Causes of Rosacea and the effects
It is estimated that rosacea affects 1 in 10 people in the UK. I have had rosacea for over 10 years. Here I investigate what the causes of rosacea are and how it affects people.
So firstly what is rosacea?
Rosacea is basically a condition that results in your skin, mainly your cheeks, nose, chin and forehead often looking red. This persistent redness is often the earliest sign but with time you can often develop red bumps and pus-filled pimples and broken blood vessels which begin to thicken, swell up and show through the skin.
Here is a photo taken in August 2018. I have had rosacea for a number of years. You can see the redness on my cheeks and nose area. Here I share more about my journey to discover rosacea.
Can rosacea develop into a serious condition?
Yes, the effects of rosacea can be. Definitely seek medical advice as ignoring early warning signs like prolonged flushing can make it harder to reverse the redness.
Approximately half of the people with rosacea also get eye problems, whether its just dry eyes, a feeling like there is something in them, redness or in some cases Oscular Sosacea (rosacea that affects the eyes) that can lead to more serious problems. As you age severe cases can cause your nose to swell. This thickening of the skin is more common in men and is irreversible.
On an emotional level, many people feel embarrassed and lack self-esteem.
I have suffered years of wearing makeup to cover it. I have been on holiday and had people comment that I should have used a suncream on my face when in fact I had but the heat just made the rosacea worse. Or I would go to the gym and after an hour I was still as red as before. Alcohol also can exacerbate it making you stand out for all the wrong reasons!
According to one survey, it suggested 51% of people had missed work because of the condition.
You may be suprised to know the following celebraties have all been said to have rosacea. It appears that many hide it well. Cameron Diaz, Renee Zellwegar, the star of Bridget Jones’s Diary ( I bet she would have had a lot to say about the condition playing her part ) even Prince William and the late Princess Diana.
It tends to be more common in women than men and most are between the ages of 30-50. If you had acne as a teenager it seems to increase your risk as does smoking, fair hair and blue eyes. After reading a bit more about rosacea I wonder if my Grandad had it. He certainly always had a flushed face and a larger nose (a symptom more common in severe cases with men)
So what ARE THE causes OF Rosacea?
There is no definite answer here but it appears there are a few causes of rosacea. The main one seems to be abnormalities in the facial blood vessels. It is also believed there is a genetic link to rosacea. For some people, it presents itself so mild they wouldn’t know whereas for others it is clearly visible.
Some theories are that sun damage could cause the blood vessels to get wider on your face, so making them more visible. Another theory is that a tiny insect called Demodex Folliculorum, that lives on our skin, is found in higher concentrations on some people and it irritates them. I have even read that a bacteria in the gut can cause the digestive hormone called gastrin to increase and hence cause the facial redness.
The bottom line is there is no definite answer. What seems to be agreed on, however, is that although there is no permanent cure there are things that can trigger flare-ups and things, in addition to medication, that you can do to help yourself.
I hope you found it interesting to learn more about the causes of rosacea and how it affects people.
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