The exact cause is not fully understood, but it involves the blood vessels in the face being more reactive. It tends to run in families and is more common in people with fairer skin. It is not caused by poor hygiene.

What triggers rosacea flare-ups?

Common triggers include sunlight, heat, spicy food, hot drinks, alcohol, stress and temperature changes. Triggers vary between people, so it helps to notice what affects you and reduce those where you can.

Can rosacea be cured?

There is no cure, but it can usually be controlled well. Treatments — including creams and, for some people, other medicines — can reduce redness and bumps, and avoiding triggers helps prevent flare-ups.

How can I look after my skin with rosacea?

Use gentle, fragrance-free skincare, protect your skin from the sun with a high-factor sunscreen, and avoid known triggers. Harsh products and scrubbing can make rosacea worse, so a gentle routine is best.

Rosacea | HealthAnswers

Quick answer

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a common long-term skin condition that mainly affects the face, causing redness, flushing and sometimes small bumps. There is no cure, but identifying triggers and using treatments can keep it well controlled. It tends to come and go in flare-ups.

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a common, long-term skin condition that mainly affects the face. It causes redness and flushing, and sometimes spots or bumps, and tends to come and go in flare-ups. It most often affects the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. While there is no cure, it can usually be kept well under control.

Symptoms

Rosacea can cause:

redness across the cheeks, nose, forehead or chin
flushing that comes and goes
small red bumps or pus-filled spots (which can look like acne)
visible small blood vessels
a burning or stinging feeling
in some people, sore, gritty or irritated eyes

What causes it and common triggers

The exact cause is not fully understood, but the facial blood vessels are more reactive than usual. It often runs in families. Flare-ups are commonly triggered by sunlight, heat, hot drinks, spicy food, alcohol, stress and sudden temperature changes — though triggers vary from person to person.

Treatment and self-care

There is no cure, but rosacea responds well to a combination of approaches:

Avoiding triggers — identifying and reducing your personal triggers.
Gentle skincare — fragrance-free products and daily sun protection.
Treatments — creams and, for some people, other medicines prescribed by a GP to reduce redness and bumps.

When to see a GP

See a GP to confirm the diagnosis and start treatment early, as this helps keep rosacea controlled. Get advice promptly if it affects your eyes, and remember that rosacea’s impact on confidence is itself a valid reason to seek help.

Common questions

What causes rosacea?: The exact cause is not fully understood, but it involves the blood vessels in the face being more reactive. It tends to run in families and is more common in people with fairer skin. It is not caused by poor hygiene.
What triggers rosacea flare-ups?: Common triggers include sunlight, heat, spicy food, hot drinks, alcohol, stress and temperature changes. Triggers vary between people, so it helps to notice what affects you and reduce those where you can.
Can rosacea be cured?: There is no cure, but it can usually be controlled well. Treatments — including creams and, for some people, other medicines — can reduce redness and bumps, and avoiding triggers helps prevent flare-ups.
How can I look after my skin with rosacea?: Use gentle, fragrance-free skincare, protect your skin from the sun with a high-factor sunscreen, and avoid known triggers. Harsh products and scrubbing can make rosacea worse, so a gentle routine is best.

Sources

NHS — Rosacea