Rosy Cheeks May Signal the Onset of Rosacea
Many people think of it as just rosy cheeks or adult pimples, or even a sign that someone spends a little too much time at happy hour.
But for 14 million Americans, it's really rosacea, an annoying and potentially disfiguring skin condition.
The good news, there are effective treatments.
"It would get really red on the 't' part of my face, like a sunburn, and it was red all the time. It was a constant red," said Carmen Coll.
Coll woke up one day to find what looked like a red rash on her cheeks, which worsened when she drank alcohol or sat in the sun.
It turns out it was a chronic skin condition called rosacea, which starts in the blood vessels.
"That's often the way it begins, as blood vessels that are very reactive and after awhile those blood vessels sort of get stuck in the open position, and then you can actually see the little wormy blood vessels in the face and it can be sensitive and stinging," said Dr. Laurie Polis, a dermatologist at Soho Skin and Laser in New York.
Most rosacea patients say it interferes with their careers, self image, and self confidence.
"I felt uncomfortable, like I knew what my skin was supposed to look like and then all of a sudden I had this redness to it," Coll said.
For some people, rosacea remains a cosmetic inconvenience, but it can get much worse, progressing to something like acne and giving the skin a very red, bumpy and even cauliflower texture.
But rosacea is treatable, beginning with avoiding what doctors call the "trigger factors."
"They know what makes them red. Hot showers, alcoholic drinks, hot coffee, sunlight," Dr. Polis said.
There are also prescription creams that can reduce the acne appearance in rosacea patients.
And for those who don't respond to that, there are lasers which constrict and seal off the tiny facial blood vessels.
"What people need to know about rosacea is that it's characterized by flares and remissions. That means you can think it's gone, and then a few months later it comes back," Dr. Polis said.
But for 14 million Americans, it's really rosacea, an annoying and potentially disfiguring skin condition.
The good news, there are effective treatments.
"It would get really red on the 't' part of my face, like a sunburn, and it was red all the time. It was a constant red," said Carmen Coll.
Coll woke up one day to find what looked like a red rash on her cheeks, which worsened when she drank alcohol or sat in the sun.
It turns out it was a chronic skin condition called rosacea, which starts in the blood vessels.
"That's often the way it begins, as blood vessels that are very reactive and after awhile those blood vessels sort of get stuck in the open position, and then you can actually see the little wormy blood vessels in the face and it can be sensitive and stinging," said Dr. Laurie Polis, a dermatologist at Soho Skin and Laser in New York.
Most rosacea patients say it interferes with their careers, self image, and self confidence.
"I felt uncomfortable, like I knew what my skin was supposed to look like and then all of a sudden I had this redness to it," Coll said.
For some people, rosacea remains a cosmetic inconvenience, but it can get much worse, progressing to something like acne and giving the skin a very red, bumpy and even cauliflower texture.
But rosacea is treatable, beginning with avoiding what doctors call the "trigger factors."
"They know what makes them red. Hot showers, alcoholic drinks, hot coffee, sunlight," Dr. Polis said.
There are also prescription creams that can reduce the acne appearance in rosacea patients.
And for those who don't respond to that, there are lasers which constrict and seal off the tiny facial blood vessels.
"What people need to know about rosacea is that it's characterized by flares and remissions. That means you can think it's gone, and then a few months later it comes back," Dr. Polis said.
posted by Madison at 11:51 AM
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