Types of Rosacea: A Science Backed Approach

It’s unclear as to what causes rosacea to develop. Research suggests that it might be due to the overproduction of certain inflammatory proteins or possibly the immune system of the body’s reaction to microscopic mites that live in the hair follicles.

Whatever the cause, the symptoms are very clear. Flushing, acne-like bumps, redness, and patches of dryness are all signs of rosacea prone skin, which can vary in severity and affect the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. These symptoms are often cyclical and can be triggered by several factors. Rosacea is most likely to develop in individuals with fair skin and lighter hair and eye colors. While men will experience more severe symptoms, it is more likely to occur in women. There are four types of rosacea-- a chronic inflammatory skin condition that typically develops in people over 30.

The redness that is so commonly associated with rosacea will typically come and go at first, but over time starts to become more and more longer lasting. It's not unusual to experience symptoms of more than one type of rosacea. Learn more aboutthe four subtypes of this inflammatory skin condition.

Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea

Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea is also known as vascular rosacea. This is the most commontype of rosacea and is characterized by chronic red patches on the face. During flare-ups, thesmall blood vessels under the skin can become enlarged and visible. Vascular rosacea canresemble sun damage due to the persistent erythema or redness-- and can become chronicwithout treatment.

Papulopustular Rosacea

Papulopustular rosacea is also referred to as inflammatory rosacea, or sometimes acne rosacea.It is characterized by large and painful pustules and papules on the chin, forehead, and cheeksthat can take weeks to go away. Acne rosacea is also associated with facial flushing, heightenedskin sensitivity, and some people may develop dry patches of skin called plaques. It affectsadults more than teenagers and is most prevalent in middle-aged women.

Phymatous Rosacea

Phymatous rosacea is a less common subtype that affects men more than women. Type 3rosacea causes thickened, rough skin along with visible blood vessels. It is most often seen onthe nose, in a condition known as rhinophyma. The result is a bulbous, red nose with visiblepores.

Ocular Rosacea

As the name implies, ocular rosacea leads to inflammation of the eyes and can causepermanent damage without intervention. The condition is linked to the following symptoms:

• Bloodshot-looking eyes
• Eyes are gritty and dry
• Increased eye sensitivity
• Cysts or acne-like bumps on the eyelids
• Enlarged blood vessels on the surrounding skin
• Skin that is red, itchy, and swollen

There is no cure for rosacea, but that doesn’t mean that there is nothing that can be done about it. Figuring out what triggers an outbreak is the best way to prevent it from happening. There are so many things that could trigger it, but it’s worth taking the time to figure them out.

Identifying triggers

One of the easiest ways to accomplish this would be to start a diary or journal that relates to any flare ups.

Some of the most common causes include:

• Allergies, either food or environmental
• Extreme emotions like anger, stress, or anxiety
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Dry air
• Eating cinnamon, chocolate, citrus fruits, or tomatoes
• Hormonal imbalances
• Hot bath
• Hot beverages like coffee or tea
• Hot or cold weather
• Humidity
• Irritation to skin products
• Overexposure to sunlight
• Side effects of medications
• Spicy food
• Too much exercise
• Wind

Lifestyle changes

While the first step is identifying your triggers, the second step is making certain lifestyle changes in order to avoid them. It may be much easier to avoid some triggers than others, but ultimately the best treatment is prevention.

Some other ways that you can help reduce the chances of triggering a flare up include:

• Use sunscreen daily. There are very few things that are as bad for your skin as direct sunlight. Get in the habit of using sunscreen daily or at least a moisturizer that contains sunscreen. The higher that the SPF rating is the better, but be sure to use at least an SPF 30. Try to avoid the sun during its peak hours, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and if you cannot stay away from the intense sun exposure, wear a wide brimmed hat or other clothing to help protect your face.

• Treat your skin gently. Avoid making contact with your face as much as you can. When cleaning it, be sure to stick to gentle cleansers and water based skin care products that don’t contain oil. Avoid using harsh chemicals such as alcohol, menthol, witch hazel, glycolic or lactic acids, urea or other various agents commonly used for exfoliation. Be sure to use a thick cotton towel and blot the face dry instead of rubbing it.

• Cosmetics can conceal the effects. By using a green tinted foundation or green makeup, it’s possible to significantly counter the natural redness of rosacea. Apply a skin tone foundation on top with a yellowish hue, making sure to avoid pink and orange, and you should be able to conceal the symptoms.

Use sunscreen daily. There are very few things that are as bad for your skin as direct sunlight. Get in the habit of using sunscreen daily or at least a moisturizer that contains sunscreen. The higher that the SPF rating is the better, but be sure to use at least an SPF 30. Try to avoid the sun during its peak hours, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and if you cannot stay away from the intense sun exposure, wear a wide brimmed hat or other clothing to help protect your face.

Treat your skin gently. Avoid making contact with your face as much as you can. When cleaning it, be sure to stick to gentle cleansers and water based skin care products that don’t contain oil. Avoid using harsh chemicals such as alcohol, menthol, witch hazel, glycolic or lactic acids, urea or other various agents commonly used for exfoliation. Be sure to use a thick cotton towel and blot the face dry instead of rubbing it.

Cosmetics can conceal the effects. By using a green tinted foundation or green makeup, it’s possible to significantly counter the natural redness of rosacea. Apply a skin tone foundation on top with a yellowish hue, making sure to avoid pink and orange, and you should be able to conceal the symptoms.

Over the years there have been significant developments in regard to potential treatments for rosacea.

While there might not be a cure just yet, there are plenty of options that can help to reduce the symptoms of a breakout. Some of the treatments option include:

Topical creams and gels

By working to constrict blood vessels, these topical options can reduce the redness in mild and moderate cases of rosacea. The effect is temporary and the medication will need to be applied periodically, but it is one of the more effective treatments. You should start to see the results within 12 hours or so, depending on the strength of the prescription. The most popular of these medications are brimonidine (brand name Mirvaso) and oxymetazoline (brand name Rhofade).

Oral treatments

For moderate or severe cases of rosacea, a dermatologist will often prescribe the antibiotic doxycycline (brand name Oracea) or isotretinoin (brand names Amnesteem, Claravis). These powerful medications are used to treat bumps, pimples, and acne.

Laser therapy

This operation works to reduce the number of blood vessels in the face and therefore decrease the redness. More research is needed on the effectiveness of this relatively newer procedure, but there have been plenty of successful operations. The majority of people that undergo this therapy experience significant reductions in visible blood vessels after a few treatments and the results can last for several years.

No matter what type of rosacea you have, there are remedies proven to calm and soothe thiscommon skin condition that affects up to 20 percent of the U.S. population. Lifestyle changescan help manage symptoms, but you can go a step further by getting topical productsformulated to strengthen the skin's defense against environmental stressors and reduceinflammation. Take the PROVEN skin type quiz to create a personalized 3-step regimen unique to your rosacea skin concerns, lifestyle, and environment.