Rosacea: What is It?

Rosacea is a very common condition but one that is widely misunderstood. The symptoms appear on the person's face on the forehead, around the nose and chin as redness accompanied by small red bumps. The condition is often confused with acne but the cause is much different. Many patients with Rosacea have higher levels of an amino acid called peptide; this is the same peptide that is used in many cosmetic creams that are sold over the counter. In certain individuals the higher levels of this peptide cause irritation to the skin.

Genetics play a large part in the cause of this chronic condition. Europeans and specifically Irish are known to have higher concentrations of people who suffer from this condition. Situations that can cause a flare up of the redness and bulkiness to the skin include strenuous exercise, severe sunburns, or exposure to extreme cold. Indeed it is the movement of the person between temperature extremes either from cold to hot or vice a versa which appears to exacerbate this chronic condition and create an episode where the face becomes flush reddened and the skin becomes irritated.

Treatments are varied but primarily focus on the avoidance of temperature extremes, strict dietary control and avoiding stress. Perhaps the best advice toward a long-term treatment regimen is to treat the skin as highly sensitive and use only mild soap or creams. It is a difficult condition that requires continuous daily awareness and self-control. It is important to realize that with careful care Rosacea can go into remission for extended periods of time. Lasers can also be used to treat the most severe conditions. The laser treatment must be repeated more than once and is very expensive.

While there is no cure for this chronic condition a patient can take some comfort in knowing that the situation is manageable. Furthermore it is a very common condition that has been seen on several famous personalities. President Bill Clinton suffered from this condition as was evident in his appearance immediately following his running exercises. J.P. Morgan, the famous financier, also suffered from this malady although his condition became more prevalent after drinking. Using simple common sense and naturally based cleansing lotions and creams that are as mild as possible can minimize the flare ups and reduce their severity. It is interesting to note the people who suffer from this condition also show very few wrinkles on their face. This is further evidence that the peptide ingredients in many cosmetic creams have an effective use toward reducing the deconstruction of the skin structure.