be sure to schedule an appointment with Greenville Dermatology today by calling (864) 242-5872.