The curse of the Celts

Couperose and rosacea particularly often affect people who belong to the so-called "Celtic skin type": They have light hair and pale skin. Because of this, these two skin diseases were formerly known as the "curse of the Celts".


Same cause - different symptoms


Both diseases are based on the same genetic disposition, but to a different extent. In couperose, enlarged blood vessels appear on the face with emphasis on the cheeks, nose and chin, and later also on the forehead. The color of the veins can vary from red to dark purple, depending on their size. In rosacea, pustules or even nodules appear in addition to the vasodilatation. A maximum form is the so-called rosacea fulminans, in which pustules and lumps can be sown on reddened facial skin within a few days.


A flare-up or worsening of both diseases can be caused by different things. The most important trigger factors are briefly discussed here.


Trigger and Booster


Warmth, especially the sun, is always an important factor in the development of the symptoms of the disease. Even a walk in the winter cold followed by an evening by the fireplace has the effect that the vessels on the face first contract (cold) and then expand quickly (warmth).


Hot and spicy food and drinks also lead to vascular dilation in the face and pustules in predisposed patients.


Alcohol also provokes the blooming of couperose and rosacea. The term 'schnapps nose', i.e. a red olfactory organ that later tends to form lumps, can be traced back to the aggravation of rosacea through alcoholic beverages (especially schnapps and red wine).

Ban the curse!


The therapy of both diseases consists first of all in reducing the provocation factors. As the first therapeutic line, ointments are used, which in many cases already bring about significant relief. If the therapy does not respond, taking tablets can be considered in a second step. Special antibiotics and vitamin A acid derivatives are available for this purpose.


In addition, special lasers can be used against the vasodilatation, in particular, to make the skin significantly paler and more attractive.


All in all, research in the field of couperose and rosacea has made great progress in recent years, so that nowadays no one has to fear the curse of the Celts.


You can find more tips about skin health here: https://le-manoir.de/dermablog/


Your dr. med. Peter Kessler