Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that typically varies in severity, affecting the cheeks, chin, forehead and nose. Red skin, visible blood vessels and pus-filled spots are all typical symptoms of rosacea. The skin may also be dry, flaky or itchy. It feels more sensitive and more irritable than a "normal" skin may feel.

These symptoms can be managed by implementing improved skin habits and avoiding things that can trigger your rosacea. These triggers can vary quite a lot from person to person, and people often have a combination of triggers that can exacerbate their rosacea, such as stress, diet, sleeping habits, extreme heat or cold, cosmetic use and sun exposure, as well as genetics.

Our treatment approach will always be determined by your individual symptoms and your skin.

The exact cause of rosacea is not clear, but the following factors are likely involved:

• Inflammatory and immune response
• Changes in the blood vessels
• Genetic predisposition
• Problems with the skin's ability to protect itself
• Hypersensitivity to certain mites that live near hair follicles, or bacteria. These mites are called Demodex mites

When we delve deeper into redness and vascularity, it can present in a very similar way to rosacea, making it important to assess the underlying causes and contributing factors to allow for the best treatment plan and skincare support to be put in place. Redness in the skin appears reactive, with areas of dilated capillaries contributing to the overall vascular appearance of the skin.

To treat, we firstly focus on supporting the skin's internal functions, circulation and barrier. Once we feel your skin is well supported and strengthened, we can move onto modalities such as IPL and laser treatments.