What is Rosacea?

Rosacea (roz-ay-sha) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition, mainly affecting the face, and it affects people of all races. It causes redness of the face and generates small, red bumps (pus-filled pustules). Generally, fair-skinned people get affected by rosacea, and if not treated, it gets worse with time. Many people generally mistake rosacea for eczema, acne or skin allergy.

Approximately 15-16 million people in United States are affected with rosacea. According to a survey, it is reported that 78% of people in America are unaware about rosacea and its symptoms.

What are the signs and symptoms of rosacea?

Generally the signs and symptoms of rosacea differ from person-to-person. However, the common signs and symptoms associated with rosacea are as follows:

1) Flushing: This is commonly the first sign of rosacea. The episodes of flushing can last for 5 minutes, with the skin feeling slightly hot during that time.

2) Hyper-reactivity of facial skin: The blood vessels become very sensitive. They can be easily dilated by touch or sunlight.

3) Continual redness of skin: There is redness of skin caused by the expansion of the tiny blood vessels on the facial skin. This area may be look like as sunburn.

4) Inflammatory rosacea (Small pustules, papules or spots): Sometimes papules, pus-filled pustules (bumps) and small spots appear on the facial skin.

5) Vascular rosacea (swollen blood vessels): In the advance stage of rosacea, the blood vessels on cheeks and nose inflamed and become visible, often they look like small spider webs. People usually think that it is because of consuming too much alcohol, but actually it is caused by swelling of minuscule blood vessels. Alcohol consumption, however, may trigger the symptoms in patients who previously have rosacea.

6) Ocular rosacea (inflaming sensation): There is inflammation and scaly appearance of the eyelid. Approximately 50 percent of rosacea patients experience a burning sensation in the eyes.

7) Rhinophyma: The facial skin near the nose becomes very thick. This symptom is very rare and mainly affects males.

8 ) Swelling of the face: This complication is caused by the leaking of excess proteins and fluid from the blood vessels.

What are the causes and of rosacea?

The actual causes of rosacea are still unknown. However, the following associated factors are supposed to contribute:

1) Abnormalities in the blood vessels of the face: Skin specialists suggest that the main factor is the abnormalities of the blood vessels, which cause visible blood vessels, flushing and persistent redness.

2) Fair skin: Fair-skinned people mostly get affected by rosacea in comparison with other people.

3) Demodex folliculorum: Demodex folliculorum is a microscopic mite that lives on human skin and generally causes no harm. Although patients of rosacea have a large number of these mites on their skin, but it is controversial that these mites cause rosacea, or rosacea is responsible for the overpopulation of demodex folliculorum.

4) Helicobacter pylori bacteria: This bacterium lives in the gut and plays an important role in the growth of rosacea.

5) Family history: Scientists found that 30%-40% of affected people have a close relative affected with rosacea.

6) Triggers: There a lot of factors which contribute to the aggravation of rosacea and make the condition worse. Some of the main factors include spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, sunlight etc.

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