Rosacea Age Of Onset And Evolution
Rosacea is a chronic condition which affects millions of people and which gets worse over time if left untreated. The condition is characterized by facial redness, concentrated mainly on the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. It runs in cyclic courses, with flares and remission periods.
The condition may aggravate in the presence of certain triggers such as sun, wind or humidity, but it can also worsen after the ingestion of some foods.
Stress and anxiety will also cause flares of Rosacea. Despite the obvious link between such factors and the flushing and blushing, there’s no evidence of what actually causes the disease to appear in the first place.
There is no specific Rosacea age of onset, however most sufferers develop it around the age of 30. The condition affects more women than men, but it tends to be more severe in men.
People suffering from Rosacea may have no idea they have this chronic condition, therefore they would leave it untreated and just think they developed some sort of adult acne.
The Rosacea age of onset doesn’t overlap teenage years, when many individuals are prone to acne bursts. This makes sufferers wonder how is it possible to get acne as adults, when they had an absolutely clean complexion as teenagers.
These people may attempt to treat themselves with over the counter medication for acne, as they don’t think they should see a doctor for such a minor thing. Actually, acne medication such as topical steroids makes Rosacea worsen, so auto medication is definitely a mistake.
Rosacea is an inflammatory condition, while acne is caused by bacteria that grow on the skin. Attempting to treat it with anti-acne ointments won’t work. Moreover, such medication may even stimulate inflammation.
The erythema developed by Rosacea sufferers is sometimes doubled by telangiectasias, itching, stinging or burning sensations. One of the Rosacea variations, Phymatous Rosacea, is associated with symptoms like an enlargement of the nose, irregular surface nodularities and a thickening of the skin.
The skin of these suffered looks like an orange peel, therefore they are easy to recognize and diagnose. The Phymatous Rosacea age of onset is older than in case of other subtypes of this disease.
There are various triggers that cause Rosacea flares. Exposure to extreme temperatures is one of the most common factors. This is the reason why some persons develop a stinging sensation when exposed to direct sunlight.
It is funny how they are sometimes mistaken as vampires, when in fact they are only ill people who should seek for medical attention. These people have a problem, because their skin is so sensitive that even the lightest sunscreen or facial cream will cause irritations.
Hot and spicy foods, tomatoes, chocolate, heavy exercise, wind, sun or humidity changes may activate Rosacea flares. This is why it is very important for the sufferers to learn to know their body and their response to various environmental factors, in order to keep the condition in remission for as long as possible.
Emotional stress is another trigger for Rosacea flares. This is harder to control than other triggers, but with medical help, it is possible to keep it under control and minimize acute episodes of the disease.
While elimination of the detected triggers will help with disease management, it doesn’t seem to stop its evolution. This is why diagnosed patients should stay in touch with their dermatologist and closely watch the progress of their condition, in order to prevent it from becoming extremely severe.
There is a common misconception that persons who develop bulbous nose and facial redness are heavy drinkers. In reality, alcohol excess doesn’t cause Rosacea, so it is wrong to believe that you recognized an alcoholic only because you’ve seen them flushing and blushing after sipping from a glass of wine.
The truth that led to this misconception is that indeed, alcohol may cause Rosacea flares. However, one needs to already be a sufferer for this to happen, so there’s no link between alcohol abuse and the typical look of a Rosacea sufferer.
Rosacea is an embarrassing condition for many people. It may lower the self esteem and self confidence and it may even make the sufferer develop a phobia for being photographed.
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