Why Do I Have Rosacea?

Rosacea is a skin condition that affects about 14 million Americans. Symptoms include red skin (usually on your nose and cheeks), thick skin, and swollen, red bumps. Some people also develop eye problems, and others, usually men, develop a bulbous nose.

Anyone can develop rosacea, even celebrities. Some well-known people with rosacea include Bill Clinton, Prince William, Renee Zellweger, and Cameron Diaz. Often people don’t know they have rosacea. They think they have a ruddy complexion or acne.

While there is no cure for rosacea, there are effective ways to treat it and minimize symptoms. 

Board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Bruce Saal, MD, and our expert medical team at Los Gatos Dermatology have extensive experience diagnosing and treating this common skin disease. Here, they shed light on who gets rosacea and why.

Who gets rosacea?

Rosacea is more common in certain populations than others. For example, more women than men have it, but men tend to have more severe symptoms. Other common traits of people who develop rosacea include:

• People over 30
• People with fair skin
• People with light eyes
• Those who have a family member with rosacea
• Smokers

Additionally, those who tend to blush easily are more likely to have rosacea than those who don’t. As if having acne wasn’t problematic enough, it’s also a risk factor for developing rosacea. 

What causes rosacea?

The medical community isn’t sure what causes rosacea in the first place, but they do know that certain things tend to trigger a flare-up. Triggers differ from person to person. Part of an effective treatment plan is recognizing what your rosacea triggers are and avoiding them.  

Some common triggers include:

• Sun exposure
• Hair spray
• Heat
• Stress
• Alcohol
• Spicy foods
• Exercise
• Certain cosmetic products
• Certain medications

Recognizing your triggers and minimizing exposure to them is the first step to treating your skin condition. Avoiding your triggers can help prevent your rosacea from getting worse. 

Rosacea treatment options

After identifying your triggers, we recommend additional treatment options that include:

• Topical medications
• Oral medications
• Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy

If left untreated, your rosacea symptoms may become more severe. Also, a survey of people with rosacea found that 90% felt their condition had lowered their self-confidence and self-esteem. 

Furthermore, about 88% said the disorder had adversely affected their professional interactions, and over half said they had missed at least one work event because of their condition.

Don’t delay treatment. If you notice embarrassing, uncomfortable, or unattractive red patches or bumps on your face, call our office in Los Gatos, California, to make an appointment with Dr. Saal for an effective, personalized treatment plan.