ROSACEA
What is it?
Rosacea is a common skin condition that occurs on the face. It causes redness and small bumps that are similar to acne.
Symptoms
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The first sign of rosacea often is redness. It may appear like a blush or sunburn across your nose, cheeks, forehead, or chin.
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Facial blushing or flushing. Rosacea can cause a persistent blushing or flushing in the central part of your face. This sign of the condition may be difficult to see on brown and Black skin.
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Visible veins. Small blood vessels of your nose and cheeks break and become visible (spider veins).
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Swollen bumps. Many people with rosacea also develop pimples on their face that resemble acne. These bumps sometimes contain pus.
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Burning sensation. The skin of the affected area may feel hot and tender.
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Eye problems. Many people with rosacea also experience dry, irritated, swollen eyes and eyelids. This is known as ocular rosacea. In some people, the eye symptoms precede the skin symptoms.
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Enlarged nose. Over time, rosacea can thicken the skin on the nose, causing the nose to appear bulbous (rhinophyma). This occurs more often in men than in women.
After and Before
Causes and Risk
Causes
The cause of rosacea is unknown, but it could be due to an overactive immune system, heredity, environmental factors or a combination of these. Rosacea is not caused by poor hygiene and it's not contagious.
Flare-ups might be triggered by:
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Hot drinks and spicy foods
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Red wine and other alcoholic beverages
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Temperature extremes
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Sun or wind
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Emotions
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Exercise
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Drugs that dilate blood vessels, including some blood pressure medications
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Some cosmetic, skin or hair care products
Risk factors
Anyone can develop rosacea. But you may be more likely to develop it if you:
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Are female
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Have skin that burns easily in the sun
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Are over age 30
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Smoke
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Have a family history of rosacea
Treatment
Medicine is the most common form of treatment for rosacea. The type of medicine your doctor recommends will depend on your symptoms. Medicines may include special antibiotics in the form of pills, gel, or cream. These work well at improving pimples and bumps. Skin redness is harder to treat.
It may take 2 months or more for treatment to work. As your symptoms improve, the amount of medicine you take may be cut down or stopped. It is hard to know how long you will need treatment for rosacea. Each person’s skin is different, and your doctor may want to adjust your treatment.