You get done exercising and then catch a glimpse of yourself in the bathroom mirror. Your face is pretty red, but hey, you just worked out hard. You assume you’ll look normal again once you cool down.

Later that night, you see that the redness is still there. The next morning? Yep, your face is still super flushed and even a little ruddy.

What’s going on here? You might be dealing with rosacea, a skin condition that causes facial redness. Here’s what you need to know—including an explanation of what rosacea is, common rosacea triggers and characteristics, and how to manage your symptoms.

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a skin disorder commonly characterized by the appearance of red skin on the nose, chin, cheeks, and forehead. Rather than fading quickly, the redness can become increasingly intense, and you might even see visible small blood vessels appear on skin with rosacea.

This redness isn’t something that will disappear after a few moments—most rosacea flare-ups can last for weeks or even months.

What does rosacea look like?

Okay, so redness is the main symptom of rosacea.But, you could experience skin redness with anything from acne to sunburn. How can you tell if you’re actually dealing with rosacea when it’s so easily confused with other skin conditions?

You’ll want to look closely at the redness on your skin. Rosacea is typically more than a general slight pinkness or blushing—you’ll likely also see enlarged blood vessels that resemble a web or even small, hard bumps over the redness.

Why am I getting rosacea all of a sudden?

After looking at your skin in the mirror, you have a strong hunch that you’re dealing with rosacea. But, can you really develop this skin condition out of the blue like this? Isn’t this something you would’ve experienced earlier in your life?

Not necessarily. In fact, research shows that many people don’t start to see rosacea until after the age of 30.

So, what causes it? Well, that’s up for debate. Scientists have looked into a variety of factors ranging from inherited genes to overactive immune systems, but they haven’t yet pinpointed a single cause for rosacea.

Even so, the American Academy of Dermatology Association says that most people who get rosacea are:

• Between 30 and 50 years old
• Fair-skinned, and often with blonde hair and blue eyes
• From Celtic or Scandinavian ancestry
• Likely to have someone in their family tree with rosacea or severe acne
• Likely to have had a lot of acne themselves

If you have rosacea, it might not be constantly present and visible. Instead, you’ll experience flare-ups when you come into contact with your rosacea triggers. Those triggers can be different for everyone, but common ones include:

• Alcohol (especially red wine)
• Certain makeup, skin, or hair products
• Certain medications
• Exercise
• Heat
• Stress
• Spicy foods
• Sunlight
• Wind and cold

Pay attention to the times when you notice that telltale redness is starting to show up on your own face. That can help you identify and better manage (or even avoid) your own triggers.

How long does it take for rosacea to clear up?

Skin with rosacea can look bumpy and ruddy—not to mention it’s a noticeable, angry red color that’s hard to cover up. So, we don’t blame you if you’re wondering how long you’ll need to wait it out before your skin returns to a somewhat more normal hue.

Rosacea itself is a chronic condition without a cure, which means you’ll always have it. But, don’t panic. That doesn’t mean you’ll deal with constant redness. Flare-ups will usually come and go.

How long do they last? That differs for everyone. Some people might have a flare-up that lasts for only a few days while others could see those skin redness spots for a few months.

How do I treat rosacea?

Here’s what you really want to know: What helps with rosacea? How do you get rid of it?

Since there’s no cure, the Mayo Clinic explains that all of the treatment options are focused on controlling and managing your signs and symptoms—not eliminating the condition entirely.

For many people, that starts with understanding their rosacea triggers and then doing what they can to avoid them. If you know sun exposure kick starts your rosacea, applying SPF, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, and limiting your time in direct sunlight can help you prevent a flare-up. Or, if red wine always triggers facial redness, you can limit your intake or switch to a different beverage.

Even if you carefully avoid your triggers, flare-ups can still happen. When they do, medications are most commonly used for rosacea treatment and generally fall into one of the following categories:

• Topical medications: For mild to moderate rosacea, doctors might prescribe a topical solution that gets applied directly to the affected areas of your skin. These medications temporarily constrict the blood vessels and reduce redness. There are also topical solutions to help with the pimples and bumps that often accompany rosacea.
• Oral antibiotics: For people with more moderate or severe rosacea, a doctor might prescribe oral antibiotics specifically for the pimples and bumps.
• Oral acne medications: For severe rosacea, doctors might prescribe acne drugs that help minimize and manage the bumps and lesions.

Some people also try laser therapy, where a laser is aimed at the enlarged blood vessels of the skin and helps to reduce their appearance. However, since it’s a cosmetic procedure, it’s not as common as some of the above medications.

Besides medication, how do I treat my rosacea?

• Make sure to cleanse your face very gently twice a day. And when you do, choose a mild, liquid cleanser (not soap), rinse with lukewarm water, and pat your face dry with a clean, cotton towel.
• Moisturize every day. It helps hydrate by trapping water in your skin.
• Protect your skin from the sun all year round and use sunscreen before going outside. Choose a fragrance-free sunscreen with: Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, silicone (you’ll see dimethicone, orcyclomethicone, or cyclomethicone on the ingredients list), broad-spectrum protection (UVA and UVB), and SPF of 30 or higher.
• Choose rosacea-friendly products to soothe irritation, like a cream instead of a lotion or gel.
• Always test skin care and makeup products. Dab a small amount near (not on) your rosacea-prone skin, like in front of your ear. If you see or feel irritation within 72 hours, choose something else.
• Be gentle with your skin and avoid rubbing or scrubbing your face. That means no washcloths, facial sponges, or exfoliating.

Now, you might be wondering...

What happens if I don’t treat my rosacea?

There are options out there for managing and controlling your symptoms, but do you have to treat your rosacea? Or can you skip rosacea treatment altogether?

We get that it can be tempting to hope that the problem will go away on its own, but it’s better to take steps to treat your skin.

As the American Academy of Dermatology Association explains, rosacea can worsen and become even more noticeable if you leave it untreated. You might also see spider veins or acne-like breakouts appear on the skin of your face. Facet Medical Director Dr. Peter Young points out that “one form of rosacea called rhinophyma, which causes the nose to enlarge and become bulbous, red, and bumpy gets especially worse over the years if left untreated.”

Even if you don’t have rhinophyma, it’s in your best interest to be proactive about treatment.

Manage your rosacea

There are certain times when you expect your face to be red, like right after a really tough workout or when you spent too much time in the sun without SPF. But, when that redness won’t go away and instead becomes more intense over time? That’s a little more concerning.

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition, so you won’t ever get rid of it entirely. However, that doesn’t mean you need to deal with a constantly-flushed appearance.

When you understand the ins and outs of rosacea and your own triggers, you’re better able to manage and reduce your symptoms—and that all starts with finding the best treatment plan for you.