Ask The Experts- July 2016

Dear Red Hot Mamas Experts,

I read your newsletter every month and it has such valuable information in it. One thing you never discussed in it was rosacea. I’ve just been diagnosed with it as I have been having flare- ups of redness on my cheeks and then it disappears and then reappears again. My question is what can I do about it and can I prevent it? Thank you for your help with this question

Margaret

Dear Margaret,

Rosacea is quite common and it mostly affects fair skinned women between the ages of 30 and 60. Although it is not life threatening, it does not clear up on its own. So, it’s important for you to see your clinician if you have an outbreak. Certain foods may trigger rosacea. Here are some potential triggers: spicy foods, hot foods or beverages, alcohol, aged cheeses, citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruits and even tomatoes. Other things may also aggravate rosacea making it worse, for instance, hot baths, saunas and steam rooms; excessive cold; exposure to the sun; stress; certain medications (e.g., high blood pressure medications) may worsen rosacea. There are no known ways to actually prevent rosacea, but you can prevent it from getting worse by using a sunblock; avoiding trigger foods; keeping your skin clean with warm water and a gentle cleanser; keep your hair away from your face; and if you need to wear makeup, use a lightweight makeup that will not clog your pores. Your clinician also may recommend treatments to help rosacea which may include oral antibiotics, antibiotic creams, sunscreen, laser treatments and other options.

We hope this is information is of help to you and suggest you discuss these things with your clinician.

Good luck to you and thank you for writing to Red Hot Mamas.