Does Your Elderly Loved One Suffer from Rosacea?

What many people don’t tell you is that having clear facial skin is often a lifelong battle. Many people may think that once they’re out of their teens, they no longer need to worry about breakouts or pimples, and for many of them, they were able to stop worrying about it for decades. And then, bam, seemingly out of the blue, they’re in their 60s or 70s and suddenly dealing with enflamed facial skin that has pimples and looks like a bad high-school breakout. If they have assistance from senior home care providers, caregivers can help with the management of this condition.

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin condition that affects a large portion of the population. The cause is not known, but there are certain conditions that can make it more likely to occur. It usually begins in people who are 30 or over, and worsens once a person hits retirement age. It’s more common in fair-skinned women, but it is often worse in men.

Rosacea symptoms

Rosacea can look different for many people. To be diagnosed, a person must have at least one of these symptoms:

• Persistent redness in the face that looks like a constant sunburn.
• Blood vessels that are visible under the skin. They look like thin, red lines.
• Recurring bumps and pimples. Small, solid red bumps may appear, or pus-filled pimples can occur. They look like acne, but blackheads are never seen. They can burn or sting.
• Flushing. An early symptom for many, this looks and feels like blushing, where the face suddenly turns pink or red. It can come and go.

Other symptoms can include:

• The skin on the face feels tight or itchy.
• Dry and rough facial skin.
• Raised red patches of skin on the face (known as plaques).
• The skin might thicken and enlarge, often seen on the nose.
• Edema in the face.
• Eye irritation, such as constant watery eyes or swollen eyelids.

Managing Rosacea at Home

Your loved one’s doctor may prescribe an ointment to help treat the pimples, bumps, and redness that is caused by rosacea. This is great to always have on hand in case your loved one has a bad breakout, but there are also steps you can take to help your loved one reduce the risk of a flare-up. If your loved one has a senior home care team that assists in their care, talking to them about implementing some of these preventative actions can help your loved one’s skin look and feel better.

Avoid spicy foods. Many people notice that spicy foods often cause their rosacea to flare up. Talk to your loved one’s senior home care providers about avoiding foods that may trigger their outbreak.

Use caution when going outside. The sun’s UV rays can make rosacea more likely, and the damage from too much sun exposure can make outbreaks more difficult to heal from. Wearing a hat with a wide brim is a great way for your loved one to protect their face from the sun. A senior home care provider can make sure your loved one is always wearing one when they go outside.

Reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol can widen the blood vessels in the face, which will lead to more blood flow and inflammation. For many, red and white wine are top triggers for both temporary rosacea and long-term damage to the blood vessels.

If you or an aging loved one is considering Senior Home Care Services in the Lenexa, KS area, please contact the caring staff at Elder Care of Kansas City today.

Proudly serving Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass Counties in Missouri, as well as Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas for over 30 years.

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Kevin Edwards

Owner at Elder Care of Kansas City

Kevin’s life and the lives of his immediate family have been impacted by caregivers – either as a patient or a caregiver - for as long as he can remember.He watched his mother take care of his grandmother until her death at the age of 97.Five years later, his father passed from a neurological disorder that was subsequently confirmed as Lewy Body Dementia.In 2007, his wife, Lori, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.The symptoms of Lori’s disease required Kevin to hire a caregiver during the periods of her relapses.

Prior to purchasing Elder Care, Kevin spent over 20 years in the health insurance industry.In his most recent position, he was in a financial operations role with Humana where he worked with doctors, nurses and other health professionals developing programs to keep Humana members healthy.Their focus on primary care and medication adherence improved the lives of thousands of seniors in Kansas City and the surrounding area.

Kevin and his wife, Lori, have three children.Kevin has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Missouri.

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