Question: What is rosacea, why does it occur and what are the best ways to treat it?
Answer: According to dermatologist Dr. Doris Day, rosacea—a common inflammatory disorder that takes the form of redness on the cheeks and chin, visible blood vessels, bumps and pimples in the middle of the face—"is something you grow into rather than out of, usually starting near or after age 30." The exact underlying causes of the skin disorder aren't known, but it's often triggered by stress, alcohol, extreme changes in temperature, spices, sun exposure and hot baths—"anything that causes increased blood flow can aggravate rosacea," says Day, who adds that recent studies have further solidified that the microscopic and generally harmless Demodex mites that live on everyone's skin may be a trigger, too. When it comes to treatment options for rosacea, OTC products are not usually effective and may even aggravate the condition. A better approach, says Day, is avoidance of triggers combined with a variety of prescription medications: "If you're suffering from the bumps and pimples of rosacea, there is a new FDA-approved treatment called Soolantra Cream; for treating the redness of rosacea, try Mirvaso Gel, the only FDA approved treatment for the persistent facial redness of rosacea. I also commonly use Oracea. Lasers and Intense Pulsed Light treatments, on the other hand, may be used for the potential vascular manifestations of rosacea, such as to remove visible blood vessels or reduce severe redness."