I’ve suddenly developed rosacea... help!

QI’VE always had good skin, but recently developed rosacea, which is slowly getting worse. Are retinol and lasers the answer?

AROSACEA, also known as ‘the curse of the Celts’, often starts in mid-life and it’s very frustrating if you’ve always had good skin. There are two types: inflammatory (spots, bumps, blotches, pimples) and vascular (redness, flushing, broken capillaries), both of which require a different approach.

Dr Stefanie Williams, a specialist dermatologist, says any inflamed spots or blotches need clearing up first — not with over-the-counter retinol, but with prescription treatment, such as antiinflammatory creams. Or, if these are not successful, with antibiotic or antiinflammatory tablets.

After this, you can treat the veins with either a vascular laser (a laser that targets blood vessels) or IPL treatments — intense pulses of light energy. Both use heat to collapse the vein and quell redness (three to six treatments are usually needed, with prices from around €200 per session).

Doctors can prescribe Mirvaso cream as an ‘emergency’ treatment, which can suppress it for up to 12 hours. Please seek out a dermatologist to guide you through treatment.

The most important at-home skincare is a light, oil-free mineral SPF, such as Skinceuticals Sheer Mineral UV Defense SPF 50 (437,