Many individuals are uncertain about how to distinguish if what they have is rosacea or not. Reading this guide may help you to know the characteristics of rosacea better.
Rosacea is the name for a common, chronic and progressive (worsens over time), inflammatory skin disease. The main area of concern is the facial skin. The characteristics of rosacea are facial flushing or blushing, facial erythema, papules, pustules, and telangiectasia that appear on the face, chin, forehead, cheeks and nose. The severest cases tend to be seen in men. When rosacea goes untreated it progresses and men can have thickened skin especially on the end of the nose, which gives it a swelling and bulbous enlargement that is known as “rhinophyma”.
The first signs of rosacea typically occur between the ages of 25 and 70. Individuals with fair skin tend to have rosacea more often than darker complexions. More women have rosacea, but men tend to have more severe cases of rosacea. Rosacea will clear up for periods of time and then reoccur.
Rosacea mimics acne vulgaris because it has papules and pustules but unlike acne rosacea’s inflammation is vascular in nature.
Individuals with rosacea will see gradual changes in their condition and this makes it difficult to determine the early stages of rosacea. It can be mistaken for sunburn, rosy cheeks or acne. Many individuals with rosacea do not seek treatment in the early stage.
Features of Rosacea to look for:
Redness of the face or neck, caused by emotion or physical exertion
Flushing or blushing caused by drinking or eating hot/spicy foods or drink
Telangiectasias – blood vessels of the face that have enlarged
Papules and pustules (blemishes/pimples)
Skin swelling, especially of the nose
Eye complications (conjunctivitis, iritis, keratitis or blepharitis)
An increase in the amount of oil on the skin
Individuals in their teens and twenties may notice that they easily blush, and that the redness may last. They may also feel a burning or stinging when applying sunscreens, astringents, cleansers, or other preparations like after-shave, perfumes and colognes.
There are 3 stages to rosacea.
Stage 1 is the mildest form and is triggered by hot beverages, hot foods or spicy foods, and alcohol. The redness from the blushing/flushing may last for hours. The individual may feel a burning or stinging of the face or itching after using cosmetics or facial products.
Stage 2 starts when tiny blood vessels appear on the face, the seborrhea on the scalp increases, and tiny facial pores enlarge and become obvious.
Stage 3 is when there are deep inflammatory nodules on the face, large visible blood vessels on the surface of the face, facial pores that are obviously enlarged and plentiful. There is enlarged swelling of skin especially over the nose.