Pink face: when the face turns red not only from shyness

Pink cheeks can look sweet, dreamy or even romantic, because usually red paints the face when strong emotions are involved, when you experience excitement. Usually, this pinkness is a temporary state that fades with the suppressed feelings. The problem arises when the pink shade does not leave the face even in a state of complete rest. In such cases, one can suspect that a person has facial rosacea (synonyms of the disease name: redness, rosacea, couperosis, rosacea), which has nothing to do with shyness – it is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Caring for such skin poses challenges, but it is not only possible, but also necessary to treat it.

Insidious symptoms of facial rosacea

The first symptoms of facial rosacea can appear already in adolescence, unfortunately, the disease is rarely diagnosed at such an early age. Diagnosing facial redness is complicated by its similarity to some other skin problems: acne, seborrheic dermatitis or simply sensitive skin. The disease develops slowly, and only later, usually around 30-60 years of age, when the symptoms worsen, is it recognized and labeled as pink. By the way, it is noticed that facial pink occurs more often in light-skinned women.

Symptoms that betray facial rosacea:

• frequently occurring, more intense than usual redness of the face, which later becomes permanent (erythema);

• increasingly prominent capillary network on the surface of the skin, telangiectasias; sensitivity to cosmetics, temperature changes and some other external factors;

• pink nodules, pustules, but, unlike acne, the skin is characterized by dryness;

• in rosacea, redness and rashes appear in the central part of the face (cheeks, nose, chin, forehead) – this is one of the main symptoms of rosacea;

• characteristic feeling of burning, heating, itching in the face area;

• untreated, rosacea can stimulate the exfoliation of connective tissue and sebaceous glands, causing the skin to become rough. Men may experience rhinophyma – an enlarged, rough nose;

• in some cases, pink also affects the eyes: reddened eyeballs, burning, dryness.

Causes of Pink Face - Unknown?

There is no exact answer to the question of what causes facial rosacea. So far, only theories have been put forward, but more detailed research is needed to confirm them. For example, one of the theories states that facial rosacea is possibly caused by the impaired activity of cathelicidins (certain peptides), which stimulate the development of inflammatory processes.

Other causes believed to cause rosacea include: strong exposure to ultraviolet sunlight, endocrine or nervous system disorders, weakened immunity, demodex mites, certain vascular disorders, genetic inheritance. Thus, the exact causes of facial rosacea remain completely unknown, and each case is individual.

Treatment and care of facial rosacea

Rosacea is not completely curable. However, we can control it and alleviate its symptoms with proper treatment and preventive measures. When suffering from rosacea, it is advised to avoid vasodilator and reddening factors: the sun;

• hot saunas, saunas and baths; alcohol; • stress;

• spicy food;

• temperature changes, cold and hot weather;

• certain medicines, irritating cosmetics;

• Active sports.

By knowing what personally triggers your rosacea flare-ups, you can avoid those factors and thus alleviate the symptoms of the disease. Of course, the avoidance of rosacea irritants is not everything – the appropriate treatment chosen by the dermatologist is important. The doctor can prescribe medical treatment, recommend laser procedures, cosmetic products and make other recommendations.

The symptoms of facial rosacea are relieved and treated by:

1. Drug treatment. Medical treatment can be topical, where special ointments or other agents are applied to the skin, such as brimonidine or azelaic acid, or systemic antibiotic treatment, such as doxycycline. Drug treatment is selected by the doctor depending on the stage of the disease, state of health and other factors. Treatment with intense pulsed light, laser. Treatment of facial rosacea with intense pulsed light and laser is one of the most effective methods of treating the disease. In the “Sokrato” clinic, the treatment of facial redness is performed with one of the most advanced lasers of the AMI company, SOLRAY. The laser, emitting a wavelength of 560 nm, reaches the oxyhemoglobin in the blood, the capillaries heat up and begin to disappear.
2. Laser treatment eliminates dilated facial capillaries, reduces redness, and dramatically improves skin condition and texture. Rosacea can also be treated with the Nd:YAG laser Q-MASTER PLUS, but the laser is chosen by the doctor. For a description of the service, click here. Cosmetic products. Also, choose cosmetic products carefully: alcohol, camphor, witch hazel, menthol, eucalyptus, peppermint, fragrances and other irritating substances are not friends of your skin. Among the ingredients, better look for azelaic acid, niacinamide, aloe vera, green tea, linoleic acid. It is necessary to include a sunscreen with SPF 30 or SPF 50 in your beauty routine, which should be used both in the warm and cold seasons of the year.

Proper care and treatment of your ruddy skin will prevent acute rosacea symptoms and improve your skin condition. If you suspect that you may be developing facial rosacea, we invite you to consult with Sokratos Clinic dermatovenerologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences Gintare Linkevičiūtė.

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