Cathy Grehan, (49), a nurse and mother, says she has always had redness on her face.

Cathy photo 2“Even as a teenager, I never had to wear blush. In fact, I used make-up to hide the redness,” says the North Vancouver, BC resident.

“It was emotionally hard always having to cover up the redness, and it flared up at times of stress, typically family holidays,” she added.

A few years ago, Cathy started developing pimples around the nose and chin along with the redness.

“I thought – why am I still dealing with acne in my forties? It gets you down. There were times when I was embarrassed and self-conscious.”

Cathy’s rosacea, the cause of flushing and redness for most of her life, had evolved to include pimples too. This type of rosacea that appears as red bumps, pimples and redness is often mistaken for adult acne.

Cathy decided to get help, saw a dermatologist and was diagnosed with rosacea. “My best advice after my own experience is to start by getting a correct diagnosis from a qualified medical professional.”

Being aware of the risk factors for rosacea would also be helpful. These include being between the ages of 30 and 50 years old, having fair skin, being female, and having a family history of the condition.

Over a period of a few months, Cathy had several treatments for facial redness and spots. After 3 laser sessions, use of a topical product and oral antibiotics, her skin is clear.

“I feel good in what my skin looks like and I can go out without any make-up,” she says with a smile.