What is it?
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that appears first as intermittent redness, then as permanent redness on the central area of the face (cheeks, nose, lower forehead and chin). This condition is caused by an abundance of small dilated blood vessels and it affects more than 3 million people in Canada.
Did you know?
Contrary to popular believe, rosacea is not caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. However, studies have shown that alcohol is one of many triggering factors that can aggravate the condition over time.
What are the causes?
The onset of rosacea, more common in women, is a phenomenon that can be triggered or aggravated by the following factors:
Heredity
Hereditary factors are good indicators for determining whether a person will or will not be affected by rosacea during his or her lifetime. Skin colour (people with lighter skin are more affected) and family history of rosacea and are important factors.
Sun exposure
Exposure to UV rays can aggravate the symptoms of rosacea. It is recommended to apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or more during summer and winter. This practice will limit flare ups of the condition.
The use of cosmetic products
As soon as the first symptoms appear, it is important to pay attention to the products used on the face. In order not to make the situation worse, cosmetics containing perfume, alcohol, abrasives or other irritating ingredients should be avoided; gentle products are preferred.
Lifestyle
Several other factors may influence the onset or aggravation of rosacea – exposure to extreme temperatures, intense physical exertion, stress and drug use (specifically, prescription Cortisone creams and topical acne treatments), and also tobacco use.
How to prevent?
Limit sun exposure by wearing clothes that cover the skin, by wearing a hat and sunglasses and applying sunscreen before spending time outdoors during summer and winter.
Avoid, or at least decrease, the consumption of food and beverages that contribute to the dilation of blood vessels such as coffee, alcohol, hot beverages and spicy foods.
Use warm water and a mild, non-scented soap to clean the face. Use moisturizing products regularly and avoid overly greasy cosmetics and oil-based foundations.
How to treat?
Vascular lasers
These lasers emit an intense beam of light of a specific wavelength, which targets a type of tissue in the treated part of the body such as blood vessels in the case of rosacea. When the energy beam reaches its target, it is absorbed and transformed into heat, which inactivates or destroys the cells in the targeted region. Any excessive and non-homogeneous colouration is thus eliminated.
The type of laser used depends on the colour of the skin and the nature of the vessels to be treated. An improvement is usually noted following a few sessions.
Photorejuvenation
Increasing in popularity for being non-invasive and imparting only a slight feeling of discomfort, IPL Photorejuvenation is delivered by intense pulsed light which is effective in drying out and eliminating small dilated blood vessels causing rosacea. Moreover, the technologies selected by Dermapure also enable the elimination of pigmented spots and rosacea after just a few sessions. Diffused in a series of pulses, the light reaches a depth between 515 and 560 nanometers, ideal for detecting and correcting colour contrasts.
