How to Get Rid of Rosacea Permanently

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes redness, enlarged (dilated) blood vessels, and pimples on the face that can sometimes be painful.

It’s more common in women and people with lighter skin tones and dealing with frequent flare-ups can be frustrating. However, although rosacea is a long-term skin condition, it can be effectively managed.

In this guide, we will explain what rosacea is, its common triggers, and how you can effectively treat rosacea with medical and natural remedies.

Rosacea is a common and chronic skin condition that causes redness (flushing) on your face, and affects around 5% of the global population. It can also cause enlarged blood vessels and small, pus-filled lumps to appear. Some people may experience flare-ups that last for weeks or months.

The 4 most common types of rosacea are:

1. Papulopustular – the most common, type causes red spots and pus-filled pimples that look like acne.
2. Erythematotelangiectatic – persistent facial redness and visible blood vessels, causes flare-ups that can come and go.
3. Phymatous – causes the skin to swell, thicken, and become bumpy, especially around the nose.
4. Ocular – causes inflamed, bloodshot, or watery eyes and you may get painful bumps on your eyelids.

There’s also some crossover and it’s possible to have multiple types of rosacea at once.

What are the common symptoms of rosacea?

The main sign of rosacea is redness that can spread across the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin, and can look like blushing.

Other rosacea symptoms include:

• dry skin
• swelling, particularly around the eyes
• sore eyelids and crust formation around the roots of the eyelashes
• thickened skin, mainly around the nose – usually after many years of having rosacea
• irritated eyes
• raised red patches on the skin

What triggers rosacea flare-ups?

Everyone who experiences rosacea will have specific triggers that cause their symptoms to flare up. Some of the potential rosacea triggers are:

• stress
• alcohol
• spicy foods
• hot and cold temperatures
• aerobic exercise
• sunlight
• hot drinks
• hormone changes

How long does a flare-up last?

Rosacea flare-ups can last for a few days to several months. How long they last for can vary from person to person and they can come on suddenly and fade over time.

The exact cause of rosacea is not fully understood. However, it is thought that it could be caused by a combination of factors, including:

• genetics – your genetic make-up may contribute to the development of rosacea with one study showing that genetics contributed 46% to rosacea grading scores
• dysregulated immune response – an altered immune response may be involved in the development of rosacea
• blood vessel abnormalities – some research suggests that abnormalities in the facial blood vessels may contribute to rosacea
• sunlight or UV exposure – the most common trigger for rosacea
• Demodex folliculorum mites colonisation – a parasitic mite that lives in hair follicles around the nose and eyelashes and is found more frequently in people who experience rosacea

There is no cure for rosacea, but there are medical treatments available to help manage the symptoms.

If red bumps and pimples are some of your rosacea symptoms, your doctor may prescribe topical creams or gels, or oral treatments to help manage them.

Topical treatments

Topical treatments like creams or gels are usually prescribed first for managing rosacea symptoms. They can include:

• ivermectin cream – a relatively new medication that may be more effective than other rosacea treatments with some studies showing that it can clear rosacea symptoms in 40% of patients – available under the brand name Soolantra
• metronidazole cream or gel – an antibiotic topical solution that treats the inflammatory bumps and pimples by killing the bacteria growing on your skin
• azelaic acid cream or gel – available as Finacea 15% gel, reduces inflammation in rosacea and a significant improvement in rosacea symptoms is possible after 15 weeks of treatment
• brimonidine gel – also known as Mirvaso is a prescription-only medication that can treat facial redness in rosacea patients by narrowing the blood vessels in the face to treat redness

Oral treatments

If rosacea symptoms are severe, an oral antibiotic may be prescribed to reduce skin inflammation. They can take up to 6 weeks to work and include:

• tetracycline
• doxycycline
• erythromycin

Another oral medication that may be prescribed for rosacea is oral isotretinoin, a type of retinoid derived from vitamin A. It is usually prescribed for severe acne, but low doses can help 57% of people with papulopustular rosacea reach a 90% reduction in inflammatory lesions compared to 10% given a placebo.

Oral isotretinoin is a strong medication and can cause several side effects. It is also not suitable during pregnancy because it may cause birth defects. So, a doctor must assess if it is safe and suitable for you before you can obtain it.

Sometimes dermatologists may prescribe tablets to help manage the redness associated with rosacea, but it is unclear how effective these medications are. They include:

• clonidine which helps reduce flushing
• anxiety medications to reduce the appearance of blushing
• beta-blockers to narrow facial blood vessels and reduce flushing

Laser and light therapy

Laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy can help to reduce redness and visible blood vessels in people with rosacea.

Lasers and IPL produce narrow beams of light that are directed at the visible blood vessels in the skin. The heat generated by the lasers causes the dilated blood vessels to shrink so they can no longer be seen, resulting in minimal damage or scarring to the surrounding tissue.

These treatments are not available on the NHS and you will need to see a dermatologist to find out if they will work for you. Because you’ll need to pay for them privately, laser and IPL treatments can be expensive, especially as you may need 2 to 4 rounds for it to be effective. Prices can start from £125 for a very small area to over £300 for your whole face per session.

However, IPL can be effective for rosacea with one study showing an average clearance of 77% for redness which was maintained for 51 months.

If you have mild rosacea or it is not caused by any serious underlying medical conditions, there are some natural and herbal remedies you can. These can improve its appearance, and range from an anti-inflammatory diet to herbal and alternative treatments.

Alongside natural and home remedies, making some lifestyle changes can be effective for managing and preventing rosacea flare-ups, and help you avoid your triggers.

Some of the lifestyle changes you should consider are:

• manage stress and anxiety with exercise, yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises
• keep a food diary to help you identify any food or drink triggers
• choose sensitive skincare products that are fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and non-comedogenic formulas to reduce irritation and stop your pores becoming blocked
• eat a diet that incorporates anti-inflammatory foods like fruits and vegetables, nuts, and oily fish
• wear sunscreen daily to protect your face from the sun’s rays which can also trigger rosacea flare-ups
• buy a humidifier to help add moisture to the air in your room and prevent dry skin and flare-ups
• pat your skin dry after washing as rubbing can cause irritation to rosacea-prone skin

Rosacea is a common and chronic skin condition that affects 5% of people. It causes facial redness that can look like blushing, pimples, and enlarged blood vessels.

Although there is no cure for rosacea, a combination of over-the-counter, prescription, and herbal remedies alongside lifestyle changes can effectively manage the symptoms and prevent flare-ups.

At Superdrug Online Doctor, we can offer a range of treatments for rosacea-prone skin, or if you’re not sure if your symptoms are rosacea-related, you can try our skin condition diagnosis service for a prompt doctor’s diagnosis.

Is rosacea the same as acne?

No, acne and rosacea are not the same, but they can look similar with facial redness and bumps and pimples. However, rosacea causes persistent facial redness or flushing and visible blood vessels, while acne is usually caused by clogged hair follicles.

Does rosacea get worse with age?

Yes, rosacea can worsen with age and the condition becomes more complex and hard to treat after the age of 45.

Can rosacea be itchy?

Yes, rosacea can cause itchiness. But not everyone will experience this as a symptom. Other symptoms include pain, burning, or a stinging sensation.

What can I buy over the counter to treat rosacea?

You can buy creams, moisturisers, and sunscreens over-the-counter in most pharmacies to improve the appearance of rosacea symptoms. Low-dose azelaic acid is available without a prescription to reduce redness and blemishes caused by rosacea.

Green-tinted moisturisers can help to tone down redness while gentle cleansers, toner, and moisturisers can help you build a healthy skincare routine to prevent and manage rosacea flare-ups. Superdrug Online Doctor can also provide a range of rosacea treatments online.

Is rosacea contagious?

No, rosacea is not a contagious condition. Instead, it is thought to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

Can you pop rosacea bumps?

No, if you pop rosacea bumps you risk the spread of infection, further irritation, and it could leave scarring.

Is salicylic acid good for rosacea?

No, salicylic acid is not recommended for rosacea because it has exfoliant properties which can irritate the skin.