1. Butterfly Rash
Facial flushing, also known as prerosacea, is one of the first signs of rosacea. This flushing, which comes and goes, results from dilation of the blood vessels. Frequently, alcohol consumption, stress, certain foods, extreme temperatures and exposure to sun precipitate flushing episodes. Men and women may exhibit different flushing patterns. For women, flushing is common on the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Sometimes the flushing on the cheek and nose resembles the shape of a butterfly, also known as a butterfly rash. Men tend to flush mostly on the nose. Flushing can spread to the neck and chest areas. Over time, the rash remains present on the nose and cheeks.
2. Weblike Lines on Your Cheeks
As blood vessels go through repeated periods of dilation, they permanently enlarge and are visible to the naked eye. Rosacea patients notice these vessels as tiny, thin, red lines on their face. Some people note that these lines look like red spider webs. This condition, also known as telangiectasia, occurs when the blood vessels under the skin swell. When telangiectasia follows bouts of prolonged flushing or a butterfly shaped rash, it's often referred to as vascular rosacea.
3. Tingling, Sensitive Rosacea Skin
People with rosacea often report skin sensitivity following the application of products, such as sunscreen, lotions or medications. Sensitivity manifests as burning or stinging on the skin. Sometimes the skin is oily.
4. Swellings and Bumps
Inflammatory rosacea is an advanced form of rosacea that causes swellings on the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin. The inflammation initially appears as small red bumps or pustules on the affected red areas, such as the cheeks, nose and forehead. Rarely, the disease progresses to rhinophyma, which is the most severe form of rosacea. A person with rhinophyma experiences enlargement of the sebaceous glands around the nose. This causes the nose to appear swollen, red and bulbous. Rhinophyma develops over the course of many years and appears more frequently in men who have rosacea.
5. The Sting of Ocular Rosacea
Some rosacea patients experience ocular rosacea, which presents as extreme eye irritation that causes dry, burning sensations in the eyes. Often, the irritation accompanies redness and swelling of the eyelid and the area around the eye. Styes and conjunctivitis are common complications. Occasionally, patients report blurred vision, but damage to vision is limited to severe cases.
