If you have rosacea, you are all too familiar with the sting of embarrassment when your flush deepens. As if that isn’t bad enough, people tend to take notice. The reactions may range from questioning stares to giggling, from asking if you’re feeling alright to teasing you. Either way, it’s not pleasant to get attention for rosacea symptoms.
Unfortunately, for most people this is a chronic condition. It’s highly likely that you will be put in a situation made awkward by rosacea time and time again. The goal should not be to avoid people completely, but to improve your mindset and manage reactions.
Here are some strategies you can use to regain composure when your skin gets unwanted attention.
Understand that most reactions come from lack of awareness
It’s easy to resent people from noticing and commenting on your skin. But before you start getting testy, remember that most reactions come from not knowing what rosacea is.
Despite being a relatively common condition, many people have either no idea that it exists, or harbor misconceptions about it. Facial redness is associated with strong surges of emotion, drinking too much alcohol, or a foul temper. Without the proper information, it is easy to jump to assumptions and act insensitively.
Understanding that other people’s reaction is the result of a lack of awareness rather than an intentional attempt to hurt you is the first step in handling a situation calmly.
Consider informing them about rosacea
It may be difficult at first to tell people about having a chronic skin condition but it may be for the better. After all, it can sometimes be difficult to hide the symptoms of rosacea, or you may be experiencing an unexpected flare, so maybe it’s just better to let people know why your skin is acting up rather than having them make the wrong assumptions about it.
When you see that someone is taking notice, you may wish to acknowledge what they’re seeing. You can consider being as casual as you can about it. You may then explain that you have a chronic skin condition called rosacea that causes your skin to redden easily. You may want to mention that it’s fairly common and add some trivia about it.
Here’s an example:
“It bet it looks like I got too much blush on, huh? Haha, no, it’s because I have rosacea. Have you heard of it? It’s a fairly common chronic skin condition—millions of people suffer from it in fact. That’s why my face flushes easily. To be honest, it can get pretty embarrassing, but I do my best to manage it by following my dermatologist’s orders.”
This simple exchange not only corrects assumptions people make about you, but also increases awareness about rosacea. If they have follow-up questions, answer as much as you can.
It is helpful to let people know that:
Many people suffer from rosacea.
- Insensitive comments and reactions can hurt rosacea patients.
- Rosacea is a medical condition that is most effectively managed with the guidance of a medical professional.
- Rosacea worsens due to various triggers.
- Rosacea is caused by a number of factors, including immune response, abnormal vascular response, and genetics.
- Rosacea is not infectious.
Consider seeking therapy if you experience social anxiety
Rosacea can contribute significantly to social anxiety and depression. If you are experiencing these, then it may be more challenging to be nonchalant and calm as you explain your condition to others. If this is the case, seeking the help of a therapist may be your best bet. Or you may just start by chatting to your GP. With hard work, you can get to a place where you’ll be able to open up to others about your condition.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, you cannot control how other people react to you. Some encounters may be more awkward than others, but you increase the likelihood of a positive interaction when you are open about living with rosacea.
The information presented in this article is for general information and example purposes only, does not contain health advice specific for users and must not be relied on for that purpose. SkinKitz does not provide any mental health advice or treatment. If you are experiencing any mental health concerns, please see your GP or mental health professional.
Unaffiliated External Mental Health Links:
https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/
https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
