It is a cause of anger, depression and shame. It affects our well-being, self-esteem and mutual relations. Although rosacea affects many of us, we decide to visit a dermatologist after more than three years on average! Maybe it’s time to “go to the doctor” …
Understand “rose”
It will pass by itself. It is contagious. It’s because of the lack of hygiene. The sun is the best medicine – these are just some of the myths about rosacea. Although we know more and more about it every year, our knowledge is still not sufficient. We do not know the exact causes of the disease, we cannot list all the risk factors, we visit a dermatologist too rarely, and the Internet remains our main source of information. Unfortunately, late diagnosis leads to exacerbation of the changes and takes away the chance for effective treatment.
What exactly is rosacea? It is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease of the face with periods of flare-ups and remissions. It is estimated that it affects about 15 percent. population, mainly women between 30 and 50 years of age. Despite the similarity of the name, rosacea has nothing to do with juvenile acne. The main symptoms are reddening of the skin on the face, widening of blood vessels and the formation of inflammatory lesions in the form of small lumps and pimples. What the characteristic locations of the most common lesions differ by gender. In women, these are mainly: cheeks, forehead and chin, while in men: nose, forehead and chin.
The causes of rosacea are not known to this day – the most frequently indicated are genetic and immunological predispositions, the influence of the environment and an inappropriate lifestyle. – There is still no consensus as to what is primary in the etiology of rosacea – inflammatory process or vascular changes. Both phenomena seem to play a huge role and can occur simultaneously. But environmental factors such as UV radiation, temperature changes, environmental pollution, smoking, improper care, and diet still play an extremely important role in the severity of rosacea symptoms, explains Dr. Ivana Stanković.
It stigmatizes and excludes
Just like any dermatosis, rosacea affects our quality of life. It lowers self-esteem, affects the feeling of attractiveness, and disturbs friend and partner relations. As shown by previous studies, patients are often accompanied by negative emotions: anger, depression, anxiety and shame. They often get frustrated, anxious and even depressed. The disease is made more difficult by its social reception – we avoid contact with people suffering from rosacea. What’s more, we assign them “patches”: who do not care about hygiene, are helpless, and abuse alcohol.
Rafał Bryndal, who in recent years took part in the campaign “Rose to the doctor”, has repeatedly talked about how difficult it is to live with the disease. – It’s not easy to look like Cyrano de Bergerac. I was the first to ridicule my nose to forestall mockery or unpleasant allusions. Most people associate a large, red nose with an alcoholic. I joked about my appearance and, laughing, defended myself against people’s opinions. I was wearing a mask all the time so that no one could hurt me with their comments. Unfortunately, some people, not knowing that rosacea was the real cause of my problems, moved away from me, and it made me very upset. Some people lost their trust in me.
Blush to the doctor
Fortunately, rosacea is not a verdict. Under the watchful eye of a dermatologist, you can take care of your skin and take control of the disease. The sooner the better – in the case of severe inflammatory symptoms, the therapy lasts much longer and the help of a psychologist or ophthalmologist is often needed (about 50% of people suffering from rosacea experience inflammation of the eyelid margins, conjunctiva and corneas).
In the treatment of the disease, topical preparations, oral medications, surgery and laser procedures are used. The main goal of therapy is to minimize existing symptoms and prevent relapses. Proper care is of great importance, as it accelerates the healing process and strengthens the protective barrier of the epidermis.
People with rosacea are recommended to use dermocosmetics for sensitive skin. Micellar lotions are best for washing your face, and instead of tonic – thermal water. Creams should be light, with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, soothing and moisturizing substances. It is also important to use the correct photoprotection. Contrary to appearances, the sun does not help fight the disease, but it exacerbates skin lesions.
It is worth remembering that the “burning problem” can be aggravated by hot dishes, spicy spices, sweet snacks, artificial sweeteners, products containing a large amount of histamine (tomatoes, eggplant, fermenting kefir), alcohol and tobacco. Diet, like proper care, is treated as one of the elements of therapy. On the plate, it is worth looking for vitamin C (pepper, parsley, currants), vitamin E (almonds), rutin (amaranth, figs), calcium (kale, almonds, sesame), Omega-3 fatty acids (sea fish). When it comes to spices, hot chili should be replaced with anti-inflammatory ginger and turmeric.
More information on rosacea is available on the website: http://rozsiedolekarza.pl/. There you will also find a test that will allow you to check the potential risk of developing rosacea problems. “Róż się do medic” is the first nationwide information and education campaign on rosacea, initiated by the Galderma company. The patronage over the campaign was taken by the Polish Dermatological Society.