The Facts About Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that needs to be managed to prevent it from becoming progressively worse. Learn about the four subtypes of rosacea, including ocular rosacea, which affects the eyes.
You might wonder why you blush so often or your skin flushes or turns red so frequently, especially when you havent been out in the sun. You could be one of the estimated 16 million Americans with rosacea, a skin condition that many people dont even know exists.
Rosacea is a chronic and often progressive skin disease that usually affects the face, but can extend down to the neck, chest, and back. Rosacea most commonly starts out with frequent blushing or flushing and can eventually cause your skin to be red all the time. A network of visible blood vessels may appear in the center of your face, starting with your nose, and then extending outward over time. Other symptoms are thickening skin and breakouts rosacea used to be called acne rosacea because of its pimples, but it is not a form of acne.
Who Gets Rosacea?
Rosacea typically affects people between the ages of 30 and 60 and those with fair skin are more susceptible than those with darker complexions. Its more common in women than men, though symptoms can be worse in men, especially when the nose is involved.
Because rosacea can look like conditions ranging from sunburn to acne, its important to see a dermatologist to get a diagnosis. A dermatologist will examine your skin to see if you have one of several types of rosacea; treatment depends on the type that you have. The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, and there is no cure, but it can be managed.
Rosacea Symptoms and Types
Symptoms of rosacea can vary widely among patients, but the most common include:
- Skin that flushes or blushes easily
- Persistent facial redness
- Tiny, visible blood vessels called telangiectasias (commonly called spider veins)
- Overly sensitive skin that stings from certain skin care and beauty products
- Red bumps and pimples filled with pus
There are four subtypes of rosacea, each of which has telltale symptoms:
- Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: flushing and persistent redness, sometimes with visible webs of blood vessels
- Papulopustular rosacea: persistent red skin with bumps and pimples, or pustules
- Phymatous rosacea: thickened skin and enlargement of the nose and surrounding tissue. The most advanced phymatous type of rosacea is called rhinophyma, which affects the oil glands on the outside of the nose and causes the nose to enlarge and have a reddish or yellow waxy look. Rhinophyma occurs more often in men.
- Ocular rosacea: red skin around the eyes and eyelids, often accompanied by other symptoms such as dry eyes, swollen eyelids, tearing and burning, and in some cases, recurrent infections Ocular rosacea may affect people who have only mild facial rosacea. Up to 50 percent of all rosacea cases affect the eyes, necessitating care from an ophthalmologist because ocular rosacea can make the eyes sensitive to light, impair vision, and in some cases, lead to corneal damage.
Help for Rosacea
Because a patient with rosacea may have symptoms of several subtypes, treatment must be tailored to the individual. The goal of treatment is to control symptoms and improve the skins appearance. People with rosacea will need patience regardless of the treatment, it can take up to several months before the condition improves. But getting rosacea under control is the key to preventing it from getting progressively worse.
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com
