What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a common disorder that mainly affects facial skin. It causes redness on the nose, chin, cheeks, and forehead. Over time, the redness can become more intense, taking on a ruddy appearance. Blood vessels may become visible. In some cases, rosacea appears on the chest, ears, neck, or scalp. If rosacea is not treated, red solid bumps and pus-filled pimples can develop. The disorder can cause the nose to take on a bulbous, swollen appearance called rhinophyma. Rosacea can affect the eyes, causing them to feel irritated and to appear bloodshot or watery.
The cause of rosacea is not known; however, different theories exist regarding the cause. One theory is that rosacea might be a component of a more generalized disorder of the blood vessels. Other theories suggest that the condition is caused by microscopic skin mites, fungus, psychological factors, or a malfunction of the connective tissue under the skin. Although no one knows for sure what causes rosacea, some circumstances and conditions can trigger it.
We will will conduct a thorough exam of your signs and symptoms, and will take a medical history. During your exam, you should tell your us about any problems you are having with your face (redness, bumps or pimples, burning, itching, etc.). There is no specific test to diagnose rosacea. People who have fair skin and who tend to blush easily might be at a higher risk for the disorder. Rosacea appears more often among women, but men tend to have the more severe symptoms. A possible reason for this could be that men delay medical treatment until rosacea becomes advanced.
Rosacea’s appearance can vary greatly from one individual to another. Most of the time, not all of the potential signs and symptoms appear. Rosacea always includes at least one of the primary signs listed below. Various secondary signs and symptoms might also develop.
Primary signs of rosacea
- Flushing—Many people who have rosacea have a history of frequent blushing or flushing. The facial redness, which might come and go, often is the earliest sign of the disorder.
- Persistent redness—Persistent facial redness might resemble a blush or sunburn that does not go away.
- Bumps and pimples—Small red solid bumps or pus-filled pimples often develop. Sometimes the bumps might resemble acne, but blackheads are absent. Burning or stinging might be present.
- Visible blood vessels—Small blood vessels become visible on the skin of many people who have rosacea.
While there is no cure for rosacea and the cause is unknown, medical therapy is available to control or reverse its signs and symptoms. Treatments with lasers, intense pulsed light sources, or other medical and surgical devices might be used to remove visible blood vessels, reduce extensive redness, or correct disfigurement of the nose. If you suspect that you might have rosacea, please come in for a proper consultation.