It has nothing to do with emotional blushing, any more than with acne with which it has sometimes been confused: rosacea is a real disease which affects 4 million French people, who are not always aware of it.
- 4 million French people suffer from rosacea, an inflammatory disease of the blood vessels of the face.
- Called rosacea in the first stage of the disease, it is unsightly and complex.
- The causes remain unknown and there is no real treatment.
In the first stage of the disease, it is known to the general public as rosacea. Small dilated blood vessels, inflamed spots, especially redness that does not disappear like that linked to emotions. It generally begins between the ages of 20 and 25 and peaks around the age of 45.
It affects 10% of adults. These small aesthetic inconveniences are a “disease” because they are progressive and completely unpredictable.
The different stages of the disease
As for rosacea, it is purely unsightly. But it can be aggravated by so-called flushes, intense redness of the nose and cheekbones accompanied by a sensation of heat, burning and tingling.
Then in these red areas, localized inflammatory spots can appear and severely damage the skin of the face to the point of edema, that is to say continuous swelling.
Finally, the nose can become deformed until it takes on an eggplant shape.
Fortunately, most patients suffering from rash are not destined to suffer such consequences. The progression from one stage to the next is unpredictable, however most people diagnosed with the disease will have mild, but often unpleasant, symptoms.
There is no miracle cure
Patients suffering from rosacea are self-conscious.
Is it possible to get rid of it? There are no specific medications, rather local treatments to which laser sessions can be added. We cannot treat the cause but the goal is to act effectively on the symptoms and space out flare-ups.
You must also respect basic rules: clean the skin without attacking it, protect it from the sun and also from aggressive cosmetics.
The causes of rosacea
Heat, lifestyle, diet, stress are possible causes, but ultimately, rosacea is an inflammatory disease of the blood vessels that only affects the face. Medicine doesn’t really have an explanation so it’s impossible to find a solution.
Finally, it is absolutely necessary to demystify a belief: people suffering from the disease are indeed afraid of being considered alcoholics. But drinking has nothing to do with rosacea! This is why we don’t talk enough about this disease, so much so that less than 20% of people affected seek treatment.
