My Rosacea Is Getting Worse: Can You Help?

Rosacea is a common skin condition that affects more than 14 million Americans. It’s a chronic inflammatory issue that causes enlarged blood vessels to become visible on your face. Rosacea can also cause flushing, skin redness, and pus-filled bumps to appear. 

When you have rosacea, your skin is especially sensitive. Because of this, there’s an extensive list of things that can set off a rosacea flare-up, from sun exposure to spicy foods. But specific rosacea triggers are typically unique to you as an individual. 

If you’ve noticed that your rosacea is getting worse, our team of dermatologists at Thomas Dermatology — with locations in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada, and Lake Havasu City, Kingman, and Bullhead City, Arizona —  wants to help you learn to better manage it. 

In this blog, we discuss why rosacea flare-ups can increase and what you can do to treat the condition.

What triggers your rosacea?

You need to learn what triggers your rosacea, because the more often you trigger it, the longer your skin stays red and the more severe your symptoms get. In addition, more frequent rosacea flare-ups can cause treatment to lose its efficacy. 

So, to reduce the amount of flare-ups and boost your treatment’s productivity, you have to figure out what’s setting your rosacea off in the first place.

You may have to do some detective work to determine your unique triggers. Common rosacea triggers include sun exposure, stress, alcohol, spicy foods, beauty products, extreme temperatures, and exercise. Keep a diary for about two weeks to narrow down what’s leading to any flare-ups you may have.

Once you’ve determined your triggers, make as many changes as possible to avoid those triggers. Staying away from your triggers should noticeably lessen your rosacea symptoms.

How to calm rosacea flare-ups

Even if you avoid your triggers, you can still expect some rosacea flare-ups. However, once you recognize that you’re having a rosacea episode, you can take action to reduce the severity of it. 

You can try some of the following techniques to calm your skin:

• Apply a fragrance-free moisturizer
• Use a humidifier
• Drink water
• Place a cold towel around your neck
• De-stress through yoga or meditation

Rosacea flare-ups can last for days or even months. However, the better you care for your skin, the less severe or noticeable the flare-ups should be. 

Some conservative rosacea treatment options that we offer at Thomas Dermatology include prescription creams and oral antibiotics. These work best when combined with trigger avoidance and excellent skin care. 

Another treatment option we have is called Vbeam Perfecta® — a type of pulsed dye laser (PDL) therapy. The lasers used in this treatment emit very targeted beams of light that are converted into heat. The heat from the lasers then destroys the damaged blood vessels causing the rosacea while keeping your surrounding skin intact. Your body then absorbs the damaged blood vessels and shunts the blood through other, undamaged vessels. 

For expert rosacea treatment, look no further than our team at Thomas Dermatology. Schedule an appointment by calling your nearest office location or booking online today.