If you have a flushed face and are over 50 - It could be Rosacea

by: Linda Robison / Facial Fitness Specialist @ ABZ

Understanding rosacea: causes and solutions

If you're over 50 and constantly dealing with a flushed face, you might be thinking, "What’s happening to my skin?" It’s frustrating when redness won’t fade, and it’s not just aging—it could be rosacea.

You’ve tried everything, but the redness, dryness, and flare-ups persist, leaving you feeling self-conscious and stuck.

flushed face

Flushed face and other symptoms like dryness, swelling, and a stinging sensation can make dealing with rosacea frustrating. Especially since most advice focuses on younger people with rosacea, often overlooking older individuals.

If you’re dealing with these issues, understanding that your skin needs special care can make a big difference.

Here are a few tips to manage rosacea:

  • Use sunscreens with high SPF.
  • Wear protective clothing in extreme weather.
  • Follow a gentle skincare routine.

The good news? You don’t have to let rosacea win. With a few tweaks you can start managing it. Let me help you feel confident in your skin again. Ready? Let’s dive in!

Rosacea often hits between 50-65, bringing more than just redness—stinging, flakiness, and frustration when most advice seems aimed at younger skin. But your skin has different needs now, and that’s okay.

The good news? You don’t have to let rosacea win. With a few tweaks—like the right sunscreen and gentle skincare—you can start managing it.

Let me help you feel confident in your skin again. Keep reading to learn how...

What is Rosacea

Rosacea is a persistent skin condition that often shows as redness and a flushed appearance on your face. You might notice red bumps and cysts primarily on your face and chest.

Sometimes, rosacea can cause a burning or stinging feeling on your skin.

Who gets rosacea?

Common For Both Men & Women Of European Ancestry

Rosacea is most common for those with European (particularly Celtic) ancestry4. However, it can also develop for people of other backgrounds.  While it can occur for both sexes, it’s somewhat more prevalent amongst women5. 

Women typically develop rosacea around the cheek and chin area. Men, on the other hand, experience rosacea around the nose far more frequently than women.  Rhinophyma (a form of stage three rosacea skin disorder - the most severe) is almost exclusively an elderly male phenomenon1.

Rosacea in older adults

Rosacea often appears in mid-adulthood and tends to affect people differently based on gender. For women, rosacea commonly starts after age 35.

For men, it usually begins after age 50. You'll find that for men, the most frequent cases occur between ages 76 and 80, while for women, it peaks around 61 to 65.

If you're a baby boomer dealing with rosacea, you're not alone!

This condition is particularly challenging for older adults, as it tends to get worse over time without treatment. It's not unusual for rosacea to affect not just your face but also your neck, chest, and even scalp.

Don't ignore your symptoms! Ignoring it often leads to more intense symptoms and make it harder to manage6. Taking early steps to treat rosacea can significantly improve your quality of life. If you notice your symptoms getting worse, see a dermatologist ASAP!

For more detailed information, you can visit Mayo Clinic's guide on rosacea.

Age groups commonly affected

Areas and Key Points:

  • 30s-40s: Cheeks, nose, chin. Initial flare-ups
  • 50s-60s: Forehead, more permanent redness. Tiny blood vessels visible
  • Elderly Men Nose (rhinophyma) Most severe stage

Remember, rosacea isn't just about redness; it can have real emotional and physical impacts. Understanding the age and gender dynamics can help you better recognize and manage the symptoms.

What makes rosace worse?

Scientists are uncertain about the exact cause(s) of rosacea. However, a number of potential causes, contributory factors, and aggravators have been identified. 

Potential Causes

- Family History

One 2015 study7 concluded that rosacea is driven by approximately 50% genetic and 50% environmental factors. A 2010 study8 revealed rosacea sufferers are more likely to have photosensitive skin, have a family history of rosacea, and to have smoked cigarettes in the past.

Despite common misconceptions, rosacea sufferers were no more likely than non-sufferers to drink more caffeine or alcohol. Further research reaffirms this finding - rosacea is not causally connected to caffeine or alcohol consumption1,9.

- Hormones

This condition is sometimes linked to hormonal changes as a woman enters the menopause phase of her life. When you’re going through menopause the added stress of rosacea is the last thing you nee

- Immune System

Evidence from a 2011 analysis10 suggests rosacea is caused by an excessive innate immune system response. An overactive innate immune system results in the production of abnormal peptides. Lab tests reveal that these abnormal peptides produce rosacea-like skin inflammation. The authors of this study suggest that this overactive innate immune system response may have a genetic basis.

- Mites

It’s possible that Demodex mites (oil mites) cause rosacea11. These mites live on all humans - especially in the hair follicles and the sebaceous glands on the face. Sufferers of rosacea have higher amounts of oil mites on their skin than the general population.

However, it’s not clear whether the over proliferation of these mites cause or are caused by rosacea. It could be the case that rosacea spawns from an overabundance of mites emerging on damaged skin due to weather11, aging, or overproduction of sebum.

 - Drugs

Some drugs can potentially induce rosacea or make an existing rosacea case worse - particularly topical or systemic corticosteroids12. 

Known irritants

While the exact causes of rosacea are still disputed and somewhat unclear, it’s understood certain triggers can exasperate this condition, such as food and nutrients. 

As our population continues to age, we need to do more to address these skin issues for the 65+ age cohort. 

Tips for managing rosacea

Woman applying moisturizer to her dry flaky rosacea skin.

Repeated inflammation from rosacea can harm your skin and weaken collagen and elastin, making it age faster. Using rosacea-friendly cosmetics is crucial to soothe irritation and protect against collagen damage, preventing thin, sagging skin and wrinkles.

Note:

Studies Need to Include Senior Citizens!

Many basic or essential skincare products can cause rosacea flare-ups1, especially in individuals over 65.

Sadly, clinical trials for skincare products often overlook this age group, since the elderly aren't typically the primary focus of new skincare products.13 😒

However, it can be argued that testing on aging skin is crucial, given the increased need for it.

Flushed Face: 4 essential products to consider

Cleanse

Look for cleansers that are pH balanced and don’t contain sodium lauryl sulfate (which can irritate.) Cleansers like Cetaphil or Cerave work without drying or irritating. My husband has rosacea and has great results using the Walgreens brand, which is cheaper.

Exfoliate

This is very important! Gently exfoliating rosacea skin not only helps smooth your complexion, unclog pores and reduce flaky patches, but prevents the disease from worsening.

Skin thickening in rosacea worsens the condition by increasing redness, reducing treatment effectiveness, and causing more severe symptoms like rhinophyma, which is an enlarged, bumpy appearance on the nose. It's important to use exfoliating products specifically for rosacea.

Hydrate

Sometimes, regular moisturizer just don't cut it for this condition. Good hydration supports collagen, making pores look smaller, and makes broken blood vessels less noticeable.

My husband has rosacea and tells me this super moisturizer with recovery cream with omega 3 rich fatty acids and ceramides keeps his face comfortable and smooth.

Sunscreen

The same goes for sunscreen. You need to use one that's formulated for your condition. Here is another of my husband's favorite rosacea sunscreen. He likes this because, unlike regular sunscreens, this is the only one that won't make his face breakout. 

Related Content: Is Slugging a Good Idea for Rosacea Suffers?

Treatment options

Rosacea is not easy to completely cure. Not too surprising, given that it’s potentially the result of an abnormality16 in our innate defense system!

Thankfully, there are multiple treatment options available to reduce the symptoms of rosacea. Treatments are increasing and becoming more safe over time.

So if you suffer from just the occasional flushed face or all the rosacea symptoms listed here, it’s important to consult your doctor to find the best treatment for your particular situation.

Treatment will vary from case to case depending on the severity and longevity of the rosacea, while also taking any potential comorbidities into account (rosacea is commonly comorbid with depression17).  

Current treatments include:

  • Topical creams (azelaic acid or metronidazole gel) help repair the barrier of rosacea-induced broken skin. A recent 2018 study revealed oxymetazoline cream (Rhofade) helps reduce facial flushing and redness for rosacea patients18. However, because rosacea damages the barrier of the skin, these creams can often cause a burning or stinging sensation.
  • Surgery (including laser surgery) is useful to treat rhinophyma1 and the prominent erythema common in older rosacea patients.
  • Hormone replacement therapy can help treat rosacea-like menopausal flushing19. 
  • Beta blockers (like propranolol) work to reduce the severity of anxiety-related rosacea20. 
  • Acupuncture is a potential rosacea treatment. A 2018 case study21 revealed acupuncture was more effective at improving the rosacea of one 52 year old woman than conventional treatments. However, more research with much larger sample sizes is needed to determine its efficacy. 

In addition to the treatments above, try to avoid aggravating the rosacea by taking these steps:

  • Use UVB and UVA sunscreen protection daily. 
  • Protect your skin from harsh weather conditions by wrapping up warm and keeping your skin moisturized in cold or windy weather. 
  • Keep your stress levels low by taking time out of your day to relax. 
  • Steer clear of skincare with irritating ingredients like alcohol and fragrance.

When to see a doctor

Rosacea can negatively impact an individual’s quality of life and there’s a certain stigma attached because it’s often misunderstood as a symptom of alcoholism.

Rosacea typically develops gradually over time. Symptoms like a flushed face may come and go but this skin condition usually doesn’t disappear by itself.

It’s important to treat the condition, otherwise it’s possible rosacea can accelerate into disfigurement22 or loss of vision (in the case of ocular rosacea).

It’s often (understandably) confused with acne as the symptoms can be similar. Yes, you're never too old to suffer from acne or clogged pores and blackheads.

Elderly rosacea patients sometimes mistake the symptoms as just a normal part of the aging process22. That’s why it’s always important to consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

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References:

1.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0738081X10001240

2. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ageing-and-society/article/ageing-and-vulnerable-elderly-people-european-perspectives/38FE71F6EC2FA12FBAFD30825B011E12

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27323701

4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19735524

5. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/rosacea#statistics

6. https://www.rosacea.org/rosacea-review/2000/fall/patients-over-50-hardest-hit-with-rosacea-symptoms

7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26307938

8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19874433

9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30347034

10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22076322

11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22933353

12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16384751 

13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20367673

14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3840548/

15.https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/56/Suppl_2/S230/2605262 

16.https://www.mdedge.com/internalmedicine/article/130993/rosacea/rosacea-research-reveals-advances-promising-therapies

17. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.06895.x 

18. https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/29320594

19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28807107

20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16243148

21. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30142810 

22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12038728 




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