11 Things People Living With Rosacea Want You To Know
It’s not just rosy cheeks.
I'm Lex Gillies. I'm a beauty blogger and I have rosacea.
But what on earth *is* rosacea? Let me give you the low-down. I spoke to Dr Anjali Mahto, Consultant Dermatologist & British Skin Foundation spokesperson, to offer both first-person and professional points of view on the condition and how to control it.
Lex Gillies
Certain people are more likely to get rosacea.
I first developed rosacea aged 21. I had always had red cheeks and had blushed easily but as time went on the redness became more severe, especially at certain points: when drinking alcohol, after exercise, when I was under a lot of stress. My skin would feel extremely warm and itchy, almost like heat rash, and would take hours or sometimes days to calm down.
Apparently such an early onset of rosacea is rare, as Dr Anjalo Mahto told me: it "most commonly affects individuals aged 30-60 years of age. It is generally more common in females and often presents with facial redness; this is usually intermittent at first, but over time can become fixed. Rosacea tends to affect those with fair skin, blue eyes, or Celtic origin."
No one is sure what causes it.
There are many theories: weaker blood vessels that dilate more easily than they should; genetics; tiny mites living on your face… *shudder*. But for now, no one is sure what causes rosacea. You can read more about current research into potential causes HERE.
Although most people have never heard of rosacea, it's actually fairly common. A British Skin Foundation spokesperson explained, "the NHS estimates approximately 1 in every 600 people are diagnosed with rosacea each year in the UK."
Currently there is no cure.
Being diagnosed with a facial skin condition is scary enough, but finding out that there's no cure makes it a lot harder to deal with. Luckily there are ways to manage the condition and limit its effects.
I have lots of tips on my blog which you can find HERE including advice on changes you can make to your skincare, lifestyle, diet and mentality that really help. Some are harder than others (cutting down on alcohol and dairy was traumatic…) but the results make those choices a lot easier to handle.