Facial Care

Couperose Skin

Couperose, in its final stages callend Rosacea, is a pathological vascular dilation in the facial area, which mainly affects women aged 30 and over.

In the first stage, couperosis becomes visible in the form of a temporary redness in the face, mainly on nose and cheeks. If left untreated, congestions in the capillares lead to permanent vascular dilations (redness) in the second stage, which is then reffered to as rosacea. Bulges and ramifications lead to the developement of blood vessels with reduced elasticity and increased permeabitlity. This causes permanent redness, strong expression of the vascular network as wells blood entering the surrounding tissue. In addition to this, papules and inflammation can occur. In the final stage,odeama may develop, that means swallowings of the skin. In  some cases, the nose is affected , which is then reddened and enlargend and shows signs of a coarser skin structure.

Causes

The primary medical cause for couperosis/ rosacea is genetic disposition. However, smoking, alcohol consumption, unsuitable skincare products and over-exposure to sunlight ( especially in case of light skin) can favour the developement of couperosis. In order to avoid these unpleasant red vessels, you should reduce the risks mentioned above as well as use suitable skincare products.

Solutions

If you suffer from couperose, you should avoid anything that has a stimulating effect on the skin´s blood circulation. It is advisable to refrain from using saunas and sunbeds as well as taking sunbaths. Furthermore, you should avoid exposing yourself to strong temperature fluctuations. As the consumption of alcohol and caffeine can cause addtional vascular dilation, it should be reduced to a minimum. Very hot beverages, spicy food and stress can also contribute to the development of couperose.

Another important favoring factor is the use of unsuitable skincare products as it can increase a person´s susceptibility to couperose. Therefore, it is recommended to only use cosmetic products especially developed for couperose skin. In general, the following rules apply: Treat your skin very gently and avoid strong rubbing, pulling and massaging. Make sure that you only use skincare products which are free from occlusive (skin-closing) active ingredients, such as  mineral oils, mineral waxes and silcones. Besides consulting a dermatologist, you should also see an ophthalmologist in order to exclude that the fine vessels in your eyes are not inflammed. If left untreated, this condition can cause severe eye problems.