If you’re seeing a bit of tint to your cheeks lately that was there before, it’s possible that you may have rosacea. It starts as a bit of blush and then you may notice tiny broken capillaries in the cheeks, nose and/or jaw line. It can become more pronounced with heat, stress, alcohol or spicy foods.
Rosacea is a chronic, but not dangerous, inflammation of the skin. When left untreated it can (but doesn’t always) progress to a thickening in the skin that appears almost like acne. It can develop at any age, but primary after the age of 40. It’s graded from 1 to 4 in terms of severity, with 4 being the worst.
Treatment in our office consists of the Fraxel laser, which offers a wonderful way to reduce redness so you can feel—and look—more comfortable and prevent rosacea from developing further. If your rosacea has progressed into stages 3 or 4, you may need oral antibiotics as well.
Therefore, avoid guesswork and come in to see me if you have concerns about potential rosacea. You certainly don’t want this to get worse, and we can treat it and contain it best if you don’t wait.
To your health and beauty,
Dr. Kent Hasen
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