Rosacea (roe-ZAY-she-uh) is a common skin condition that causes redness in your face and often produces small, red, pus-filled bumps. Although rosacea can occur in anyone, it most commonly affects middle-aged women who have fair skin.

Left untreated, rosacea tends to worsen over time. Rosacea signs and symptoms may flare up for a period of weeks to months and then diminish before flaring up again. Rosacea can be mistaken for acne, an allergic reaction or other skin problems.

While there's no cure for rosacea, treatments can control and reduce the signs and symptoms. If you experience persistent redness of your face, see your doctor for a diagnosis and proper treatment.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Signs and symptoms of rosacea may include:

• Facial redness. Rosacea usually causes a persistent redness in the central portion of your face. Small blood vessels on your nose and cheeks often swell and become visible.
• Swollen red bumps. Many people who have rosacea also develop bumps on their face that resemble acne. These bumps sometimes contain pus. Your skin may feel hot and tender.
• Eye problems. About half of the people who have rosacea also experience eye dryness, irritation and swollen, reddened eyelids. In some people, rosacea's eye symptoms precede the skin symptoms.
• Enlarged nose. Rarely, rosacea can thicken the skin on the nose, causing the nose to appear bulbous (rhinophyma). This occurs more often in men than in women.

When to see a doctor

If you experience persistent redness of your face, see your doctor or a skin specialist (dermatologist) for a diagnosis and proper treatment.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

The cause of rosacea is unknown, but it could be due to some combination of hereditary and environmental factors.

A number of factors can trigger or aggravate rosacea by increasing blood flow to the surface of your skin. Some of these factors include:

• Hot foods or beverages
• Spicy foods
• Alcohol
• Temperature extremes
• Sunlight
• Stress, anger or embarrassment
• Strenuous exercise
• Hot baths or saunas
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Drugs that dilate blood vessels, including some blood pressure medications

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

There's no specific test for rosacea. Instead, doctors rely on the history of your symptoms and a physical examination of your skin. In some cases, your doctor may need to rule out other conditions, such as other forms of acne, psoriasis, various forms of eczema or lupus, which can sometimes cause similar signs and symptoms.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

In severe and rare cases, the oil glands (sebaceous glands) in your nose and sometimes your cheeks become enlarged, resulting in a buildup of tissue on and around your nose — a condition called rhinophyma (ri-no-FI-muh). This complication is much more common in men and develops slowly over a period of years.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Many alternative therapies — including colloidal silver, emu oil, laurelwood, oregano oil and vitamin K — have been touted as possible ways to treat rosacea. However, there's no conclusive evidence that any of these alternative therapies are effective.

If you're considering dietary supplements or other alternative therapies to treat rosacea, consult your doctor. He or she can help you weigh the pros and cons of specific alternative therapies.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

One of the most important things you can do if you have rosacea is to minimize your exposure to anything that causes a flare-up. Find out what factors affect you so that you can avoid them. Other suggestions to prevent flare-ups include:

• Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
• Protect your face in the winter with a scarf or ski mask
• Avoid irritating your facial skin by rubbing or touching it too much
• Wash problem areas with a gentle cleanser (Dove, Cetaphil)
• Avoid facial products that contain alcohol or other skin irritants

If you wear makeup, consider using green-tinted foundation creams and powders because they're designed to counter skin redness.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Rosacea can be distressing. You might feel embarrassed or anxious about your symptoms and become withdrawn or self-conscious. You may be frustrated or upset by other people's reactions. Talking to a counselor about these feelings can be helpful.

A rosacea support group, either in person or online, can connect you with others facing the same types of problems — which can be especially comforting.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Although anyone can develop rosacea, you may be more likely to develop rosacea if you:

• Are a woman
• Have fair skin
• Are between the ages of 30 and 60
• Have a family history of rosacea

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com