Rosacea Support

The Rosacea Support Group is a no-cost, moderated, email group for rosacea sufferers to offer support to each other as a community of fellow rosacea sufferers who are willing to share their symptoms, and their successful and failed treatments.

The email group functions as an online rosacea self help group. The Rosacea Support Group was created as a e-mail support group for rosacea suffers to post to the rosacea forum, rosacea chat, or rosacea bulletin board. The Rosacea Support Group is for members to exchange information about rosacea symptoms and rosacea treatments that are listed as 'the stand of care' by physicians as well as other non prescribed medication over the counter or via the internet.

Most of us have learned that job, family and love life and dating, educational institutions, death and divorce, etc. are some of the causes of rosacea. However, when you have the regular problem that non rosacea sufferers have with the additional problems of redness and rosacea papules, seborrheic dermatitis and acne pimples at ages of 25 to 55 and still not being an alcoholic or teenager causes 'stress in itself'. The rosacea stress and and the 'regular work day' can lead to what is known as 'Rosacea Burnout'. This stage is when you are beyond exhaustion with family, friends, other work peers or students, and also with your dermatologist. It is when you are drained of all physical, spiritual, emotional reserves and sometimes "financial reserves" and when when you feel as though you just can't fight this red battle any longer....then you may possible consider the outreach of The Rosacea Support Group ! If you reach the 'Rosacea Burnout' stage, then you are at danger of ending up with family member, friends and professional peers that 'feel sorry for you, but tend to avoid you, and your life is one without job promotions, romantic dates, or a lonely 'shut in' at home reading a book or watching television. We as rosacea sufferers need care as our families often depend on us for their basic needs of food, rent or mortgage payments, clothing, etc. And most of all we need friends that can understand what we are 'going through' so thus the Rosacea Support Group maybe be an enjoyable group for you to join !

The Rosacea Support Group helps you see that your situation is not unique, that you are not alone in your feelings and experiences with your present and past experiences. Just as importantly, you can use The Rosacea Support as a resource to find other people who have struggled with the same problems as you and have ended up on the 'high side' in their rosacea experiences. As a rosacea sufferer, you may begin to rely more on your informal intimate network of rosacea sufferers rosacea support than your dermatologist or your 'normal friends. So their are not dangers of 'privacy invasion or leakage' on Rosacea Support Group. You do not have to use your 'real name' but please be honest in your presentation and follow the Rotary Four Way Test provided above and in the introductory message.

The Effects of Moisturizers on Rosacea

Moisturizers can help protect the rosacea skin from dryness. The rosacea sufferer must be careful to choose a moisturizer which will not clog the pores and does not contain ingredients which can further irritate or damage the rosacea sensitive skin. Ingredients to avoid include but are not limited to anti-wrinkle preparation, retinols, vitamin A or C, fruit acids, as well as some preservatives in creams and lotions.

One option is Jojoba oil. Jojoba oil is quite similar to the oil produced by your own body. Another good choice would be argan oil.

Rhinophyma And Rosacea

Rhinophyma develops when severe rosacea is left untreated over a long period of time. The papules gradually increase in size. When these nodules converge on the nose, they give the nose a swollen, red appearance. This type of rosacea is characterized by an enlarged, bulbous red nose. Both the oil-producing (sebaceous) glands and the surrounding connective tissues of the nose enlarge, and thick, knobby bumps may develop.

Rhinophyma sufferers often have to deal with the widely held belief that a red, swollen nose is the sign of heavy alcohol consumption. In fact, alcoholism has nothing to do with the condition. Men are more likely than women to develop rhinophyma, although women may develop large nodules on the cheeks.

Vascular Rosacea

Another type of rosacea, called vascular rosacea, is commonly seen in women. The condition is due to swollen blood vessels in the face, resulting in puffy appearance to the skin that feels warm and uncomfortable (telangiectasia). As a result, flushing and redness become persistent and, eventually, permanent.

Blood vessels under the skin of the face may dilate (enlarge), showing through the skin as small red lines or spider veins.

Some people also develop inflammatory rosacea. With this form of the disease, people develop pink bumps (papules) and pimples. Thin red lines that look like a road map may also appear as the small blood vessels of the face get larger and show through the skin.

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Is There Really An Acne Rosacea?

Acne rosacea is a misleading term: rosacea and acne are two entirely different conditions, although they can and do appear together. Clogged skin pores and bacterial infections cause acne. Rosacea occurs when blood vessels move to just below the skin's surface, leading to blotchy red patches. These blotches fade and then return, becoming more permanent over time.

The blackheads, whiteheads and pimples associated with acne are not associated with rosacea. Red bumps called papules are. These papules are usually solid and hard. The papules range in size from small bumps that resemble the measles or chicken pox, all the way to larger, penny-shaped nodules. Left untreated, larger nodules can cause rhinophyma.

Many of the harsher products and treatments used in the treatment of acne can lead to the on set or progression of rosacea.

Classic Rosacea Symptoms

Rosacea has long been thought to be a genetic, chronic skin condition that most commonly occurs on the nose, forehead, cheekbones, and chin. Because they often re-occur, the episodes of breakouts are called flares. In one of these rosacea flares, the blood vessels close to the surface of the skin become dilated, resulting in blotchy red areas with small bumps consisting of a small, red areas or bumps of inflamed skin lesions called papules. These differ from acne pimples in that they do not contain pus. Rosacea usually begins with frequent flushing of the face, particularly the nose and cheeks. This facial flushing is caused by the swelling of the blood vessels under the skin. The facial redness can come and go, eventually becoming more permanent. Furthermore, the skin tissue can swell and thicken and may be tender and sensitive to the touch.

Understanding The Pre-Rosacea Symptoms

The earliest recognizable stage of rosacea is called pre-rosacea. Its classic symptoms are patchy flushing or facial redness and inflammation, particularly on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and around the mouth. It typically appears between the ages of 30 and 50 and affects more women than men. Because the symptoms emerge slowly, rosacea may initially be mistaken for sunburn, leading to a delay in treatment.

Although it may first appear as early as the teen years, rosacea most frequently begins when sufferers enter their 30s, 40s or 50s as a flushing or transient redness on the cheeks or nose, and in some cases the chin or forehead. In this earliest stage, some sufferers may report stinging or burning sensations, including the feeling of dry or tight skin.

The signs and symptoms at this stage include frequent episodes of flushing and redness of the face and neck that come and go. Many things can trigger a flushing episode, including exposure to the sun, emotional stress, alcohol, spicy foods, exercise, cold wind, hot foods and beverages, and hot baths. What causes flushing in one person may not cause a problem in another.