Rosacea Creams Exposed

You’re Not Alone: 13 Famous People with Rosacea

Posted by: Editor on March 25, 2016 Under: General |

Do you have rosy cheeks? Does your face flush easily? Does your skin burn quickly when you spend time under the sun? You may think that it is cute when you have rosy cheeks, but you may want to check with your dermatologist to see whether that flushing is something to be worried about.

Know More About Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic skin disease that can be passed on genetically. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the number one cause of rosacea flare up is exposure to the sun. Sometimes when people see a person with this disease, they often think of it as a connection to alcoholism, but why?

Well, if you drink too much alcohol, it is normal to be flushed or have an abnormal amount of redness on your face and other parts of your body, right? But rosacea does not just cause a red face, which is not the only sign to look out for with this disease. There are many signs that you can see, and symptoms that you can feel.

As a matter of fact, because there are a lot of symptoms, scientists have created subtypes for them for a more focused diagnosis. It is important to diagnose what subtype is indicative of the symptoms you are suffering from, because each subtype requires different treatments. The subtypes are as follows:

Subtype 1: Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea (ETR)

When the center of your face is flushing, broken blood vessels are visible in your cheeks or you have swollen skin, you may be suffering from this subtype. People who have subtype 1 rosacea blush easier than those who do not have this disease. The skin sometimes looks dry, rough or scaly, too. This subtype also causes skin sensitivity.

Subtype 2: Acne Rosacea

Acne like breakouts tend to come and go, they cause oily skin, visible broken blood vessels, which are also called spider veins and raised patches of skin called plaque. Middle aged women are more often the sufferers of this subtype.

Subtype 3: Rhinophyma

This subtype is rarely seen on people with rosacea. When it occurs, the person often has initial signs of another subtype of rosacea. The signs of this subtype are a bumpy skin texture, oily skin, large-looking pores and thickening of the skin. Skin thickens commonly around the nose, but it can also happen on the chin, forehead, cheeks and ears.

Subtype 4: Ocular Rosacea

Some rosacea patients can also have signs and symptoms that they can feel in their eyes. They may suffer from one or more signs, like when their eyes are extra-watery or are bloodshot in appearance. There is also a gritty feeling in the eyes. The eyes are dry, itchy and some people even have blurry vision. Other symptoms include a sensitivity to light, visible broken blood vessels on the eyelids, and cysts on the eyelids. If you suffer from ocular rosacea, you may need to see an ophthalmologist, not a dermatologist.

How Rosacea Affects Your Life

Rosacea can affect more than the skin and eyes, because it can affect your quality of life. Surveys from the National Rosacea Society reports that people living with rosacea experience tend to:

1. Feel frustrated and embarrassed most of the time. It has been found that 41 percent of people with rosacea avoid public contact, or cancel their social engagements.
2. Worry excessively. People living with rosacea worry about many things. They worry that their illness will become worse and about the side effects of their medications.
3. Have a low self-esteem. In the survey, 70 percent of people living with rosacea said that the condition lowered their self confidence and self-esteem.
4. Suffer from work-related problems. The survey found that when rosacea is severe, 70 percent of rosacea patients said that the disease affects their interaction at work. Also nearly 30 percent said they miss work.
5. Deal with depression and suffer from anxiety. Living with a condition that flares up unexpectedly can sometimes cause people to believe that you have a drinking problem. This can cause frequent anxiety and depression.

Studies show that when the symptoms and signs of rosacea are less visible, a person living with rosacea has an improved quality of life.

13 Famous People With Rosacea

Among Americans, approximately 16 million suffer from severe to mild rosacea, and those famous celebrities are no exception. Famous faces include a singer, a sexy actress, a former president, a member of the royal family, and even one of the great masters of art. They also have to deal with, and are suffering from this chronic illness. They include:

1. Prince William and Harry, and Their Mom, Princess Diana

In a report from the London Free Press, Prince William is one famous face suffering from subtype 1 rosacea – facial redness and flare ups. His condition proves that rosacea is passed on genetically. According to the book, Royal Fashion and Beauty by Ann Chubb, the late Princess Diana also had the same condition as Prince William and Prince Harry.

2. Former President Bill Clinton

The New York Times reported in 1996 that the former president’s doctors revealed that Clinton’s ruddy complexion was due to rosacea. It is possible that stress during his tenure as a president caused the rosacea flare-ups. As supported in a study of the National Rosacea Society, stress is the second most common rosacea trigger. The top trigger would be exposure to the sun.

3. Actress Cynthia Nixon

“Rosacea might always be on your mind but it doesn’t have to be in your face”- Cynthia Nixon. The Sex in the City star suffered with red, inflamed skin for years before being diagnosed with a mild form of rosacea. She takes oral medications, and uses gentle rosacea skin care to prevent flare-ups.

Nixon is also aware of her rosacea triggers. She limits doing exercise, drinking red wine and eating spicy foods. She also practices yoga to keep her stress at bay. Because of her condition, she takes on her rosacea treatment not just for herself, but for the other people living with rosacea. Nixon now is the spokesperson of the National Rosacea Society, which educates the public about the disease.

4. Master Painter Rembrandt

Those who believe that rosacea is only a modern-day problem, they’re mistaken, because it is believed that 17th century Dutch painter Rembrandt van Ridjn suffered from rosacea. It seems hard to believe that he had rosacea because the diagnosis came out centuries after his death.

A researcher from Georgetown University studied Rembrandt’s 1659 self-portrait. In 1997 he reported at The Lancet, a British medical journal that the painter had an enlarged nose, spider veins and acne like breakouts, which are all signs of subtypes 1, 2 and 3 rosacea. The research proved that subtype 3 occurs with the other subtypes.

5. Actress Renée Zellweger

Bridget Jones’s Diary and Jerry Maguire academy award winning star is among the celebrities living with rosacea according to The Daily Mail. Instead of being self-conscious with her condition, she was reported to take care of herself more. Zellweger believes that maintaining a healthy lifestyle prevents her rosacea flare ups.

6. “Sexy” Actress Cameron Diaz

“Whenever I don’t have to wear make-up it’s a good day”- Cameron Diaz said in support of rosacea. Yes, the actress is also struggling with rosacea. This Hollywood beauty may seem unlikely to have acne rosacea because of her flawless complexion on screen. But, the star of countless movies, like Charlie’s Angels, My Best Friend’s Wedding and No Other Woman is one of the celebrities battling against rosacea. She confessed in the Parade Magazine that she is suffering from subtype 2 rosacea.

7. Comedian W.C. Fields

This famous comedian rose to fame in the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s, but his skin condition was not funny at all. His bulbous nose, which became his trademark was the result of subtype 3 rosacea also known as rhinophyma. Some blamed alcohol for his big nose, as drinking was a big part of his act and life, but, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, drinking can trigger rosacea to flare up, but it’s not the cause.

8. R&B Singer Mariah Carey

This ridiculously high grossing recording artist is used to being on center stage, from photo shoots to sold-out concerts. Her looks are just amazing, and that’s why millions admire her. Although Carey lives with rosacea, her condition didn’t stop her from being on many of the Most Beautiful Women lists in magazines.  Who says that rosacea can’t be beautiful?

9. Banker J.P. Morgan

A financier, banker, and philanthropist in the early 1900’s, Morgan is admired for shaping our banking industry today. But, like W.C. Fields, he also suffered from rhinophyma. Thankfully, today, there are laser therapies that can correct the problem.

10. Comedienne Rosie O’Donnell

This actress lives with rosacea, but her condition never stopped her from gracing the public. In fact, this comedienne, actress and author draws attention wherever she goes carrying an oozing self-confidence. O’Donnell is one actress that proves your skin condition doesn’t matter. Need a little self-confidence? Ask her for some.

11. Contemporary Icon Dita Von Teese

Dita Von Teese’s porcelain white skin was once covered with a red flush, the subtype 1 rosacea. She reportedly battled with rosacea by using oral and topical medical therapy.

12. Singer Songwriter Sam Smith

Sam Smith debuted with his song, Stay With Me, revealed in U.S. Weekly that he is living with rosacea. In the same report, he mentioned that French red wine is his favorite drink — which may contribute to his condition. As supported by the National Rosacea Survey, red wine is one of the triggers for rosacea flare ups.

13. Celebrity Chef Lisa Faulkner

Television star and Chef Lisa Faulkner, was diagnosed with subtype 1 rosacea in 2005. She changed her lifestyle to prevent flare ups. She avoids eating spicy foods and champagne, and uses acupuncture to keep calm and manage her stress.

What They Have in Common

Aside from the fact that these famous faces all have rosacea and they also all have fair skin, what do they all have? They all have their fame and their position on top where they can be a model for everyone. Did their condition stop them from being famous? Did it stop them from doing the best for other people? No it didn’t. Instead they used their skin condition as a motivation to pursue life, to help other people and to make others laugh.

You wouldn’t even know that some of them have dealt with rosacea until you read this article, right? Or unless they confessed it to the media, of course. The fact remains that no matter how low your self-esteem is because of having rosacea, you must remember these famous people. Remember that you can also rise up like them, so don’t let rosacea run your life. Instead, run your life without thinking of your rosacea. Do everything to prevent it, but don’t let it ruin the way you want to live your life.

Rosacea is not a condition to laugh at, but it is disease that has to be diagnosed and treated properly. A lot of people are not yet aware of rosacea, so you can start educating them now by using this article. The best way to deal with this skin disease is to work with your doctor to follow a treatment plan.

You should also make note of the substances that trigger it for you. Once you know what they are, avoid them at all costs. Keep your stress to a minimum and take care of your overall health, too. Rosacea is manageable, as long as you know what type you have, so learn all you can, and then get on with your life.