Treating Rosacea in the Summer: What You Need to Know

Rosacea doesn’t have to end your summer plans.

Being an adult was supposed to convey a lot of benefits, including the freedom from anxiety-inducing facial blemishes. But many adults, especially adult women, struggle with the skin problem rosacea. Read on to learn more about rosacea, including what it is and how it can be treated during the summer months.

Rosacea Vs. Acne

First, rosacea is not acne. They’re two different conditions with different causes.

Acne is the result of infection or inflammation of the sebaceous glands in the skin. The sebaceous glands are responsible for secreting sebum onto the skin to lubricate hair follicles, and become overactive during our teenage years.

Rosacea causes redness on the skin of the face, and may be accompanied by more visible blood vessels and small red bumps that may fill with pus. Eyes may feel dry and swollen, eyelids may become inflamed, and the skin of the nose can even thicken over time. While antibiotic ointment can help control the symptoms, daily hygiene has no impact on rosacea.

Rosacea is most common in women with lighter skin tones, especially those with heavy exposure to the sun and with a history of smoking, but can affect anyone. A family history of rosacea also appears to be a factor. Rosacea is not dangerous and is not generally a symptom of a more serious illness.

Causes of Rosacea

Rosacea can disappear for months, only to reappear with the cause and triggers of an attack unknown, making it frustrating for sufferers. Exposure to activities or chemicals that open up blood vessels appear to be possible triggers, including:

• Temperature and weather extremes, such as heavy wind or extreme cold or heat
• Sun exposure
• Vasodilators or similar medications
• Alcohol
• Heavy exercise
• Extreme emotions such as anger

As you can see, summer brings out several of these risk factors, most notably the weather extremes and sun exposure.

Managing Rosacea

Don’t worry, you don’t have to spend the summer indoors. Rosacea is a manageable condition with lifestyle changes and medication.

Lifestyle changes should be made first, including:

• Quitting smoking
• Medication management, with medications changed under the supervision of a doctor
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Meditative practices to reduce emotional outbursts
• Applying sunscreen when outdoors

Sunscreen is particularly important if you’re planning to head outdoors, and not just for rosacea, but for skin cancer as well.

Medication is another option. Metronidazole, sold under the brand name Metrogel, is an antibiotic gel that assists in limiting rosacea symptoms. The treatment process generally lasts from six weeks to several months, depending on the severity of the outbreak and the need for treatment. Metrogel is also available online once a patient completes a short online questionnaire and a brief phone discussion with a doctor.

Rosacea is a manageable condition, and it shouldn’t ruin your summer. eDrugstore.com has easy prescription tools and direct shipping, so you can get back to the trail, the pool, or the party.