A new study of studies in the Journal of Affective Disorders finds a bidirectional relationship between the skin condition, rosacea, and anxiety and depression.
According to the study, rosacea is “significantly associated with with depression and anxiety, and rosacea may predispose patients to develop depression and anxiety.“
There are actually four types of rosacea, but the most visible type manifests itself in blushing and visible blood vessels in your face (Click here for some examples of what it looks like. Some famous folks who have it include Prince William, Bill Clinton, Cynthia Nixon, and Cameron Diaz).
I’ve known some folks with rosacea, and yes, they tell me their skin starts flushing on a dime when their anxious, and that makes them even more anxious and the whole things spirals, leading to low self-esteem and social avoidance.
But this new study of studies also shows that having anxiety or depression can actually predispose you to developing rosacea.
By what mechanism?
Researchers aren’t sure, but since rosacea is an inflammatory disorder and depression and anxiety are closely linked with inflammation, that could be the link.
Interestingly, researchers also found a relationship between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD such as Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis, and conditions like Celiac) and rosacea. Which makes sense, considering the inflammatory component.
During the time I developed my own Crohn’s, I started getting extremely dry eyes, which is rare for a male in his 30s.
I was diagnosed with one version of rosacea (ocular rosacea) which is rarely visible, but man, it makes your eyes dry.
“What’s a little dry eyes?” you might ask. Well, you know the feeling when a twig or eyelash is stuck in your eye? Like that, except it’s 24/7 during winter months, and you drench your eyes with drops and that twig stands firm like Twig Gibraltar and you eventually just shut your eyes and wish you could tear them out. It sucks.
Anyhow, EverydayHealth has skin-care tips for people with rosacea, Healthline has some natural solutions, and of course, there’s always medication you can talk to your doctor about.
Here’s a helpful article on diet and rosacea, which again, supports the idea that the gut-brain connection is important.
I want to end by saying that there are some Christians who might dismiss just how bad your rosacea might make you feel, emotionally, or how it might want to make you avoid social situations.
Don’t listen to them.
They don’t know how bad anxiety is, and they don’t know how tough it is to have comorbid rosacea.
The Proverbs has a lot to say about leaving the fool to their folly, and when the Born Alpha Optimist is dismissive of any of your conditions, that’s on them. Jesus was full of compassion for both physical and mental suffering. In fact, he treated pain of any kind as sacred, and by that, of immense importance to the human condition.
If your rosacea is getting you down, talk to your doctor, read those articles above for more information, and you can always consult a therapist or psychiatrist about how to manage living with the anxiety or depression of it.
Also, I’m a big believer in the support discussion boards can offer, so here’s a Reddit one for rosacea.
