Rosacea is an inflammatory disorder that may only appear as flushing or redness on the face. The disorder can worsen and look similar to acne or in rare cases, it can thicken the skin. If the skin begins to thicken, the nose may become enlarged. Along with the appearance, rosacea may bring on irritation of the eyes and inflammation of the membrane of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. In most cases, roseacea appears on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. However, some individuals have experienced roseacea on their scalp, neck, chest, back, arms, and legs. 

At one time rosacea was known as adult acne or acne rosacea, however, due to the fact that this disorder has nothing whatsoever to do with clogged pores or hormone levels the word acne was dropped from the name. 

Rosacea differs from one person to another with different levels of severity. There are different subtypes of rosacea with most individuals suffering only from subtype I or beginning with this type and then developing other subtypes. 

• Subtype I Rosacea sufferers experience redness of the face at all times.
• Subtype II Rosacea sufferers experience acne like bumps
• Subtype III Rosacea sufferers experience thickening of the nose
• Subtype IV Rosacea sufferers experience eye and eyelid irritation. 

Symptoms vary from person to person and normally begin with the subtype I and progress to other types. 

The early symptoms of Rosacea are: 

• Blushing
• Constant redness of the face
• Tiny spider veins on the face
• Pimples like bumps on the face
• Dry itchy eyes

Symptoms of Rosacea that can occur but are not common include: 

• Blisters
• Red raised patches of skin
• Rough skin
• Scaly skin
• Skin thickening
• Swelling

Causes of Rosacea

The exact cause of rosacea is actually unknown but many scientists can speculate on the causes such as changes in the way the body reacts to bacteria that normally lives on the skin may be one cause. Other causes could be attributed to fungal infections, food allergies, stomach ulcers, or the breakdown of connective tissues. Remember these are only speculations as no known cause has been proven. 

There are things that can cause an outbreak of rosacea such as alcohol, menopause, caffeine, hot showers, exercise, hot drinks, stress, smoking, spicy foods, wind, weather, long term direct sunlight, and long term use of topical steroids. All of these can trigger an outbreak of rosacea. 

What is known is that rosacea is not contagious and is not due to poor hygiene.

Treatment for Rosacea

There is no known cure for rosacea; on the other hand, there are a few treatment options that can help with stopping the progression or aid in some of the symptoms. 

The goals with treating rosacea are to control the outbreak or flare-ups, prevent progression, and improve the appearance of the skin. It can take up to several weeks or even months for any of the treatments to show marked improvement. 

Drug Treatment

Topical products such as antibiotic ointments and oral antibiotics are often given at the time of an outbreak. When the outbreak is under control, the oral antibiotics will be discontinued. The four main topical products include azaleic acid, metronidazole, sulfacetamide, and sulfur. This comes in various forms including gels, creams, solutions, and ointments. Other topical applications that can be used include topical tretinion and benzoyl peroxide; however, these can cause dryness of the skin. 

Antibiotics

Oral antibiotics are given for outbreaks and for a short period of time. These can include azithromycin, doxycycline, clarithromycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and minocycline. 

Laser

Laser surgery is used to remove the small broken blood vessels and to reduce the thickening of the skin. This is done for small areas with a few side effects such as bruising, pain, and swelling. 

Talking with your doctor is the best way in which to find the proper treatment for any rosacea outbreaks. In rare severe cases, skin transplants and plastic surgery are necessary for thickening of the skin.