Rosacea specialist in London 

Rosacea is a long term, inflammatory condition, typically characterised by facial redness, flushing, broken veins and sometimes swelling on the face. The exact cause of the condition is unknown but flare ups can be triggered by alcohol, spicy foods, or stressful life events.

It’s estimated that 1 in 10 people have rosacea, with varying degrees of severity. It’s most common among women between the ages of 30-50, but men and children can develop it too. It affects all skin types, though traditionally it has been under-diagnosed in people with darker skin.

Seeking help early is a good idea - we can do a significant amount to reduce symptoms like redness and inflammation, and prevent flare ups. 

Rosacea symptoms vary from person to person, and can worsen during some periods and become less severe at others. 

Initial symptoms can include:

• Redness that looks like blushing across your nose, cheeks, forehead, chin, neck and chest. Usually lasts a few minutes and comes and goes (it’s harder to see in darker skin tones)
• Burning or stinging when using water or skincare products

Worsening symptoms can include:

• Persistent redness on your cheeks, nose and forehead, that looks like blushing or sunburn
• Tiny broken blood vessels that don’t go away
• Whiteheads and swollen red bumps on your face, sometimes filled with a yellowish liquid. Can also appear on your neck, chest or scalp
• Dry skin
• Patches on the skin
• Swelling, particularly around your eyes
• Sore eyelids or crusts around your eyelashes
• Bloodshot eyes, burning sensations in the eyes making them dry and sensitive
• Thickened or scarred skin, particularly around the nose. More common in men

If you are worried you may have rosacea, it’s important to seek help. Early diagnosis and treatment can help manage your symptoms and sometimes prevent them from getting worse.

The exact cause of rosacea isn’t known, but it’s thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, we do know that certain things can make it worse. 

Understanding your particular triggers can help you manage the condition and reduce the severity of flare ups.

Common triggers include:

• Alcohol
• Spicy food
• Hot drinks
• Sun exposure
• Exposure to extreme temperatures
• Certain skincare products or makeup
• Aerobic exercise, particularly running
• Stress and emotional situations

There isn’t a cure for rosacea, but there are effective ways to manage and reduce symptoms.

Our Rosacea Dermatologists are highly experienced in diagnosing and treating the condition, and will firstly examine your skin to determine the exact nature of your condition. They can then discuss the different treatment options and provide expert advice on how to reduce your symptoms and the frequency of your flare ups.  

Treatment includes:

• Prescription creams: Topical medication such as metronidazole (an antibiotic) and ivermectin (an antiparasitic) can quickly reduce redness and inflammation, including lumps and pustules
• Anti inflammatories: Over the counter inflammatories such as azelaic acid and niacinamide are milder, but effective at calming and minimising spots
• Oral antibiotics: If topical antibiotics or other treatments haven’t worked, a course of antibiotics can reduce redness and inflammation
• Laser and light treatment: These may be recommended to remove broken blood vessels or to treat thickened skin
• Electrolysis: To reduce the appearance of blood vessels

In addition to medication, there are self care strategies that can help control your rosacea symptoms. Our Consultant Dermatologists have extensive experience in treating rosacea, and can spend time identifying triggers and create a holistic treatment plan. 

Self management strategies include:  

• Using gentle cleansers and oil-free, water-based skincare products
• Avoiding products that contain alcohol, menthol, witch hazel, exfoliating agents
• Using soothing moisturisers, especially those containing ceramides, which help rebuild your skin barrier
• Always wearing sunscreen, of SPF 30 or more
• Choosing non-comedogenic make-up, i.e. those that don’t clog your pores
• Avoiding alcohol as much as possible
• Avoiding your known triggers, whether they are spicy foods, alcohol, stress or strenuous exercise

If you’re unsure of what’s causing your flare ups, it’s a good idea to keep a diary of your diet, skincare, and daily events, so that you can better understand your personal triggers. 

Our team of highly skilled Rosacea specialists in London offers extensive experience in understanding the complex factors that lie behind rosacea. We are renowned clinicians, working within the UK’s leading NHS hospitals, committed to exceptional care. 

We provide: 

• Detailed consultation and expert skin examination to accurately diagnose whether or not you have rosacea
• Any additional tests you might need
• Dedicated support and guidance to work out triggers
• Ongoing care and treatment to manage and control symptoms
• Evidence based medication – including topical and oral medication to quickly reduce redness and soothe affected skin
• An integrated team, including an endocrinologist and nutritional therapist, for holistic treatment
• Short-notice appointments at a time to suit you