Don’t Get All Red in the Face

There’s a fancy word for everything. Common redness-of-the-face, for example, is often called rosacea. It sounds fancy but it’s not. It’s a common affliction among many moms that is not well understood.

The good news is that Dr. Melinda Gooderham knows all about it, and we’re here to share with you some of her top insights and tips on how to identify and control rosacea.   

Is rosacea just facial redness?
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition, which consists of facial erythema (redness) as well as papules and pustules; the erythema can present as facial flushing, persistent redness and telangiectasia (surface capillaries). Rosacea can also affect the eyes (ocular rosacea) causing inflammation of the eyelid and a gritty sensation inside the eye and may cause a thickening of the skin of the nose, typically in middle aged men (rhinophyma).

Can rosacea occur in children?
Rosacea is usually not present in children, and the average age of onset is between 30 and 50 years of age, but can present at any point. Other more common conditions in children such as eczema, seborrheic dermatitis or acne should be considered in children before a diagnosis of rosacea.

What are some of the most common ‘triggers’?
The most common triggers are sun exposure, cold winds, stress or embarrassment, hot beverages, alcoholic beverages mainly wine, spicy foods. Other triggers include hot baths or showers and corticosteroids.

There’s a lot more to learn about rosacea, and as a busy mom, we know you spend a lot of time worrying about what affects your kids. Now, take some time for yourself and find out how deal with this condition—because you don’t have to live with it. We have more expert advice, information and treatment options in our Guide to Rosacea.