ROSACEA
With rosacea flare-ups more common in the summer months, we look at why this is and ways you can minimise this skin condition if you’re one of the one-in-10 people it affects.
ROSACEA IS A VERY COMMON skin condition that affects up to a reported four million people in the UK, so it’s surprising that there’s still so much research to be done on the causes behind it.
And more than half of rosacea sufferers say their symptoms are much worse during the summer, with the intense sun, hot humid weather and increased physical activities posing the biggest problems for people, as surveyed by the National Rosacea Society.
‘Rosacea is a long-term skin condition that affects the face, causing facial redness, blushes and flushes, or where visible blood vessels appear. An early diagnosis is important to reduce symptoms, which can develop into uncomfortable spots, burning or stinging sensations,’ says Lorena Öberg, skin repair expert and founder of Lorena Öberg Skincare (lorenaoberg.co.uk).
‘Permanent redness can be a factor, and another reason to treat sooner rather than later. Harsh winds and icy cold temperatures make the condition problematic in the winter, but hot temperatures can also trigger irritation,’ says Lorena.
LIFESTYLE AND GENETICS
‘An increasing number of people are suffering from allergy prone skin conditions, and we are more exposed to processed foods, chemicals and pollutants in our food, water and air,’ says Emina Avdukic, educational trainer at Rosalique and CIDESCO beauty therapist (rosalique.co.uk). ‘Your skin is the largest organ, which many of us forget, so it’s important to feed your skin from within with food that has anti-inflammatory properties as that will, in turn, help reduce inflammation,’ she adds.
A WOMAN’S ISSUE
Rosacea is more prevalent in women and in those aged between 30 and 50. ‘Women with fair skin and light eyes, often from Celtic or Scandinavian ancestry, are more likely to develop rosacea than men’, says Emina.
‘Female patients can find rosacea tends to be exacerbated at a time when they are changing their birth control, have children or approach menopause,’ adds Lucy Phillips, MD of medical and cosmetic dermatology clinic Kaizen Medical (kaizenmedical.co.uk).
The exact cause of the condition though is unknown. ‘It’s thought that an individual’s genetics and immune system, as well as environmental factors, can all play a part, leading to a hyper-responsiveness of the blood vessels of the central face,’ says Dr Munir Somji (drmedispa.com), adding: ‘There are a variety of triggers that can make rosacea worse, or flare up. Along with sun exposure, stress, strenuous exercise, alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods and extreme we
