Why Do I Keep Getting Rosacea Flare-ups?

Rosacea spreads redness and irritation across your face, often most visible in the area of your cheeks and nose. This chronic skin condition flares up, then subsides, only to flare up again.

At Apex Dermatology of Westlake Village, California, our team of skin care experts, led by Dr. Karin Harp, can help you better understand your rosacea flare-ups, and what you can do to lessen the intensity and frequency of your attacks.

With our support and treatment, you can free yourself from your rosacea symptoms. Here’s what you need to know.

Understanding rosacea

If you have rosacea, you suffer from periodic flare-ups with symptoms like redness around your cheeks, nose, chin, or forehead, watering eyes, and the appearance of a raised, red, pimple-like rash across your face.

Your blood vessels and spider veins may also stand out more during a rosacea flare-up. And, in male patients, rosacea can cause the skin over your nose to thicken.

The exact cause of rosacea remains something of a mystery. Your immune system appears to play a role in flare-ups. Mites and proteins present on the skin of most people may also provoke symptoms as part of a flare-up. Rosacea often runs in families, so if you have relatives with this condition, you might be at risk.

Recurring rosacea flare-ups

When you have rosacea, your skin is sensitive to triggers that cause flare-ups. Rosacea triggers vary widely from person to person, but the most common triggers include:

• Exposure to sunlight, heat, wind, or cold
• Physical activity and exercise
• Prolonged or intense stress
• Spicy foods
• Alcohol, especially red wine
• Skin or hair care products, or makeup

Keep track of your rosacea flare-ups, and see if you can determine common trigger factors. Dr. Harp can support you in learning more about the triggers that cause your recurring rosacea flare-ups.

Rosacea symptoms damage your self-esteem, and can leave you in significant discomfort. You should know that, although this condition is chronic, you don’t need to live with your rosacea symptoms. Rosacea can’t be cured, but you can take steps to control your flare-ups and avoid disruptive symptoms.

Controlling rosacea flare-ups

In addition to learning about your rosacea triggers, you can also use various therapies to treat a flare-up already in progress, reducing the duration and intensity of your symptoms.

Your provider at Apex Dermatology can help you put together your custom rosacea action plan. Among the treatments and therapies that Dr. Harp often recommends are options including:

• Addressing your symptoms of redness, skin bumps, and visible spider veins with the Cutera® Excel® V laser, a quick and effective way to restore the smoothness and evenness of your skin
• Isotretinoin to clear up acne-like bumps
• Oral antibiotics to rapidly bring down inflammation
• Medications to reduce redness, including topical botanical treatments

With our holistic approach to managing rosacea, you can rediscover your confidence in your skin. Schedule your consultation appointment at Apex Dermatology by calling 818-208-1532 now, or book online.