Understanding Rosacea with Dr. Shehla Ebrahim
Dr. Shehla Ebrahim, a skin care physician running a teledermatology clinic known as Dr. E Dermatology, was recently interviewed on to go over all things rosacea!
In this blog series, you will gain a deeper understanding of:
- Common Signs and Symptoms of Rosacea
- Top Skincare Tips for Rosacea Control
- Top Rosacea Treatment in Vancouver, BC
So what is Rosacea anyway?
Rosacea is far more than what meets the eye. Beyond the facial redness or seemingly extra “blushing”, rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease that can lead to redness, papules and pustules, bulging of the skin, and issues with the eyes. Though rosacea can be controlled with proper skin care and medical intervention, there is no cure.
What are common rosacea triggers?
The underlying cause of rosacea is unknown, though we do know that it tends to affect women more than men (although it is still a huge issue amongst men as well) and people in Northern Europe (that refer to it as the curse of the Celtic).
Rosacea is also said to be a genetic predisposition, making your genes a factor in your likelihood of developing it. Since there are no conclusive causes of rosacea, skin care physician Dr. Shehla Ebrahim uses the term “triggers” to explain why those with rosacea experience flare-ups.
Common triggers for rosacea flare-ups are:
- Exposure to sunlight
- Exposure to heat (hot climates)
- Physical and mental stress
- Alcohol consumption
- Consumption of hot and spicy food
- Consumption of dairy products
- Smoking
For food-induced rosacea, Dr. Shehla Ebrahim recommends all her patients keep a food diary to identify sensitivities and reasons for rosacea flare-ups.
What are the different stages of rosacea?
There are four stages of rosacea, which differ in severity. This makes it especially important to start treating it as soon as possible. Without proper rosacea treatment, you risk it developing in severity (or reaching the next stage).
- Vascular Rosacea. The first stage or rosacea is known as vascular rosacea. Common symptoms are redness of the cheeks and forehead (middle of the face) following one of the triggers listed above.
- Papulopustular Rosacea. The second stage of rosacea is Papulopustular Rosacea. In this stage, rosacea patients experience pus-filled bumps on the skin that resemble little blisters, or acne. At this stage, it is also common for your face to feel warm to touch, and for your skin to be itchy. Many people mistake this stage of rosacea with acne vulgaris.
One way to distinguish rosacea from acne vulgaris is to note where it is affecting you. If your “acne” and blisters present themselves on your face alone, it could be a sign of rosacea. On the other hand, if your acne and small blisters present themselves on the face, chest and back, it is likely acne vulgaris.
- Ocular Rosacea. The third stage of rosacea is ocular rosacea. This stage of rosacea affects the eyes, leaving them dry, itchy, red and burning.
- Rhinophyma Rosacea. The third and most severe stage of rosacea is Rhinophyma rosacea. During this stage, patients may experience bulging and deformation of the nose. The nose may also be red, itchy, and warm to the touch.
Takeaways
Though controllable, rosacea is not curable. This makes it especially important to find rosacea treatment while experiencing early signs so that it doesn’t progress to the next stage. If you are experiencing symptoms of redness, itching, or even pustules on the face, it is important to speak to a skin care physician as soon as you can. Dr. Shehla Ebrahim, a skin care physician based in Vancouver, BC offers online consultations for those seeking rosacea treatment.
To book a consultation click HERE or call 236-878-7002.