Allie Todd, 41, a mental health nurse from East London, describes herself as looking “like a rugged gardener”. People frequently tell her how well she looks, and she does have the glowing cheeks of a recent returnee from a skiing holiday. Her healthy appearance is actually caused by the skin condition rosacea, and she describes it as “my face betraying me”.

Rosacea is a persistent skin disorder that causes redness on the face, usually over the cheekbones and nose, from dilated blood vessels. It is sometimes accompanied by facial swelling, and sometimes spreads to the neck, chest, scalp or ears. Some people get acne-like spots on the cheeks too.

The exact cause is unknown, but various causes have been mooted: a change in normal skin bacteria, an infection of the stomach by Helico-bacter pylori, or microscopic skin mites.

Todd’s rosacea started in 1996 during her nursing training. She was battling a cold when her face became swollen, bright red and hot. “I thought it was an allergic reaction,” she says. “It was uncomfortable, itchy and burning. My GP told me to avoid spicy food, alcohol, sun and hot drinks.”

As is common with many rosacea sufferers, Todd had always blushed a lot. “When the rosacea started the blush would remain. I felt exposed, as if my face showed my lack of confidence deep down. In my job you need to look comfortable in yourself, but my blushing and the redness just made me look anxious.”

Trying to hunt down a cure

When the rosacea showed no signs of improving, Todd began her own search for treatments. “I looked into intense pulse-light treatment about four years ago, but that was available only in Harley Street and cost about £1,000.” The light treatments claim to stimulate the capillaries to drain away the excess blood that causes the postblush flush.

She also looked at cosmetic products. Todd is not convinced by a blue-green cream, B. Kamins Chemist, which is supposed to cancel out the redness. “The moisturiser becomes absorbed and then the redness starts to show through.”

Todd is convinced that her rosacea is directly affected by her state of mind. “When my first marriage broke down it was a shock and I found myself on my own with an 18-month-old son. Surprisingly, the blushing and rosacea died down and I think that was because I had taken control of the situation and just got on with it.

“When I met a new man I was so happy, there was no sign of the rosacea. At my second wedding, despite being the centre of attention, I did not blush. I blossomed because it was all perfect.”

Allie’s coping mechanisms

Once real life took over again, the rosacea reappeared, but Todd is developing coping mechanisms. “Because I am only 5ft 2in, the redness makes me think that I look like a little girl, and not very professional. I know I am effective and competent and yet when I am doing a handover meeting to doctors and nurses I start blushing.

“I use only sensitive skin creams and minimal make-up. I take homoeopathic anxiety remedies and Bach flower remedies to control the blushing that triggers the flush. If someone at work compliments me, I can handle it, but I do so by making a joke, then as soon as I feel my face start to burn I leave and have a mad blushing fit in the office on my own. ”

Todd has started to recognise the triggers. “If I become overweight my confidence drops, the blushing starts and then the residual redness.

“When you see women who look elegant, with calm, pristine skin, they look in control. I look angry, hot and bothered or stressed, even when I don’t feel those things.”

What is rosacea?

Rosacea often starts as an intermittent skin disorder, but becomes permanent, with pimples and prominent tiny blood vessels (thread veins). It usually begins after the age of 30 and affects one person in ten. Hot or spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, exercise, temperature change and stress can trigger a flare-up. But exactly what causes rosacea is still not known.

The condition often responds to treatment but cannot be cured. If untreated, it’s more likely that more pimples will develop and blood vessels will become more visible. The pimples can be treated with a topical antibiotic cream or tablets. A medicine called Clonidine can help menopausal facial flushing, but there is no evidence that it helps rosacea flushing. Intense pulse light or laser treatment can shrink thread veins.

For details, visit rosacea.co.uk

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