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Frequently Asked Questions About Rosacea
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Does everyone with rosacea have the same symptoms?
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I heard that blood
pressure medication can cause a rosacea flare-up.
Is that
true?
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Is there a cure
for rosacea?
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Does self-treatment
work?
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I wonder if I am alone or do other
people with rosacea suffer
emotional effects
from the disease?
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Does rosacea
sometimes disappear for good after one episode?
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Are rosacea patients prone to
other skin conditions?
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What causes
rosacea?
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Does alcohol use
cause rosacea?
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Is rosacea
life-threatening?
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Are some people more
prone to getting rosacea than others?
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What makes
rhinophyma different from other rosacea symptoms?
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Does everyone with
rosacea have the same symptoms?
No. Rosacea’s
signs and
symptoms vary from
person to person. While the signs of visible blood vessels,
papules and
pustules are common,
some people never experience those. Instead, some people with
rosacea might only experience facial redness. One recent study1
indicated that some people who have rosacea do not have it on
their face at all, but rather on their back or elsewhere.
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I heard that blood
pressure medication can cause a rosacea flare-up. Is that true?
Some medications, especially blood pressure medicine, can
precipitate flushing, which can aggravate rosacea. People who are
being treated for rosacea should let their dermatologists know
about any medications they are taking.
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Is there a cure for
rosacea?
Currently, there is no cure for rosacea. The good news, however,
is that dermatologists have a variety of treatments that diminish
the disease’s signs and symptoms. In fact, according to a study of
1,077 rosacea patients, 87 percent said their rosacea was under
control with treatment.2 Treatments range from topical
products and oral medications to treat the papules and pustules,
to laser therapy for treatment of visible blood vessels on the
face and laser surgery to treat
rhinophyma.
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Does self-treatment
work?
Since dermatologists are experts in skin, hair and nail
conditions, they are best able to diagnose the condition and
provide proven, prescription treatments, as well as recommend
lifestyle changes that in most cases control signs and symptoms.
Rosacea generally does not go away on its own and tends to worsen
over time. People who try to self-treat the condition often
aggravate it by using over-the-counter remedies that contain
acids, alcohol and other ingredients that can cause flare-ups.
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I wonder if I am alone
or do other people with rosacea suffer emotional effects from the
disease?
Some believe the social and emotional effects of rosacea are worse
than the physical symptoms. In one survey3, nearly 70
percent of rosacea patients said it lowered their self-confidence
and self-esteem. Forty-one percent said the condition caused them
to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements.
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Does rosacea sometimes
disappear for good after one episode?
Rosacea is a chronic, or long-term, disease. A study4
of 48 previously diagnosed rosacea patients found that 52 percent
had active rosacea, with an average duration of 13 years. The
remaining 48 percent cleared but had an average duration of nine
years.
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Are rosacea patients
prone to other skin conditions?
It is common for rosacea patients to have other skin conditions,
as well. In a survey2 of more than 1,000 rosacea
patients, 77 percent said they had also been diagnosed with
another skin condition. Acne was the most common, followed by
non-melanoma skin cancer.
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What causes rosacea?
The cause of rosacea is not known, although experts believe
rosacea is due to a combination of genetic and environmental
factors.
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Does alcohol use cause
rosacea?
No. However, the consumption of alcohol leads to flushing of the
skin, which can worsen rosacea.
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Is rosacea
life-threatening?
No.
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Are some people more
prone to getting rosacea than others?
Adults are most likely to get rosacea, and women get it more often
than men. Rosacea has a tendency to affect fair-skinned people
more often.
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What makes rhinophyma
different from other rosacea symptoms?
Rhinophyma develops in some men who have rosacea, and very rarely
in women with rosacea. It is characterized by thick, knobby red
bumps around and on the nose, which arise when the oil-producing
glands and the surrounding connective tissues enlarge.
References:
1. Bamford J., Mitchell T, Elliott BA.
"The relationship of rosacea phenotype and extrafacial lesions."
Presented at the May 15-18, 2002 Society for Investigational
Dermatology (SID) annual meeting,
Los Angeles, Calif.
2. "Survey reveals rosacea patients
often have other skin conditions." Spring 2002 Rosacea Review.
National Rosacea Society.
www.rosacea.org/rr/2002/spring/article_3.html.
3. "Rosacea awareness month unmasks
symptoms of the ‘great pretender.’" Spring 2002 Rosacea
Review.
National Rosacea Society.
www.rosacea.org/rr/2002/spring/article_1.html.
4. "Q&A." Rosacea Review Winter 2002.
National Rosacea Society.
www.rosacea.org/rr/2002/winter/qa.html#2.
All
content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology |
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People with rosacea should
gently cleanse their face and other affected areas with
a very mild soap-free cleanser. Avoid cleansers that
contain any type of alcohol, eucalyptus, fragrance,
menthol, or peppermint. These ingredients tend to
aggravate rosacea. |
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