Q. Will my rosacea disappear after menopause, or will it last for the rest of my life?

A. While the hot flashes many women experience just prior to and during menopause often trigger signs and symptoms of rosacea, they are not necessarily the underlying cause of this disorder. Once your hot flashes subside, the signs and symptoms may continue, and may be associated with many other potential factors.

While rosacea is a long-term disorder and there is currently no cure, it can be effectively controlled through long-term medical therapy and avoidance of environmental and lifestyle factors that trigger your individual condition. If hot flashes are a particularly difficult trigger for you, you may find it easier to manage your condition once they stop, but compliance with therapy and awareness of triggers are keys to maintaining long-lasting control of rosacea.

Q. Is rosacea contagious in any way?

A. No. Contagious diseases are usually spread by physical contact or through inhaling airborne infectious agents. There is no evidence that rosacea is an infectious disease. It is the consensus of experts that the effectiveness of antibiotics against rosacea symptoms may be due to their anti-inflammatory effect, rather than their ability to destroy bacteria.