Rosacea treatment in Valencia

Rosacea is chronic facial skin inflammation in which blood vessels overreact to stimuli that have no effect in other people.

How rosacea develops, step by step

Normal skin

With a fine network of barely visible blood vessels.

Vasodilation

Certain triggers dilate vessels, causing flushing.

Persistent redness

Redness remains and some vessels become visible.

Inflammatory flare-ups

Inflamed spots develop in some forms.

There is no single cause. An altered immune response, vessel hyperreactivity, skin nerve involvement — explaining stinging and heat — and an impaired skin barrier that reduces tolerance of many cosmetics all contribute. Genetic predisposition also plays a role.

Triggers do not cause the condition, but intensify flare-ups in predisposed people. Common triggers are sunlight, heat and sudden temperature changes, cold and wind, strenuous exercise, stress, alcohol, spicy foods, very hot drinks and irritating cosmetics.

An honest qualification: there is no evidence-supported «rosacea diet». Identifying factors that repeatedly trigger your own flare-ups is useful, rather than indiscriminately eliminating foods or activities.

Rosacea is common in adulthood and occurs in all skin tones, although redness is harder to recognise in darker skin and diagnosis is often later.

Several components often coexist. Recognising them helps avoid both overtreatment and undertreatment.

Redness and visible vessels

Flushing episodes, persistent central facial redness and small dilated vessels, often with heat or stinging.

Inflammatory spots

Red raised lesions and spots with whitish contents, mainly on the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. Unlike acne, there are no blackheads.

Skin thickening

Over the years, some patients develop thicker skin, especially on the nose. This is more common in men and, contrary to common belief, is not caused by alcohol.

Ocular rosacea

Dryness, stinging, grittiness, watering or redness at the eyelid margins. It may precede skin lesions, and severity does not always match facial symptoms. Mention it during consultation, as treatment is available.

Rosacea or acne: how they differ

Both cause facial spots, but they are different conditions with different treatments.

The condition acne causes blackheads and whiteheads, often also affects the chest and back, and scars more readily. Rosacea mainly affects the centre of the face, produces no blackheads and involves flushing, visible vessels, burning and sometimes eye symptoms.

Both may coexist, which is one reason dermatological diagnosis is advisable before starting treatment.

Diagnosis is clinical: no blood test or imaging test confirms rosacea.

During consultation, we ask when redness began, how often it occurs, its triggers, cosmetics and treatments used, and any eye discomfort. We then examine redness type, visible vessels, inflammatory lesions and eyelid condition.

If redness is atypical, one-sided or accompanied by intense scaling, we assess other diagnoses before treatment, because not every red face is rosacea.

There is no single treatment for everyone. The choice depends on predominant components, severity, duration, skin tolerance and previous treatments.

Daily skincare

This is the foundation for everything else: gentle cleansing without abrasive products or exfoliants, a moisturiser supporting the skin barrier and daily sun protection. Introduce new products one at a time and stop them if persistent stinging occurs.

Treatments applied to the skin

Medical treatments target inflammation and lesions. Effects develop over several weeks rather than immediately, and treatment should continue for the prescribed duration.

Oral treatments

These are considered when inflammatory lesions predominate or topical treatments do not control them. They are prescribed for a defined period with clinical follow-up.

Vascular laser and intense pulsed light

The vascular laser and intense pulsed light target visible vessels and persistent redness that do not respond to anti-inflammatory treatment. Several sessions are usually needed, with parameters tailored to skin type.

Care for eye involvement

Eye symptoms require specific eyelid hygiene and lubrication measures, with joint ophthalmology assessment when necessary.

Several approaches are often combined because they address different problems: medical treatment targets inflammation and laser targets vessels. An important caution: prolonged use of potent anti-inflammatory facial creams without medical advice may worsen redness.

Realistic treatment results

Improvement is gradual. Spots usually respond before background redness, and visible vessels improve only with treatments specifically targeting them.

Rosacea is chronic and currently has no cure. Treatment controls it but does not remove predisposition; relapse after stopping is common, so a maintenance plan is usually considered.

No treatment addresses every component simultaneously. Products that temporarily reduce redness do not correct it permanently. Laser and intense pulsed light improve vessels and redness, but complete or permanent disappearance cannot be promised because new vessels may form over time.

Results vary between patients. Explaining these limitations from the outset allows realistic goals.

A dermatological assessment is advisable when:

• facial redness persists for weeks;
• flushing episodes recur and interfere with daily life;
• central facial spots develop without blackheads;
• acne treatments fail to improve lesions or worsen them;
• you notice stinging, heat or increasing cosmetic intolerance;
• visible vessels increase in number or size;
• nasal skin thickens;
• you have recurrent dry eyes, grittiness or red eyelids;
• redness worsened after potent anti-inflammatory creams were applied to the face;
• skin appearance affects your mood or social life.

At the first visit, we review redness onset and progression, identified triggers, cosmetics and treatments used, and eye symptoms.

We then examine the face to distinguish episodic flushing from persistent redness, assess visible vessels, count inflammatory lesions and check eyelid margins.

We define separate goals — reducing lesions, easing redness, treating vessels and caring for eye involvement — explain reasonable expectations for each, and agree maintenance between flare-ups.

At dermaMER, we treat rosacea at our dermatology clinic in Valencia as part of our medical dermatologycare. You can meet our dermatologists before your visit.

Is rosacea the same as acne?

No. They look similar but are different conditions with different treatments. Rosacea has no blackheads, but involves flushing, visible vessels and sometimes eye discomfort.

Can rosacea be cured?

It is chronic: it cannot be cured, but can be well controlled by identifying triggers and using appropriate treatment.

What worsens rosacea?

Sunlight, heat and sudden temperature changes, very strenuous exercise, stress, alcohol, spicy foods, very hot drinks and irritating cosmetics are common triggers. They affect people differently.

Is it contagious?

No. Rosacea does not spread between people and is not caused by poor hygiene.

Can I wear make-up with rosacea?

Yes. Choose gentle, non-irritating products and remove them carefully. Stop any product that causes persistent stinging.

How many laser sessions are needed for visible vessels?

There is no fixed number. It depends on vessel diameter and extent, skin type and individual response; this is assessed during consultation and reviewed between sessions.

Can rosacea affect the eyes?

Yes. It may cause dryness, stinging, grittiness or eyelid redness, even when facial rosacea is mild. Mention it, as treatment is available.

Does my health insurance cover rosacea treatment?

Dermatology consultation and diagnosis are usually covered by health insurance policies, although conditions vary by insurer and policy type. Vascular laser and IPL are usually excluded and paid for separately. Check the insurers we work with or ask before your appointment.