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Rosacea: causes, symptoms and treatment

Rosacea: causes, symptoms and treatment

Rosacea is a long-term inflammatory skin condition that causes persistent facial redness, flushing, visible blood vessels, and sometimes acne-like breakouts. It most commonly affects the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead, and symptoms can fluctuate depending on subtype, triggers, and individual skin sensitivity.

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What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin condition that presents with persistent skin redness, flushing, and bumps on the face. It most often appears on the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. Although anyone can develop rosacea, it tends to be more common in women, particularly those with lighter skin.

 

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition characterised by facial redness, flushing, sensitivity, and inflammation. Over time, untreated rosacea may progress, leading to persistent redness, visible blood vessels (often referred to as red thread veins), inflammatory lesions, or thickening of the skin in certain areas.

 

Rosacea is not contagious and is not caused by poor hygiene or skincare. Instead, it is thought to result from a combination of genetic factors, unstable facial blood vessels, immune responses, and environmental influences. With the right diagnosis and management plan, symptoms can usually be well controlled and flare-ups reduced over time.

rosacea treatment in london

Types of Rosacea

At PHI Clinic on Harley Street in London, doctors treat rosacea medically. Treatment plans are designed to calm inflammation, reduce redness, and restore skin health using evidence-based therapies tailored to each individual.

 

Rosacea can present in different forms, and many individuals experience features of more than one subtype:

 

  • Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR): persistent redness, facial flushing, and visible capillaries or small blood vessels
  • Papulopustular rosacea: redness with small bumpy spots, including acne-like bumps and pustules
  • Phymatous rosacea: thickening of the skin, which can lead to a red or swollen nose
  • Ocular rosacea: irritation, dryness, redness, or discomfort affecting the eyes and eyelids

 

Identifying the dominant subtype helps guide the most appropriate rosacea treatment approach.

What Causes Rosacea?

The exact cause of rosacea is not fully understood, but it is known to involve abnormalities in facial blood vessels, inflammatory responses, and skin barrier function. Genetics can play a role, particularly in individuals with fair or sensitive skin.

 

Common rosacea triggers include heat, sun exposure, alcohol, spicy foods, stress, temperature changes, and irritating skincare products. Triggers vary for each person, and recognising them is an important part of long-term rosacea management.

How To Treat Rosacea Effectively

Rosacea treatment focuses on controlling symptoms rather than curing the condition. Treatment usually combines different approaches and is tailored to each individual.

 

Management may include medical-grade skincare, prescription treatments, and lifestyle adjustments. When suitable, medical professionals like our team here at PHI Clinic may also use laser or light-based therapies. The aim is to reduce redness and inflammation, strengthen the skin barrier, and minimise flare-ups.

 

At PHI Clinic in London, all rosacea treatment plans are personalised following a detailed consultation to ensure they are safe, effective, and appropriate for your skin type and rosacea subtype.

rosacea london treatment phi clinic

Rosacea Treatment London - PHI Clinic

Rosacea treatment prices

Treatments for redness and rosacea

Rosacea treatment video

Laser and Light Treatments for Rosacea

Laser and light-based treatments can be effective for managing certain rosacea symptoms, particularly persistent redness and visible blood vessels.

 

Technologies such as Excel V+, Vbeam, and IPL treatment are used to target dilated blood vessels beneath the skin. These treatments deliver controlled energy that helps reduce redness, facial flushing, visible veins, broken blood vessels, and red thread veins over a series of sessions.

 

Laser and light treatments are not suitable for every type of rosacea and are always selected based on individual symptoms, skin type, and medical assessment. They are typically used as part of a broader rosacea management plan rather than as a standalone solution.

Skincare and Lifestyle Management

Gentle, medical-grade skincare is an important part of managing rosacea. Products are chosen to support the skin barrier, reduce inflammation, and minimise irritation.

 

Lifestyle management may also help reduce flare-ups and includes sun protection, trigger avoidance, and simplifying skincare routines. Education and consistency are key to achieving long-term improvement.

 

What Results Can I Expect?

Rosacea is a chronic condition, so treatment is aimed at long-term control rather than cure. With appropriate management, most patients experience a noticeable reduction in redness, flushing, sensitivity, and flare-up frequency.

 

Improvements develop gradually and are best maintained through ongoing care, follow-up appointments, and adherence to personalised advice. Expected outcomes vary depending on rosacea subtype and severity.

 

Is Rosacea Treatment Safe?

Rosacea treatments at PHI Clinic are performed by medically trained practitioners using evidence-based technologies and protocols.

Doctors always assess treatment suitability on an individual basis, taking into account skin sensitivity, medical history, and the specific type of rosacea present. Patient safety and skin health are prioritised at every stage of treatment.

 

Safe and effective treatment

Your safety is our top priority and making our patients feel welcomed and reassured when entering PHI Clinic. To ensure maximum standard of patient care, all of our treatments are only ever carried out by our experienced and highly qualified team, who receive regular in-house and external training from industry experts. 


At PHI Clinic we do not offer same day treatment as initial consultation to ensure patients have time to reflect on their bespoke treatment plan before choosing to proceed. 

inside PHI Clinic London

Rosacea frequently asked questions

Location
 

PHI Clinic
102 Harley Street,
London,
W1G 7JB,
United Kingdom

Tel: 02070345999

Opening Hours
 

Monday & Tuesday - 9:30am to 6:00pm
Wednesday & Thursday - 9:30am to 8:00pm
Friday - 9:30am to 5:00pm
Saturday - 11:30am to 12:30pm
Sunday - Closed
 

Opening times can change, if your appointment is outside of these times please contact the clinic for confirmation.