Rosacea is a facial rash that often occurs as individuals get older. It is more likely to occur in women and often starts to begin in women at an earlier age, and while men often get it later in life, their faces can be more seriously affected by it, and are at more risk of developing thickened skin from it. Although there isn’t a cure for rosacea, it can be managed, and your loved one’s concerns should be acknowledged and given merit. Here are a few important things to know about rosacea and how senior home care can help.
Rosacea Symptoms
Rosacea usually occurs on the face and is more often on the cheeks, nose, and chin but can also appear on the scalp and chest. It is defined as having red patches or bumps on the skin that may look like an acne breakout or a bad sunburn. The skin can feel tight, itchy, and sensitive to touch. Your loved one may notice tiny blood vessels that look like thin red lines appearing in the affected area and the skin may thicken up and become patchy.
Rosacea Treatment
If your loved one has noticed this red rash that isn’t going away (or goes away and then keeps coming back), your loved one should visit his dermatologist to determine if it is rosacea. While there isn’t a diagnostic exam that can determine if it is rosacea, the dermatologist will rule out other causes and then with careful observation will determine if it is rosacea.
The dermatologist might prescribe some medications to treat the condition such as topical creams, ointments, antibiotics, and possibly eye drops if it is bothering the eyes. Those treatments should help your loved one manage his rosacea, but they are not always able to get rid of it completely.
Living with Rosacea
Your elderly loved one may feel self-conscious going out with the rash on his face. He might feel others are looking at him or it may even be physically uncomfortable in certain environments. Honoring how he’s feeling about himself and his condition is important to help him manage the symptoms while still also going out and enjoying life even when his rash is flaring up. You and his senior home care team can help him manage his symptoms in these ways.
- Eat less spicy food. Spicy foods can sometimes trigger the rash, increasing its intensity. If your loved one finds that his face flushes more after some hot wings, he might need to make some adjustments to his eating habits.
- Avoid extreme heat and cold. Temperatures that often cause the skin to become dry and cracked normally can do a lot of damage to the rosacea rash. Your loved one may prefer to have someone like his senior home care provider run his errands when the weather is extreme. When he has to go out, have his senior home care provider help him protect his sensitive skin with a wide-brimmed hat in the summer and a soft scarf in the winter.
- At night, your loved one should wash his face in warm water with a pH-balanced soap to prevent irritation. He might also consider applying a gentle moisturizer that has petroleum jelly or glycerin.
- Eliminate smoking and alcohol as both of these can cause rosacea appearance.
Finally, be understanding of your loved one if he’s embarrassed about how his face looks. Help him find ways to be comfortable as he goes out. It might mean using some makeup to cover up the worst of it, or having him wear a face mask if he desires. Helping him find ways to live with it will make sure he can still enjoy all that life has to offer.
If you or a senior loved one needs senior home care in Union, NJ or surrounding areas, please call our friendly staff at 908-590-1759.
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