Q: Should I avoid day spa treatments such as facials, exfoliation and steaming if I have rosacea?

A. Although a pampering facial can be a wonderful experience, it may be important to take the time to find a licensed aesthetician who has knowledge of rosacea and experience working with people with the disorder. Be sure they know you have rosacea, and inform them of any types of products or ingredients that irritate your skin. Heat is one of the most common trigger factors cited in NRS patient surveys, so any kind of treatment that involves steam may cause your rosacea to flare up. Exfoliation may also aggravate your skin, and a good way to help avoid irritation is to find an aesthetician who has had good outcomes with people who have rosacea.

Q: Is rosacea considered a disease or a syndrome?

A. Medical scientists have often described rosacea as a typology or syndrome because its manifestations can vary from one patient to another. That choice of terminology is a semantic preference meaning that rosacea is a collection of potential signs and symptoms rather than a singular presentation of illness that is always the same. The word choice in no way diminishes the fact that rosacea is a medical disorder and that sufferers can benefit from medical therapy. However, because the signs and symptoms may vary, treatment must be tailored by a physician for each individual case.