Couperosis (synonyms: erythrosis facialis; ICD-10-GM L71.9: rosacea, unspecified) is a congenital telangiectasia (vasodilatation) of the face.
Fair, sensitive skin types are more often affected.
Sex ratio: women are more often affected than men.
Age of manifestation (age at which the condition first appears): from the age of 30 as an early form of rosacea (also called “copper rose”; chronic inflammatory skin condition that manifests on the face).
Symptoms – complaints
The veins shimmer reddish-bluish through the skin and often form net-like appearances.
Characteristics of skin prone to couperosis are redness, dryness and sensitivity.Couperosis as an early form of rosacea, on the other hand, causes the skin to sting and burn.
Pathogenesis (disease development) – etiology (causes)
It is not exactly clear what causes couperosis.
It is assumed that thinning connective tissue or too weak connective tissue in the veins could be a cause. Weaknesses of the connective tissue are often genetically determined. The blood accumulates and small telangiectasias (vascular dilatations) can form more quickly. When these vasodilatations are in the skin itself, they are called couperosis in the face. The disturbing bluish or reddish coloration is produced by the congested blood in the veins.
Other causes are excessive nicotine and alcohol consumption as well as intensive sunbathing and strong temperature fluctuations.Couperosis can be a preliminary stage of rosacea. For “rosacea” see below the topic of the same name.
Therapy
General measures
- Avoidance of
- Use of soap-free detergents
- Low fat face / sun creams
- Do not bathe too hot!
- UVA / UVB protection (when sunbathing)
- Nicotine restriction (refrain from tobacco use).
- Alcohol restriction (abstaining from alcohol)
