1. Isn't Just Acne
Rosacea is an inflammatory skin disease often mistaken for common acne. Adult acne or acne rosacea is similar in appearance to common acne. Teenage acne and rosacea are very different conditions. Teenage acne comes from bacteria and excess oil on the skin. Rosacea has no definite cause and flares up at times.
2. The Right Diagnosis
Because rosacea looks like a variety of other skin conditions it often goes untreated. People mistake rosacea for teenage acne, rash and skin allergies. If you know you have rosacea, it's very treatable. Like other types of skin disease, rosacea tends to spread and become worse over time without treatment. Symptoms of rosacea include red areas on the face, small red bumps on cheeks nose, chin and forehead, visible small veins on your nose and cheeks, and flushing or blushing easily.
3. Where Does it Come From?
There are no known causes for rosacea, but it tends to be more prevalent in adult, fair skinned people. People with sun damaged skin seem more susceptible to rosacea, and the disease often runs in families. Some doctors think it's some kind of blood disorder that causes the blood vessels in the face to swell. People used to blame alcohol for the redness associated with rosacea, but alcohol consumption does not cause this condition. Some things, like hot saunas or baths, stress, spicy foods and alcohol, bring on or intensify the symptoms of rosacea.
4. Three Stages
Rosacea begins in most people as just a tendency to flush or get red in the face. Over time, tiny blood vessels become more apparent, especially around the nose. Skin sensitivity also increases. Eventually a particular part of the face gets inflamed and stays that way. Ocular rosacea causes itching or burning of the eyes. More women have rosacea than men, but the condition gets progressively worse in men and sometimes causes a build up of tissue around the nose.
5. Treat it Early
Rosacea isn't a life threatening condition, but it can affect self esteem and cause self consciousnesses. As the condition gets worse, people sometimes miss work or feel like it affects their relationships and their social comfort level. Treatment for rosacea includes both topical creams and pulse laser therapy depending on the severity of the case. Avoiding rosacea triggers such as sun exposure, hot beverages, hot baths and certain skin products helps keep rosacea in remission.
