Rosacea Specialist

If you have rosacea, you won’t be surprised to learn that more than 40% of patients with rosacea avoid socializing because they’re embarrassed by their appearance. Tarek Fakhouri, MD, at Skin Cancer Specialists, understands the impact of facial redness, visible veins, and blemishes on your self-confidence. He offers compassionate care and expert treatments that effectively relieve rosacea’s symptoms. To schedule a consultation, call the office in Sugarland, Texas, or book an appointment online.

Rosacea Q & A

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is an inflammatory skin disorder that affects your face. You may notice that you blush more easily than other people, then gradually, the redness becomes permanent and spreads across your face. In addition to facial redness, rosacea causes several symptoms, depending on the type of rosacea:

Erythrotelangiectatic rosacea: redness, visible blood vessels, flushing that lasts for days
Papulopustular rosacea: redness, swelling, and acne-like breakouts
Phymatous rosacea: thickened skin with a bumpy texture
Ocular rosacea: irritated eyes, sensitivity to light, swollen eyelids or stye-like bump

If you develop rosacea symptoms, it’s important to get help from Dr. Fakhouri. There isn’t a cure, but professional care can relieve your symptoms and help prevent future flare-ups.

What triggers rosacea?

Rosacea typically comes and goes, so you’ll have a period of remission followed by a flare-up. Flare-ups are triggered by variables such as:

Extreme temperatures
Exposure to sunlight
Hot or alcoholic beverages
Spicy foods
Wind
Exercise
Stress

You may also find that cosmetics and skin care products trigger a flare-up.

What causes rosacea?

Rosacea develops from a mix of genetic and environmental factors. Although its exact cause is still unclear, the experts believe it may arise from problems with your blood vessels, sun damage affecting connective tissues, or an immune system reaction.

Women are more likely than men to have rosacea. Your risk for rosacea is higher if you have a family history or if you’re fair-skinned with blond hair and blue eyes.

How is rosacea treated?

After examining your skin and evaluating your medical history, Dr. Fakhouri develops a customized treatment plan that includes one or more of the following:

Flare-up prevention

To prevent flare-ups, you’ll need to determine what triggers your rosacea and plan how to avoid them.

Skin care

Protecting your skin from the sun is a top priority. Dr. Fakhouri also recommends a skin care routine to keep skin irritation to a minimum, including the best moisturizer for your skin. Moisturizing is essential to maintain a healthy skin barrier and prevent flare-ups.