What is Rosacea?

Rosacea (pronounced "roh-ZAY-sha") is a chronic disorder primarily of the facial skin, often characterized by flare-ups and remissions. Many have observed that it typically begins any time after age 30 as a redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that may come and go. In some cases, rosacea may also occur on the neck, chest, scalp or ears. Over time, the redness tends to become ruddier and more persistent, visible blood vessels may appear, and bumps and pimples can develop. In severe cases the nose may grow swollen and bumpy from excess tissue. Sometimes the eyes are also affected, feeling irritated and appearing watery or bloodshot.

While there is no cure for rosacea and the cause is unknown, medical therapy is available to control or reverse its signs and symptoms. Individuals who suspect they may have rosacea are urged to see a dermatologist or other knowledgeable physician for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Symptoms of Rosacea

• Flushing - Many people with rosacea have a history of frequent blushing or flushing. This facial redness may come and go, and is often the earliest sign of the disorder.
• Persistent Redness - Persistent facial redness is the most common individual sign of rosacea, and may resemble a blush or sunburn that does not go away.
• Bumps and Pimples - Small red solid bumps or pus-filled pimples often develop. While these may resemble acne, blackheads are absent and burning or stinging may occur.
• Visible Blood Vessels - In many people with rosacea, small blood vessels become visible on the skin.

Other Potential Symptoms

• Eye Irritation - In many people with rosacea, the eyes may be irritated and appear watery or bloodshot, a condition known as ocular rosacea. The eyelids also may become red and swollen, and styes are common. Severe cases can result in corneal damage and vision loss without medical help.
• Burning or Stinging - Burning or stinging sensations may often occur on the face. Itching or a feeling of tightness may also develop.
• Dry Appearance - The central facial skin may be rough, and thus appear to be very dry.
• Plaques - Raised red patches, known as plaques, may develop without changes in the surrounding skin.
• Skin Thickening - The skin may thicken and enlarge from excess tissue, most commonly on the nose. This condition, known as rhinophyma, affects more men than women.
• Swelling - Facial swelling, known as edema, may accompany other signs of rosacea or occur independently.
• Signs Beyond the Face - Rosacea signs and symptoms may also develop beyond the face, most commonly on the neck, chest, scalp or ears.

Subtypes of Rosacea

According to a group of experts four subtypes of rosacea have been identified and defined as common patterns or groupings of signs and symptoms. These include:

• Subtype 1 (erythematotelangiectatic rosacea), characterized by flushing and persistent redness, and may also include visible blood vessels.
• Subtype 2 (papulopustular rosacea), characterized by persistent redness with transient bumps and pimples.
• Subtype 3 (phymatous rosacea), characterized by skin thickening, often resulting in an enlargement of the nose from excess tissue.
• Subtype 4 (ocular rosacea), characterized by ocular manifestations such as dry eye, tearing and burning, swollen eyelids, recurrent styes and potential vision loss from corneal damage.

Many people experience characteristics of more than one subtype at the same time, and those often may develop in succession. While rosacea may or may not evolve from one subtype to another, each individual sign or symptom may progress from mild to moderate to severe. Early diagnosis and treatment are therefore recommended.

Source: http://www.rosacea.org