Rosacea

What is rosacea?

Rosacea has been defined as a persistent redness of the central part of the face lasting for at least three months, and often including features such as flushing, red lumps and pustules, and small dilated blood vessels. Exactly which symptoms develop defines which particular subtype of rosacea is present.

Symptoms

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. Some experts believe that rhinophyma is actually a separate condition.

Causes and risk factors

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.

Although the cause isn’t known, a number of factors which may play a part have been identified. These include some microorganisms, changes in the blood vessels, climate, and exposure to certain chemicals or foods.

People often describe a tendency to facial flushing which may have begun in childhood, precipitated by factors such as hot drinks, heat or emotions.

Treatment and recovery

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. Use of sunscreen may be important to protect against the effect of UV light.

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

Other drug treatments may be necessary for more severe causes of rosacea, and surgery or laser treatment can be used to treat rhinophyma. Laser therapy can be used to target the dilated blood vessels in an effort to reduce redness or improve the quality of the skin but treatment may be lengthy and expensive.

Rosacea tends to wax and wane over time but eventually, with the use of treatment, most people reach a fairly stable state of relative control of their condition.