Psychosomatics of rosacea (facial redness)
Rosacea is a long-term condition of the facial skin: the cheeks, nose and forehead turn red, small blood vessels show, and there may be spots. The cause is unknown and rosacea cannot be cured, but treatment controls the symptoms well. Flare-ups are triggered by sun, heat, alcohol, spicy food, hot drinks and stress. If your face often flushes, see a GP or a dermatologist. The Ladder method adds questions about where you have to hold yourself back.
Updated
When to see a doctor
Book a doctor’s appointment if you notice:
- Your face flushes: nose, cheeks, forehead, chin
- The redness lasts longer each time or no longer fades
- Tiny red blood vessels are visible
- Pink bumps and spots without blackheads
- Burning or stinging from water and skincare products
- Redness gets worse after wine, spicy food, hot tea, sun or nerves
Start with a GP or a dermatologist: rosacea is visible on examination, and the doctor will tell it apart from acne and dermatitis and choose treatment. If your eyes and eyelids are affected, see an eye doctor.
What medicine knows
The NHS describes rosacea as a long-term skin condition that mainly affects the face. It is more common in women and people with lighter skin, and according to MedlinePlus it mostly affects middle-aged and older adults. Rosacea is not contagious and is not caused by poor hygiene.
At first the redness comes and goes: on the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin, sometimes the neck and chest, and water or skincare products may burn or sting. Later the redness can become constant, with tiny visible blood vessels, pink bumps and spots, and swelling around the eyes. Sometimes the eyelids and eyes are affected. Thickened skin on the nose is rare and appears only after many years (NHS).
The cause of rosacea is unknown. MedlinePlus says you may be more likely to get it if you blush easily or it runs in your family. The NHS lists things that make symptoms worse: alcohol, spicy food, hot drinks, sunlight, hot or cold temperatures, intense exercise such as running, and stress. Rosacea can look like acne, dermatitis or lupus, so a doctor makes the diagnosis.
Rosacea cannot be cured, but treatment controls it, and without treatment it can get worse. A doctor prescribes creams or gels, sometimes a 6 to 16 week course of antibiotics, and refers you to a dermatologist if needed (NHS). Daily sunscreen of at least SPF 30, gentle skincare for sensitive skin, protecting your face from cold and heat, and a diary of your triggers all help.
In the Ladder method
In the Ladder method rosacea is not explained by "suppressed emotions". Its cause is unknown, a doctor treats it, and it is not your fault that you have it. But the NHS lists stress among the things that make redness worse, so questions for yourself make sense here.
Everyone sees your face. Many women with rosacea say that the hardest part is not the skin but the fear that people will notice: if I blush, everyone can see I'm nervous. Nerves bring on a flush, the flush brings on shame, and the circle closes.
On the ladder this shows up as the step "I must not show what I feel". You can work through it separately. A doctor chooses the skin treatment, the method does not replace it.
These are questions for reflection, not an explanation of what causes the condition and not a treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my face turn red with rosacea?
The cause of rosacea is unknown. The NHS lists things that make redness worse: alcohol, spicy food, hot drinks, sun, heat and cold, intense exercise and stress. Write down what comes before a flush: that makes it easier to find your triggers and discuss them with a doctor.
Can rosacea come from nerves?
Nerves alone do not explain rosacea, its cause is unknown. But stress is on the list of things that make symptoms worse (NHS). So it helps both to get treatment from a doctor and to look at the tension in your life. In the Ladder method this is a separate step, an addition to treatment, not a replacement.
Can rosacea be cured for good?
According to the NHS rosacea cannot be cured, but treatment keeps symptoms under control, and without treatment it can get worse. A doctor prescribes creams, gels or a course of antibiotics. Daily sunscreen of at least SPF 30 and gentle skincare help every day.
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Psychosomatics does not replace tests and treatment. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.