BEAUTY
RED ALERT
Journalist Rosie Green, who has rosacea, shares her ‘less is more’ approach to looking after her skin during the winter months
Rosacea is the common skin complaint you’ve perhaps never heard of. In fact, you may well have it and not know its name. So what is it? Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that often starts as blushing or flushing. In some people, it can progress to redness, then red bumps, pimples and patches and – in more severe cases – enlargement of the nose and eye irritation. It’s genetic. It’s not curable. And sometimes it hurts. Research says rosacea affects six million British people.
Physically, it can irritate and sting and create an uncomfortable hot, burning sensation. Mentally, though, it can be a downer. A survey by the National Rosacea Society in America revealed that 90% of people with rosacea say their condition has lowered their confidence and self-esteem, while 41% of them reported that it had caused them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements.