What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that primarily affects the face, leading to redness, pimples, swelling, and visible blood vessels resulting in thinner skin. Often mistaken for acne or other skin conditions, Rosacea could be a source of significant emotional distress for those affected. This article aims to demystify Rosacea, offering valuable insights into its causes, symptoms, and management strategies, and helps you understand in case you have ever thought: "What is Rosacea?"

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a long-term skin complexion that results in redness and inflammation primarily on the face. It typically begins after the age of 30 as redness on the cheeks, nose, chin, or forehead. Over time, the redness may become more intense, taking on a ruddy appearance with blood vessels becoming visible. While the exact cause of Rosacea remains unknown, factors such as genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, and vascular and inflammatory issues are believed to contribute to its development.

The diagnosis of Rosacea is primarily clinical, and based on the presence of characteristic signs and symptoms. There are no specific tests for Rosacea, but doctors, particularly dermatologists, can usually diagnose it by examining the skin and taking a thorough medical history. Understanding the different types and symptoms of Rosacea is very important for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Types of Rosacea:

Vascular rosacea is a subtype of rosacea characterized by persistent redness on the face, particularly around the nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead. This condition is often marked by visible blood vessels, which may appear as small red lines on the skin due to dilated capillaries. Vascular rosacea can cause the skin to appear flushed and swollen. While the exact cause is unknown, triggers like heat, cold, sun exposure, certain types of food, and stress may trigger a flareup of the condition.

Inflammatory rosacea is a subtype of rosacea that is characterized by redness, swelling, and acne-like breakouts on the face. Unlike regular acne, these breakouts can be accompanied by a burning or stinging sensation. Inflammatory rosacea can affect the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead, and may also result in visible blood vessels and skin sensitivity. The exact cause of inflammatory rosacea is unknown, but it is thought to involve a combination of hereditary, environmental, and vascular factors.

Ocular rosacea is a subtype of rosacea that primarily affects the eyes and eyelids. Individuals with ocular rosacea may experience red, irritated, or watery eyes, the feeling of a foreign body in the eye, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, and swollen, red eyelids. In some cases, ocular rosacea can lead to more serious eye conditions, such as corneal damage. The exact cause of ocular rosacea is not well understood, but it is believed to be related to factors similar to those of other forms of rosacea, including genetics, environmental triggers, and vascular irregularities.

Treatment Options

There is no real cure for Rosacea, but there are treatments available that can control or reduce the signs and symptoms. Treatment may include topical and oral medications, laser and light therapy, and lifestyle changes. It is essential to understand the various treatment options and work with a healthcare provider to develop a treatment plan tailored to the individual's symptoms and triggers. If you need help with your routine and would like some personal advice, please send us a message! 

Some essential ways, to keep Rosacea under control and maintain calm skin and a healthy skin barrier, are adjustments to your skincare routine. Put focus on ingrediënts that are calming, reduce redness, are anti-inflammatory, protect and rebuild your skin barrier, and reduce sensitivity. Avoid fragrance, essential oils, and alcohol in your skincare as they might cause flare-ups. Incorporating ingredients such as Centella Asiatica, madecassoside, guaiazulene, tea tree extract, green tea extract, ceramides, and peptides, among many others is a great way to maintain calm, radiant, and healthy skin.

We have highlighted a product for every step that could be a great addition to your routine.

1. Oil cleanser: Pyunkang Yul Deep Clear Cleansing Balm
2. Water-based cleanser: PURITO Seoul Defence Barrier pH Cleanser:
3. Peeling: Benton Heartleaf 80 Skin Toner Pads
4. Toner: MIXSOON Centella Toner
5. Essence: MIXSOON H.C.T. Essence
6. Treatment: Purito Centella Unscented Serum
7. Mask: I'm From Mugwort Mask
8. Eyecare: Purito Wonder Releaf Centella Eye Cream Unscented 
9. Moisturizer: AXIS-Y Heartleaf My-Type Calming Cream
10. SPF: iUNIK Centella Calming Daily Sunscreen 

Daily Maintenance

Managing Rosacea involves more than just medical treatment; it requires a dailyskincare routine, understanding and avoiding triggers, and making informed lifestyle choices. This section provides practical advice for daily management, from skincare tips to dietary recommendations.

Rosacea and Lifestyle

Lifestyle can play a significant role in managing Rosacea symptoms. Factors such as stress, diet, and exercise can affect Rosacea flare-ups. This section explores how lifestyle adjustments can help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for those with Rosacea.

Myths and Misunderstandings

Many myths and misconceptions about Rosacea can prevent one from seeking proper treatment or managing their condition effectively.

Let’s tackle some myths and debunk them!

Poor hygiene causes Rosacea.

Hygiene has nothing to do with the cause of this chronic skin condition. Rosacea is an inflammatory and vascular skin condition. People with Rosacea have very sensitive skin! Harsh cleansing products can aggravate it and cause flare-ups.

Certain foods and drinks cause Rosacea.

While there are some types of food and drinks that can worsen flare ups, Rosacea is not caused by consumption of food and drinks. Mainly spicy food can cause more redness in someone with Rosacea, but does not cause it. Caffeine and alcohol are not a direct cause or aggravate Rosacea. 

Rosacea is the same as acne.

Rosacea has a subtype that can present itself as inflammation with bumps that can look similar to acne. However, acne has different underlying causes and is a different condition. It is very important to treat them differently!

Real-life Stories

Hearing from others who live with Rosacea can provide comfort, inspiration, and practical advice. We have a continuing blog named "Let's Talk" This blog features a real-life story from Shanise navigating her Rosacea journey, offering insights into the challenges and successes she has encountered. with the help of K-beauty Shanise found her holy grail products to help her get rid of fungal acne. She dealt with skin issues like acne and subcutaneous pimples since she was 16. Food sensitivity and fungal acne turned out to be the culprits. Read more:Let's Talk: Shanise got rid of her fungal acne

Different categories 

While there is no guaranteed way to prevent Rosacea, understanding the condition, recognizing early signs, and adopting preventive measures can significantly impact one's quality of life. This section emphasizes the importance of awareness, early detection, and proactive management. We've

We've created a few categories specially for rosacea treatment:

Rosacea cream: This is your go-to source for finding the best creams specifically designed for treating Rosacea. 

Rosacea sunscreen: Protect your skin from the sun and reduce Rosacea flare-ups with these specially formulated sunscreens.

Rosacea Serum: Enhance your skincare routine with serums targeting the unique needs of Rosacea-prone skin. 

Rosacea exfoliant: Discover how to gently remove dead skin cells without aggravating your Rosacea with these exfoliants.

Rosacea toner: Balance your skin and reduce redness with toners for sensitive, Rosacea-prone skin. Use these links to learn more about how each product can help manage and treat Rosacea. Looking for more Rosacea products? Check out our category page:rosacea/hives 

Conclusion

While Rosacea can be challenging, understanding the condition and proper management can bring significant improvement. By debunking myths, providing accurate information, and sharing real-life experiences, we aim to foster a supportive community for individuals dealing with Rosacea. 

Remember, you are not alone and with the right care, you can lead a healthy, confident life.