Rosacea Dr Rob Hicks Rosacea is an inflammatory condition that mainly affects the cheeks, forehead and nose. Its cause is unknown.

In this article

What are the symptoms? Who's affected?

What's the treatment? Advice and support

The face becomes flushed and red and typically feels itchy and burning. Small white and yellow pimples may appear, which sometimes become pustules. In some cases the rash becomes permanent, leaving the skin red.

When the nose is affected, particularly in older men, the skin becomes thickened, swollen and purple, a condition called rhinophyma.

Up to one in ten people may have rosacea. Although it can appear for the first time at any age, it more commonly appears between the ages of 30 and 55, with women more often affected than men. It can run in families.

It isn't possible to prevent a first attack, but those affected can learn to avoid common triggers. These include hot food and drink, alcohol, spicy foods, caffeine, temperature changes, exposure to the sun or wind and stress.

When flare-ups occur they can be successfully treated with topical antibiotics.

Other treatments may be necessary for more severe causes of rosacea, and surgery or laser treatment can be used to treat rhinophyma.

Although it's difficult to predict how long rosacea will last, in time it does disappear.

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This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in July 2006.