Rosacea Awareness Month: 3 Myths & Truths About the Chronic Skin Condition Skin Conditions

April is Rosacea Awareness Month. Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that plagues millions of Americans. In fact, it's estimated that over 16 million people are afflicted with rosacea in the U.S. There are many myths about rosacea, including the assumption that it will just go away on its own. Here, some rosacea truths and myths from Dr. Jeremy Fenton of Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City:

• It's OK to skip the SPF in the springtime: False. It's imperative to wear SPF 30 at all times on exposed skin – even in the winter and spring and especially if you're prone to rosacea. "I recommend wearing a zinc oxide-based sunscreen of SPF 30 plus and zinc concentration of at least 5 percent. UV exposure can not only cause intermittent flares of rosacea, but it can cause chronic damage that leads to persistently worse symptoms such as redness and dilated vessels," says Dr. Fenton.

• Rosacea can't be treated at home: False. "One of the newest treatments for rosacea is Rhofade, which is a topical prescription medication that constricts the blood vessels and can help reduce redness and flushing. It has a lot less risk of side effects than some previous medications that were known to sometimes trigger a rebound flare," says Dr. Fenton

• Rosacea is due to skin being dirty or unclean: False. "There is believed to be an association between rosacea and the normal mites that live on the skin and other components of the microbiome; however, excessive cleaning of the skin will not resolve rosacea. In fact, cleaning the skin too much can lead to dry skin which causes rosacea to flare. It’s best to use a balanced, mild cleanser," explains Dr. Fenton.