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“Rudolph the Red-Nosed” Facial Eruptions

Inevitably, every few months, it seems that I’m afflicted with a condition that I have dubbed as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed” Facial Eruptions.

Basically, because I end up looking something like this: =)

And while most people don’t really say anything when it tends to happen, without a doubt, the same conversations with the same people seem to occur which inevitably go something like this:

Person X: Hey, so what happened to your nose?

Me: Umm… well, I don’t know. It happens, I guess…

<awkward silence>

And the conclusion often is, what can you do about acne?

(Often enough, it’s the same people who seem to suffer similar afflictions who bring it up… weird, eh? And I never say anything to them… hrmph! =P)

And while I’ve tried, I have yet to figure out the causes or preventive measures to keep from becoming Rudolph every once in a while .

So, in a quest for greater knowledge , I decided to look into why  I seem to get this volcano-like activity that occurs every so often under my facial epidermis.

And to my surprise, I think I stumbled upon more information than I thought I would.

Most people conclude that the cause of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed” Facial Eruptions is acne. My recent research would point to another culprit that seems to be less well known: Rosacea.

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea (pronounced roh-ZAY-sha) is a common but little-known disorder of the facial skin that affects an estimated 14 million Americans — and most of them don’t know it. In fact, while rosacea is becoming increasingly widespread as the populous baby boom generation enters the most susceptible ages, a Gallup survey found that 78 percent of Americans have no knowledge of this condition , including how to recognize it and what to do about it.

In recent surveys by the National Rosacea Society, nearly 70 percent of rosacea patients said this condition had lowered their self-confidence and self-esteem, and 41 percent reported it had caused them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements. Among rosacea patients with severe symptoms, nearly 70 percent said the disorder had adversely affected their professional interactions, and nearly 30 percent said they had even missed work because of their condition.

While the cause of rosacea is unknown and there is no cure, today medical help is available that can control the signs and symptoms of this potentially life-disruptive disorder. Any one of the following warning signs is a signal to see a dermatologist or other knowledgeable physician for diagnosis and appropriate treatment before the signs and symptoms become increasingly severe:

• Redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead.
• Small visible blood vessels on the face.
• Bumps or pimples on the face.
• Watery or irritated eyes.

– National Rosacea Society

And Wikipedia says:

Rosacea is a common but often misunderstood condition that is estimated to affect over 45 million people worldwide. It begins as flushing and redness on the central face and across the cheeks, nose, or forehead but can also less commonly affect the neck, chest, scalp or ears. As rosacea progresses, other symptoms can develop such as permanent redness, red bumps (some with pus), red gritty eyes, burning and stinging sensations, small blood vessels visible near the surface of the skin, and in some advanced cases a bulbous nose. The disorder can be confused and co-exist with acne vulgaris and/or seborrheic dermatitis .

– Wikipedia

While I don’t have any pictures of my Rudolph nose to post this time (the peak of this most recent episode is subsiding) , I found some pretty graphic photos online that show symptoms similar to those I’ve experienced.

This photo of a case of rosacea was on a Korean website which gave me a headache trying to read so I stopped trying after the first line. =)

This one seems quite similar to my “Rudolph the Red-Nosed” Facial Eruptions found on the Rosacea Support Group site.

And lastly, some severe cases from this site which was where I first found the term “rosacea”.

So Wikipedia also reports that there are four different subtypes of rosacea of which I’ve concluded I’m most likely prone to:

Papulopustular rosacea : Some permanent redness with red bumps ( papules ) with some pus filled ( pustules ) (which typically last 1-4 days); this subtype can be easily confused with acne .

Additionally, while I guess there’s no known official cause, Wikipedia also asserts that:

Rosacea has a hereditary component and those that are fair-skinned of European or Celtic ancestry have a higher genetic predisposition to developing it. Women are more commonly affected but when men develop rosacea it tends to be more severe . People of all ages can get rosacea but there is a higher instance in the 30-50 age group. The first signs of rosacea are said to be persisting redness due to exercise, changes in temperature, and cleansing.

Triggers that cause episodes of flushing and blushing play a part in the development of rosacea. Exposure to temperature extremes can cause the face to become flushed as well as strenuous exercise , heat from sunlight , severe sunburn , stress, cold wind, moving to a warm or hot environment from a cold one such as heated shops and offices during the winter . There are also some foods and drinks that can trigger flushing, these include alcohol , foods high in histamine and spicy food .

So, while it doesn’t seem like I should be predisposed to such a condition (not of European or Celtic ancestry, not a woman, not 30-50 years old! =P), it is what it is and I guess I join the likes of Bill Clinton, J.P. Morgan, and Cameron Diaz who are famous people that Wikipedia says are also victims of rosacea . =)

Anyway, at the end of the day, I think I have decided that my conclusions are these:

I can now explain that my “Rudolph the Red-Nosed” Facial Eruptions are caused by a largely unknown, “potentially life-disrupting disorder” with “no known cure” to those insensitive people who like to point it out. =P

To combat rosacea more effectively, I need to:

• move back to mild-weathered California because NYC is too extreme (too hot and humid in the summers and too cold in the winters); =P
• quit my routine of strenuous exercise (which I just started… hrmm) ;
• keep away from spicy foods and alcohol; and,
• move back to laid-back and chill California because NYC is too fast-paced and stressful. =D

My parents were right. I should use sun block and try not to expose myself to too much sun too often (not that there’s really that much chance given I spend most of my  time in skyscrapers !)

Hmm, so do I need to see a dermatologist? Or will my random combination of Korean ointments and shady Mexican drugs serve to keep combating the Rudolph nose, if it is indeed, rosacea? =)

Back in NYC

In other news, for the first time in weeks, I’m actually going to be in NYC this week rather than  on the road   (I’d be traveling this week as well except that I need to surrender my passport to the Brazilian Consulate to get a visa so I can’t leave the country this week… which reminds me, does anyone speak Portuguese and want to give me a crash course in an afternoon/evening? =P).

Sometimes, I feel like I’m just visiting NYC on the weekends rather than coming home because I spend more nights in hotel rooms than in my own room in a given month.

Anyway, since I’m here, I figured I’d ask if anyone wanted to meet up for lunch/dinner during the week as I’ll be in Times Square , which I feel like I haven’t done in ages. =)

Let me know and you can see what’s left of my Rudolph nose up close (and don’t worry, I don’t think it’s contagious! =P) . Haha =)