Rosacea
Although more frequently diagnosed in women, rosacea tends to be more severe in men. While it starts in the third or fourth decade of life the peak of the skin disease is reached between the age of 40 and 50. Symptoms of rosacea include flushing, persistent redness, dilated blood vessels or the occurence of papules and pustules in central parts of the face. Furthermore, in advanced stages of the disease the nose or other parts of the face can have an enlarged appearance due to a hyperplasia of the sebaceous glands (i).
Rosacea is a chronic skin disease, but medical treatment and lifestyle modifications can help to manage the condition. Depending on the severity of the clinical symptoms the dermatologist will recommend an individual treatment regime. Another important element in the management of rosacea is to identify and avoid individual "trigger factors" (things that cause flushing or flare-ups of the skin lesions). Well-known trigger factors are: UV-exposure, extreme weather conditions, consumption of alcohol, spicy foods or hot drinks. Suggestions to minimise the harmful impacts of common rosacea triggers include using sun protection against UV radiation (e.g. regular application of sunscreen products with highly effective UV-filters), staying in a cool indoor environment when it's hot outside, wearing protective clothing like a wide-brimmed hat or scarf when exposed to extreme weather conditions, reducing the temperature of hot beverages and the spiciness of meals.
The skin is highly irritable, thus only mild skin care products should be used. Establishing a good daily skin care regimen will help to control the redness of the skin. Facial treatment should start by cleansing the face with a gentle, soap-free cleanser. Water should be kept lukewarm. It's also important to keep the face moisturised by using a non-comedogenic facial moisturiser with a SPF factor of at least 15 to help protect the skin against damaging UV rays. Furthermore, some products contain complementary green pigments in order to directly counteract the red appearance of the face.
