Does your face suddenly turn red after a glass of wine, being in the sun or eating spicy food? You and one in twenty other New Zealanders could have acne rosacea, or rosacea, which is the common term for it. Rosacea is a red facial rash that commonly affects 30 to 60 year olds, especially those with fair skin, blue eyes and of Celtic origin. It can even cause a bulbous ‘drinker’s nose’ or  affect the eyes.

We don’t know what causes it, but we do know that there is an inflammation in the skin and there has been some research as to whether some bugs can cause it. It can go from very mild to disfiguring, and can be chronic and severe, and cause scar tissue. This is why it needs to be diagnosed early and treated effectively.

The treatment consists of taking a diet that is low in processed foods and avoiding the food triggers that tend to cause it, which includes alcohol and spicy foods. Taking a fish oil supplement can be helpful because it helps inflammation. Also, obviously, avoid sunshine and use a sunblock. Never use oily skin creams or steroids because this will make it worse.

Your doctor will prescribe some special skin creams and sometimes oral antibiotics. A dermatologist can prescribe strong oral medications to help severe cases. Laser and light therapies can be useful in controlling the condition, although they cannot cure it. At the Skinfresh Clinic, we take an ‘inside, as well as outside’ approach to rosacea, and like to get your nutrition, biochemistry and other things right, before we do any light therapies.

www.skinfresh.co.nz