Coping with rosacea

One way to cope with rosacea (rose-AY-shuh) is to determine what factors may trigger your outbreaks, and then avoid them. The cause of flare-ups may be different in each patient, but common triggers include sunlight exposure, alcohol, hot beverages, cold wind, or extreme temperatures. In order to establish a pattern, try keeping a diary of things you did, ate, and drank, as well as medicines or cosmetic products used around the time of an outbreak. In general, patients with rosacea should refrain from anything that makes the face red, such as spicy foods. Wear a daily sunscreen that contains zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or avobenzone (av-oh-BEHN- zone). Wash the face gently with a mild cleanser; never rub or scrub. Choose facial products that won't clog the pores. In addition to preventive measures, there are many treatments for rosacea. Oral and topical antibiotics can often clear up pimples and reduce redness. If you have spidery blood vessels on the face, these can be removed with a laser or an electric needle. Similar devices can be used to cut away overgrown tissue on the nose and return it to a normal shape. While your response to a particular treatment may vary, almost every case of rosacea can be improved, so don't hesitate to seek help.