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What s the Relationship Between Rosacea and Menopause

Medically reviewed by Wendy A. Satmary, MD — By Catasha Gordon on October 6, 2022Share on PinterestAlexey Kuzma/Stocksy

What s the short answer

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that typically affects the face, neck, or chest. Doctors characterize it as a rash, pimples, redness, and broken blood vessels. Hot flashes — a common occurrence during menopause — can cause the same areas of the body to flush and feel warm to the touch. Not only can this rush of warmth set off a full-body sweat, but it may also trigger a rosacea flare-up. Because of this, it is often necessary to treat the symptoms of both menopause and rosacea concurrently.

Can menopause cause rosacea to develop

Hot flashes associated with menopause may cause rosacea to flare up, but doctors do not know the root cause of the condition. Rosacea symptoms may linger even after the hot flashes relating to menopause subside. The following factors may play a role:the way your body processes the protein cathelicidinhypersensitivity to skin mites that live near hair follicleschanges in the blood vessels under your skinhaving an overactive immune systemyour genetics You may be more likely to develop rosacea if you have:fair skin a history of cystic or nodular acnea family history of rosaceaIrish, English, Scottish, Scandinavian, or Eastern European ancestry

How does rosacea present

The first sign of rosacea, or prerosacea, is typically blushing or flushing of the face. You may notice persistent redness around your nose. Over time, this inflammation may spread to the rest of the face and neck. Rosacea typically presents in four unique ways:Subtype 1, or vascular rosacea: The blood vessels under the face swell, causing the skin to become swollen and feel warm to the touch.Subtype 2, or papulopustular rosacea: Pimples and pustules form across the face and neck. Subtype 3, or rhinophyma: The nose of the skin thickens, and the oil glands on and around the nose become enlarged. Subtype 4, or ocular rosacea: The skin around the eyes or the eyeballs themselves become red, causing the eyes to sting, burn, and water. It may feel as though there’s something in the eye. Many people experience a combination of these symptoms. In darker skin tones specifically, rosacea may also present as dusty, brown discoloration and yellowish-brown hard bumps around the mouth and eyes. Different types of dermatitis, shingles, and other skin rashes can appear as warm, red, and inflamed lesions on the skin. Therefore, it is important to speak with a dermatologist or other healthcare professional. They can help determine the underlying cause of your symptoms and advise you on any next steps.

What if you already have rosacea — will it be affected by menopause

The hormone estrogen helps maintain your skin’s structure and aids in hydration. By stimulating the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, estrogen helps your skin stay plump and firm. The hormone progesterone helps regulate the production of sebum, which moisturizes and protects your skin. During menopause, these hormones decrease, leaving your skin without these vital nutrients. As a result, the skin may become dry and irritated. Health experts believe this may trigger more intense rosacea symptoms than people have previously experienced.

How is menopausal rosacea treated

At this time, there is no cure for rosacea. Your individual treatment plan depends on how severe your symptoms are and what areas they affect. A clinician may recommend a combination of medication and surgery. They may also help develop an appropriate skin care routine.

Medication

In less severe cases, medications can help control the symptoms of rosacea. This can include:oral retinoids, such as isotretinoin (Accutane), which prevent skin glands from producing oiltopical medications for treating inflammation — these medications can include tretinoin (Retin-A) and azelaic acid (Azelex)topical and oral antibiotics to treat inflammation and redness, such as metronidazole, sulfacetamide, tetracycline, erythromycin, and minocycline

Medical procedures

Different medical procedures may be useful for treating more severe causes of rosacea. These can include:dermabrasion to remove the top layers of the skin laser resurfacing to reduce the size of enlarged blood vesselscryosurgery to freeze and remove unwanted tissue

If you re currently experiencing a flare-up

Wash the affected area with cool water to remove any surface substances that may be irritating the skin. Gently dry the area by dabbing — not rubbing — with a soft towel. Apply a cold compress to the area a few times daily to help with flushing. Moisturize the area often to help protect the skin from drying and cracking.

Is there anything you can do to prevent flare-ups

Rosacea flare-ups can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few weeks. It varies from person to person and even situation to situation. The best way to control flare-ups is to know what’s causing them. Keeping a record of your specific triggers — such as stress, certain foods or drinks, and sun exposure — can help you identify any patterns and adjust accordingly. Apply sunscreen daily to all exposed areas, including your face, ears, neck, and chest, to help protect the skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays. Make sure your sunscreen has an SPF of 30 or higher, and reapply at least once every other hour. Use facial cleansers and other products that could irritate your skin sparingly. If possible, switch to fragrance-free detergents and soaps to minimize flare-ups. Common skin care elements that may irritate the skin include: alcohol witch hazel camphor fragranceglycolic acidlactic acidsalicylic acidbenzoyl peroxide mentholpeppermint eucalyptus sodium lauryl sulfate Certain dietary changes may also help ease rosacea symptoms. Consume the following foods and beverages sparingly if you find they trigger hot flashes or other symptoms:alcohol, especially wine and liquorspicy foods, such as hot peppers, chili, and salsafoods that contain cinnamaldehyde, such as tomatoes, citrus, cinnamon, and chocolate hot drinks, like coffee and tea

When to speak with a doctor

Anxiety around your face and skin changes, along with other menopause symptoms, can feel overwhelming. If your symptoms are causing you mental or physical distress, it is important to consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional. They can help you develop a treatment plan that suits your individual needs. If you have concerns about changes in your skin, take a log of your symptoms with you to your appointment. The following information can help your clinician make a diagnosis: whether you are experiencing any itching, burning, or painwhere on your body you first experienced symptomswhether your symptoms have spread to other areas of the bodywhen you first noticed your symptomsif you suspect that something triggered your symptomsany treatment methods you have tried Your clinician may request a skin sample or blood test to help rule out other skin conditions. Certain symptoms should prompt immediate medical attention:a rash that spreads quickly or appears all over the bodya rash that leaks green or yellow pus or feels hot to the toucha rash accompanied by a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher

The bottom line

The underlying cause of rosacea is still unknown, but the condition is treatable. There are a variety of options available to help reduce inflammation and improve your quality of life. Treating the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, may also soothe inflammation and other rosacea symptoms. Catasha Gordon is a sexuality educator from Spencer, Oklahoma. She’s the owner and founder of Expression Over Repression, a company built around sexual expression and knowledge. You can typically find her creating sex education materials or building some kinky hardware in a fresh set of coffin nails. She enjoys catfish (tail on), gardening, eating off her husband’s plate, and Beyoncé. Follow her everywhere. Last medically reviewed on October 6, 2022

How we vetted this article

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Gasser, S., et al. (2021). Impact of progesterone on skin and hair in menopause - a comprehensive review [Abstract].
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33527841/Khunger, N., et al. (2019). Menopausal acne - Challenges and solutions.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6825478/People with skin of color can get rosacea. (n.d.).
aad.org/public/diseases/rosacea/what-is/skin-colorQ&A: Menopause & location. (2005).
rosacea.org/rosacea-review/2005/winter/q-a-menopause-locationRainer, B. M., et al. (2015). Rosacea is associated with chronic systemic diseases in a skin severity-dependent manner: Results of a case-control study [Abstract].
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26256428/Rosacea. (n.d.).
hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/rosaceaRosacea: Overview. (2020).
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279476/Shah, M. G., et al. (2001). Estrogen and skin. An overview [Abstract].
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11705091/Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Current Version Oct 6, 2022 By Catasha Gordon Edited By Tess Catlett Medically Reviewed By Wendy A. Satmary, MD Copy Edited By Matt Ng Share this articleMedically reviewed by Wendy A. Satmary, MD — By Catasha Gordon on October 6, 2022

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