Rosacea is a long-term skin condition that mainly affects the face. It is common.
It usually affects:
- people over age 30
- people with white skin
But it can happen at any age and in people with black or brown skin. Treatment can help with symptoms.
Check if you have rosacea
The first signs of rosacea are:
- redness (flushing) across your nose, cheeks, forehead and chin that comes and goes
- a burning or stinging feeling when you use skincare products or water on your skin
The redness may be harder to see on black or brown skin.
Other symptoms can include:
- dry skin
- swelling, especially around the eyes
- red bumps or white head spots in the affected areas
- sore eyelids or crusts around roots of your eyelashes
- dry, gritty or red eyes that are sensitive to light - this may be conjunctivitis
- thickened skin, mainly on the nose that usually appears after many years
Non-urgent advice: Contact a GP if:
- any of the symptoms of rosacea are bothering you
They may refer you to a skin specialist (dermatologist).
Causes or triggers of rosacea
Rosacea may be caused by:
- genetics
- immune system factors
- the environment - particularly to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays
Some triggers can make symptoms worse.
Common triggers for rosacea are:
- alcohol
- spicy foods
- cheese
- hot drinks
- aerobic exercise, such as running
- caffeine (found in tea, coffee and chocolate)
Similar conditions to rosacea
Rosacea can look like other conditions, such as:
- acne
- contact dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis and other types of dermatitis
- lupus
- keratosis pilaris ("chicken skin")
Urgent advice: Contact a GP urgently if
you have rosacea and:
- your eye is painful
- your vision is blurred
- you are sensitive to light
- you have a red eye
- your eye feels gritty
These could be signs of keratitis (inflammation of the transparent front part of your eye). This can be serious if it's not treated quickly.
Treatment for rosacea
Rosacea cannot be cured. Treatment from your GP can help control symptoms. It can get worse if it's not treated.
Your GP may suggest:
- wearing sun protection all year, for example, mineral sunscreen
- prescriptions for creams and gels you put on your skin
- taking antibiotics for 6 to 16 weeks
- intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment
Your GP may refer you to a dermatologist if treatments are not working.
Things you can do to help
Rosacea is not contagious. But there are things you can do to help symptoms.
Do
-
wear at least SPF 30 sunscreen every day - protecting your skin from the sun
-
avoid heat, sunlight or humid conditions, if possible
-
try to cover your face in cold weather
-
use gentle skincare and makeup products
-
clean your eyelids at least once a day if you have blepharitis (swollen, itchy eyelids)
-
take steps to manage stress
If you know that a trigger makes your symptoms worse, try to avoid it as much as possible.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
