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. The redness can come and go, but eventually may become permanent if
blood vessels under the skin become dilated, a phenomenon known as telangiectasia. The
skin tissue can swell and thicken, and may be tender and sensitive to the touch.
The inflammation of Rosacea can look a great
deal like acne, but it tends to be more chronic, blackheads and whiteheads are almost
never present. It is a fairly common disorder...about one in every twenty Americans has it
to some degree...but many never realize they have it. 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. Inflammation can then spread across the face and small bumps may
appear. Later, swelling of the nose may occur. However, it can take years from the
beginnings of this condition before the later stages develop. 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.
The underlying cause or causes of
Rosacea are
not understood, but certain factors are known to aggravate the condition, including the
consumption of alcohol, hot liquids, and / or spicy foods; exposure to sunlight; humidity;
extremes of temperature; and the use of makeup and skin care products containing alcohol.
Stress, vitamin deficiencies, and infection can be contributing factors. The things that
aggravate one person's Rosacea may have no effect on another person.
Rosacea is most common in white women 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). Fair-skinned individuals seem to be more susceptible to this condition than
darker skinned people. People who flush easily seem to be more prone than others to
develop rosacea.
In rare cases, rosacea may affect the skin in
other parts of the body as well as the face. It is not a dangerous condition, but it is
chronic and can be distressing for cosmetic reasons. Without proper care, it can develop
into a disfiguring condition.
