Rosacea and hormonal skin changes appear to be very similar. Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition. This appears as flushing in the midfacial skin. Rosacea usually begins from age 30-60, but hormone fluctuations around perimenopause and menopause can cause a variety of skin irritations and flushing. Symptoms may vary from burning and stinging, to dryness and a crackled feeling.
Males and females are equally affected by rosacea. However, we have never identified male hormone triggers for rosacea. If you have hot flashes or night sweats accompanied by hormone imbalance you will be more likely to aggravate any rosacea you do have.
Emotional stress triggered by the hormonal shifts of menopause can also lead to worsening of mild cases of rosacea. Actually, using the SSRIs and SNRIs for hot flashes and emotional swings in menopause has been associated with decreased rosacea. Skin improvement with SSRIs and SNRIs lean away from rosacea and indicate hormonal skin changes. So don’t let mood disorders go untreated, even your skin suffers!
Since the ovaries do produce some prostaglandins the secretion of these compounds can affect blood flow and lead to dilation of any of the vessels on the cheeks.
Hormone therapy in menopause reduces the odds of ever getting rosacea. Moreover, sun protection both decreases odds of getting rosacea and prevents worsening.
Proper diet, sleep, exercise, effective daily skin cleansing, and hormonal balance are all ways to decrease rosacea. Depending on your symptoms we can advise skin care and cosmetic therapy. Our BBL treatments will calm the redness and eliminate many of the broken blood vessels in the treatment area. Understanding your triggers and regulating any hormonal triggers improves treatment outcomes.
Medicaitons for rosacea include the following:
- Topical drugs that reduce flushing. For mild to moderate rosacea, your doctor may prescribe a cream or gel that you apply to the affected skin. Brimonidine (Mirvaso) and oxymetazoline (Rhofade) reduce flushing by constricting blood vessels.
- Oral antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe an oral antibiotic such as doxycycline (Oracea, others) for moderate to severe rosacea with bumps and pimples.
- Oral acne drug. If you have severe rosacea that doesn’t respond to other therapies, your doctor may suggest isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, others). It’s a powerful oral acne drug that also helps clear up acne-like lesions of rosacea.
Eliminate skin inflammation with diet and lifestyle as first line therapies. Seeing your health care provider for an accurate diagnosis is important, we are accepting new clients at Women’s Health Practice and Hada Cosmetic Medicine.
