The scarlet woman

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The scarlet woman

15 Feb 2008 10:16 AM | Posted by Editor

The Valentine's night debrief has become something of a ritual amongst my girlfriends. And, usually, it goes something like this: singles talk "relationship El Niño" (yes, that's a direct quote on the single/sweet/straight man-drought vs. date deluge phenomenon) and the coupled-up call in reports on sigh-worthy romance or "nomance". Invariably we agree we'll all grow old together, whatever – and that we're fabulous.

But last night, one girlfriend's tale trumped them all: her life's too rosy and way too hot under her collar…

This is a girl who has always had a gorgeous peaches and cream complexion. But, she reports, lately her enviably rosy-cheeked 'glow' has gotten out of control. Random blushes have morphed into full-face flushes and so much as looking at a treadmill triggers cheeks that stay scarlet for days. Equally annoyingly, the redness feels fiery and her long-loved moisturiser "sometimes stings like mad".

"So what's the deal?" she quizzed me over a flute of French bubbles.

I think my friend might have early rosacea. The persistent flushing, the sensitivity and the heat are all trademarks of hyper-reactive blood vessels flooding with blood more than they should. I tried not to alarm her.

But she went off anyway. "So I'm going to get a cauliflower nose?!?!" she yelped, hysterical punctuation in her voice.

"Nooooo," I soothed, explaining that, left untreated, rosacea can progress that far, but avoiding your flare-tripwires and using calming skincare can help keep it under control. "It is manageable," I assured her. "Figure out what makes you flush and avoid it as much as possible," I suggested as a starting point. "And try taking less intense classes and using cool compresses at the gym." I also promised to email her this link to an article about rosacea that I wrote a while back and, because a professional diagnosis is crucial, details of a good dermatologist.

"And you'll be needing me to finish the last of the French," I finally broke gently. "Alcohol can be flare-inducing." That's what girlfriends are for…

Member Comments (21)

Posted by: Princess75 (Member since 2007, Australia)

Your poor friend i hope shes not too upset. that's very kind of you to tell her AFTER the bubbles, i'm sure she's very grateful. hehehe.

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 10:44am)

Posted by: Gem xxx (Member since 2007, Australia)

No one is perfect....everyone has their postives and negatives with their skin, she is lucky to have you fas a friend and personal beauty adviser, she can take and use your beauty wisdom to help her cope with this condition,
Thats one reason among many why I don't drink alot,
hate the flare ups and the extra maintenance to boot to get my skin back to "normal".

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 11:01am)

Posted by: ZoutLiquorice (Member since 2007, Australia)

I was talking about this to my sister last night - she was complaining her chin and around her nose always goes red - but since she stopped drinking mid week it has cleared up. I told her she probably has rosacea - but she thought it had something to do with sulphates in wine? Are the two linked? Anyway - avoiding the vino definitely helps.

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 11:03am)

Posted by: Gem xxx (Member since 2007, Australia)

P.S
Luv the stricking red lips....

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 11:05am)

Posted by: abrazosbesos (Member since 2007, Australia)

poor thing, I stay red for ages after exercise but nothing like that. Hope she works it out.

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 11:06am)

Posted by: Loretta (Member since 2007, Australia)

I can feel your friend's pain - I have not yet professionally diagnosed rosacea (I'm almost 100% sure I have it) and it is very frustrating. I really should get myself to a dermatologist, but it's on a list of about 1000 other things that are urgent! I avoid most irritants, and use very calming products so at least I'm on the right track. Thanks for the article, it's great to read more about these conditions that many of us have to deal with, and to know we're not alone! :)

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 11:10am)

Posted by: gogirly (Member since 2008, Australia)

That's awful, I know a few people with rosacea, it's hard to live with but they make to most of it.

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 11:11am)

Posted by: Beauty Obsession (Member since 2007, Australia)

abrazosbesos I'm exactly like you & Tracey's friend and look very flushed after an exercise workout for ages. It looks as though I've put more hard work into my workout than I actually have. I also blush very easily when embarrassed which can make me feel even more embarrassed. I never linked it with rosacea and like Tracey's friend assumed that a sufferer had constant redness. I'm going to take a look at that article!!

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 12:27pm)

Posted by: jodib (Member since 2007, Australia)

Ok you've got me scared, what is a cauliflower nose?

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 1:22pm)

Posted by: Redlox (Member since 2007, Australia)

I have moderate rosacea and I agree that reducing alcohol days help a lot. She should also protect her face from the sun as this can help cause damage to the already broken capillaries.

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 1:56pm)

Posted by: Princess75 (Member since 2007, Australia)

it's a common symptom of rosacea sufferers. i've only ever noticed it on old men.
i couldn't give up the bubbles or reds or whites, i wonder if a company will come up with a hardcore concealing product that you can use all over that will actually cover the redness under makeup. there would have to be a market for that.

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 1:57pm)

Posted by: melmeko (Member since 2007, Australia)

Great I think this is an interesting article.

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 3:01pm)

Posted by: glamourcat (Member since 2007, Australia)

I've known people who had absolutely no sign of rosacea until they had major life changes, for example: a new high stress job; marriage; mortgage; children; divorce, etc... so I wonder if stress is a contributing factor? But definitely avoid alcohol, sun, hot spicy food and get plenty of shut-eye! ;)

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 4:45pm)

Posted by: Katie_B (Member since 2007, Australia)

I suffer the same Beauty Obsession.

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 8:12pm)

Posted by: rhijayne (Australia)

my art teacher at high school had that. it must be awful to have. so there is no way of knowwing you have it till its starts. OMG. that sux.they should find out what causes it and stop it some how. that cant be fun being red all the time or even for a couplr hrs. it would feel like your 14 again in a room full of hot guys tht are all looking at you. agh!

Posted on: February 15, 2008 (Feb 15, 2008 9:11pm)

Posted by: asel (Australia)

i'd say the most sensible thing to do is go and consult a dermatologist, I personally wouldnt go out try and look for on the shelf products the heal the problem, some creams and etc. can make it worse, which is exactly what happened to my friends mum, it was only after she visited a dermatologist that she gained proper knowledge of what she should be doing and creams she should be using.

Posted on: February 16, 2008 (Feb 16, 2008 4:37pm)

Posted by: hannah_almond (Member since 2008, Australia)

man what bad luck for that girl, i hope she can sort it all out. lucky she has great friends to help her out!

Posted on: February 17, 2008 (Feb 17, 2008 3:30pm)

Posted by: josie (Australia)

interesting i thought it was just some hot flushes

Posted on: February 19, 2008 (Feb 19, 2008 5:10pm)

Posted by: Gofton (Member since 2007, Australia)

I have a friend who gets rosacea on her nose, as you can imagine no one is allowed to see her skin naked. It bugs her so bad. She has had laser treatment but she says it's not worth it, doesn't work and it stings a bit. I asked her how she covers it so good and she says she uses Innoxa Satin Sheen Foundation and really puts a lot on. Don't worry it has good coverage.

Posted on: February 20, 2008 (Feb 20, 2008 8:26pm)

Posted by: Little miss sunshine (Member since 2007, Australia)

Interesting read - I've learnt something new about rosacea!

Posted on: June 09, 2009 (Jun 9, 2009 10:54pm)

Posted by: Limabean (Australia)

see a dermo!

Posted on: October 10, 2011 (Oct 10, 2011 6:25pm)