Rosacea Symptoms

Rosacea is an unpleasant skin disease, characterized by abnormal redness of the facial skin. It is sometimes called acne rosacea, as the symptoms often include pimple or acne like skin outbreaks. Rosacea symptoms may develop in any part of the face, including the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin portions. Timely treatment of this skin problem is imperative, as an untreated condition results in exacerbation of the symptoms in due course of time.

Rosacea Signs and Symptoms

The exact causes of rosacea are not known to medical experts. Nevertheless, it is observed that the occurrence rate of this skin problem is higher among Caucasian who have lighter skin tone. Also, women are more prone to rosacea than men. In most cases, it affects people in the age group 30 - 60. Rosacea symptoms are not complicated, unless they are related to the eyes. Many a time, people who are affected with rosacea may not be aware of their skin condition.

The symptoms of rosacea are often confused with acne vulgaris, eczema and dermatitis. In contrary to these skin diseases, rosacea is mostly concentrated in the facial parts. Other adjacent areas like the ears, scalp, neck and chest are rarely affected by rosacea. Skin examination by a qualified dermatologist is the only reliable approach to confirm rosacea. Some of the notable acne rosacea symptoms are listed below:

• Mild flushing of the facial skin that looks like slight sunburn. This skin sign may come and go. It is caused as a result of increased blood circulation in the enlarged blood vessels.
• Persistent reddening of the face, which may last for a few days to several days. In men, skin redness is usually seen in the nose, while skin reddening is observed in almost all facial parts in women.
• In an individual having rosacea, small red veins are visible, particularly in the cheeks that resemble spider webs. These are caused due to increased blood flow, which in turn results in dilation of the blood vessels.
• Hypersensitivity of the facial skin to skin care products, like lotions, moisturizers and creams. Most patients complain of burning sensation while applying topical medications and moisturizer for rosacea treatment.
• Increased sensitivity to sunlight, temperature and humidity. Generally, the affected skin appears dry, irrespective of the weather conditions. Eruption of small papules and pus filled pustules are also common symptoms.
• An advanced condition of rosacea observed in male patients is rhinophyma. In such a case, the nose appears waxy, bulbous and enlarged due to presence of knobby bumps.

Ocular rosacea is a subtype of rosacea, wherein the redness, irritation and swelling are observed in the eyes and eyelids. Likewise, there are other subtypes, which are classified in accordance to the observed skin conditions. In case these symptoms are observed in and around the eyes, immediate medical attention is a must to reduce eye complications in future. If left untreated for an extended period, ocular rosacea symptoms may worsen, resulting in blurred vision and many other eye related problems.

These symptoms may become more pronounced after being exposed to sunlight, stress and temperature fluctuations. Other factors that may aggravate this skin disease are spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, rigorous exercise, facial skin care products, underlying disease, medications and food allergens. Thus, acne rosacea natural treatment begins with identifying the triggers and avoiding them as far as possible.

One of the disheartening concerns with all types of rosacea is that they are chronic skin diseases. In short, there is no specific cure for rosacea. Therapeutic intervention is indicated to minimize the recurrent flare-ups, and manage the inflammatory skin symptoms. With proper skin care and facial redness treatment approaches, most patients receive prompt results in reducing the troublesome skin symptoms.

Understanding rosacea symptoms and treatment options will help a patient in alleviating recurrent outbreaks. For people who experience frequent flare-ups, a trip to the doctor is crucial to diagnose and treat the symptoms properly. Along with therapeutic medications, the doctor may suggest diet for rosacea and appropriate lifestyle changes to reduce the probable triggering factors. As per individual preferences, laser treatment for rosacea is also conducted for cosmetic interest.