How to Prevent a Rosacea Flare-Up

If you experience the itching, burning, stinging, or redness of rosacea, you’re far from alone. An estimated 16 million people in the United States live with this inflammatory skin condition.

And while symptoms can come and go, they often cause your skin to appear chronically dry, scaly, and irritated. Over time, rosacea leads many people to feel self-conscious about their appearance. Thankfully, you can take steps to minimize your symptoms and improve your complexion.

At Sterling Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, PA, Dr. Mark Mathieson and his team are pleased to provide laser procedures that treat common skin conditions such as rosacea. Take a moment to learn more about this condition, including ways to guard against a symptom flare-up.

Rosacea 101

Most anyone can develop rosacea, but factors like being middle-aged, smoking, and having light skin increase your risk. The most common symptom is persistent redness that looks as though you’re blushing in the central part of your face.

Additional symptoms of rosacea may include:

Dry, irritated eyes and swollen eyelids
Enlarged nose with thickened skin, over time
Visibly swollen blood vessels in your cheeks and nose
Swollen red bumps that resemble acne

Preventing rosacea flare-ups

While there’s no known cure for rosacea, there are steps you can take to reduce the frequency and severity of your symptoms. These options include knowing and then avoiding your triggers. While everyone is unique, common rosacea triggers include:

Certain cosmetics
Cold, hot, or humid weather
Hot baths or showers
Intense exercise
Red wine
Spicy food
Sunlight
Stress
Wind

To identify your triggers, track your daily diet and lifestyle habits and details about any symptoms in a journal to discuss with your doctor or skincare specialist.

Rosacea treatments

If you cannot reduce your rosacea symptoms as much as you’d like, or it has wreaked havoc on your skin, medical treatments can be beneficial. Your doctor may recommend oral or topical antibiotics, as well as improving your skincare routine to be more gentle and rosacea-friendly.

At Sterling Reconstructive & Plastic Surgery, Dr. Mathieson treats rosacea with intense pulsed light (IPL) photofacials. By applying concentrated light energy to the affected skin, these facials can effectively improve the tone and condition of your complexion—all without any downtime needed for recovery.

To learn more about rosacea and ways to improve your skin, call our office or send us a message through our website. We would love to help you achieve greater physical comfort and a complexion you can feel more confident about.