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If you're between 30 and 60, persistent red patches—small, dilated, broken blood vessels—on your cheeks, nose, or chin may indicate that you have rosacea. It's not pretty but can be treated with topical antibiotics—such as MetroGel and Rosac—and oral antibiotics. The Aura-i laser works well to zap broken blood vessels, says Jeanine Downie, MD, coauthor of Beautiful Skin of Color. For mild to moderate rosacea, you need six treatments, a month apart, and then three treatments a year for maintenance. There's no downtime. Because rosacea is directly related to cumulative sun exposure, it's critical to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Besides the sun, triggers include stress, hormone fluctuations, alcohol (especially red wine), spicy or thermally hot foods and drinks, and even exercise, says Downie. (She advises patients to drink ice water when they work out, to cool the face.) It helps to use gentle products and to avoid irritating your skin by scrubbing.

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