Over 16 million Americans have rosacea, according to The National Rosacea Society—but less than 10 percent actually get treated for it by a doctor. Which means they're left to deal with the redness and acne-like bumps on their own, trying to avoid flare-ups as best as possible. Now a new app called The Rosacea App (free on any smartphone) promises help for those with mild to moderate cases. Developed by Intendis, Inc.—part of a company that makes Finacea Gel (an Rx treatment for rosacea)—the app gives information about the signs of and treatment options for rosacea, but, more intriguing, also helps you determine what factors in your daily life could be triggering an outbreak. Here's how it works: There's a function called "Trigger Tracker," in which you record your breakouts and answer a series of questions ("were you sunbathing?" "were you using a skin-care product at the time of the flare-up?" "were you under stress at work?" etc.). The app then narrows down which aspects of your daily activities are most likely causing the breakouts.
The more often you record your breakouts and fill out the survey, the more accurate the app will be. Two other cool features: One, a substitution section that suggests what you can eat, drink, or use in place of things that irritate your skin. (Example: Hot sauce causing flare-ups? Try cumin instead.) And secondly, a GPS function that gives daily weather alerts in you area, with tips on what you should do to compensate for rosacea-unfriendly conditions.
I hope to see more skin-care apps like this one—it keeps you organized, informed, and the best part? It's discreet. Just think if you could track your acne breakouts or chronic headaches—it would make visits to a derm, dentist, or doctor much easier and more detailed than simply describing your symptoms on, say, a scale from one to ten.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF INTENDIS, INC.