How can I best treat my Rosacea?

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a common skin disorder that typically presents with a red rash and numerous inflamed pimples on the nose, forehead, cheeks, and chin. Inmost cases, the disorder starts with redness around the nose. Soon red inflamed pimples appear all over the face and nose. The appearance is fairly typical in most individuals. Often the disorder is mistaken for acne but blackheads are not part of the disorder. Rosacea is a quite common in and it is estimated that about 5% of North American individuals have rosacea.

Who is more prone to Rosacea?

Rosacea is most common in Caucasian females in between the 3rd-6th decade of life. Rosacea also occurs in men, but tends to be much severe in intensity. Rosacea tends to affect individuals with fair skin and those who tend to flush rather easily. All races and cultures are affected by rosacea

Another peculiar finding in men is that Rosacea also causes Rhinophyma. In rhinophyma, the nose appears large, deformed, and extremely red.

What is course of Rosacea?

If no treatment is undertaken, Rosacea simply gets worse.

What causes Rosacea?

It is widely believed that a combination of sun exposure and the tendency to flush are related. The sun exposure causes destruction of the very fine blood vessels underneath the skin. This is the reason why the skin appears red and flushed. When the vessels widen, fluid leaks out and is most likely the cause of swelling. During an acute flare up of Rosacea, the skin is tender to touch. Rosacea also affects the eyes and causes redness, dryness and an itchy sensation. Most people complain about a gritty sensation or a foreign body feeling in the eye. Excessive tearing and sensitivity to light is also common. Individuals with eye involvement should always be seen by an eye physician.