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Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder that most often affects the forehead, nose, cheekbones and chin. Groups of capillaries close to the surface of the skin become dilated resulting in blotchy red areas with small bumps and sometimes, pimples. Rosacea redness can come and go, but eventually may become permanent. Rosacea skin tissue can swell and thicken and may be tender and sensitive to the touch.
The inflammation of Rosacea can be confused with Acne, but the two are quite different. Rosacea tends to be more chronic, blackheads and whiteheads are almost never present, and unlike Acne that affects teenagers, Rosacea usually begins in middle age or later. Rosacea is a fairly common disorder. Rosacea affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide. Rosacea usually begins with frequent flushing of the face, particularly the nose and cheeks.
The flushing is caused by the swelling of the blood vessels under the skin. This ‘red mask’ can serve as a flag for attention. Rosacea can also cause a persistent burning and feeling of grittiness in the eyes or inflamed and swollen eyelids. In severe cases, vision can be impaired.
Certain factors are known to aggravate Rosacea including the consumption of alcohol, hot liquids and/or spicy foods. Exposure to sunlight and extremes of temperature are also detrimental to Rosacea suffererers. Stress, vitamin deficiencies and a damaged immune system can be contributing factors. It is interesting to note that the things that aggravate one person’s Rosacea may have absolutely no effect on another person.
Rosacea is most common in white women of Anglo Saxon and Celtic background between the ages of thirty and fifty. When it does occur in men, Rosacea tends to be more severe, and is usually accompanied by rhinophyma (a nose that becomes chronically red and enlarged).
Rosacea can be distressing for cosmetic reasons and without proper care Rosacea can develop into a disfiguring condition.
