Take the Rosacea Quiz

Rosacea usually occurs on the face. But sometimes it also affects the neck and upper chest. Rosacea also affects the eyes in about half the cases. It makes the eyes red and irritated.

Rosacea usually occurs in adults between the ages of 30 and 50. But people often report a tendency to flush or blush easily before they had symptoms of rosacea.

Women are more often affected by mild to moderate rosacea than men. The condition is often more severe when it strikes men.

Some people may have more than one type of rosacea at a time. The 4 types are:

• Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea. This is the earliest stage. Symptoms are flushing or redness.
• Papulopustular rosacea. Symptoms are small blood vessels, or small red bumps or pustules that you can see on your nose and cheeks, or both. This is often seen in women.
• Phymatous rosacea. This usually affects men. The main symptom is an enlarged, bulbous, red nose.
• Ocular rosacea. This causes red, burning, light-sensitive, dry, or watery eyes.

Other triggers include exposure to the sun, emotional stress, alcohol, exercise, cold wind, hot foods and beverages, and hot baths. What causes a flare-up in one person may not cause a problem in another.

Only in severe cases can your eyesight become harmed. Typical eye symptoms include redness, burning, tearing, and the sensation of a foreign body or sand in the eye. Infection of the eyelids may cause the lids to become inflamed and swollen. Some people complain of blurry vision.

These mites are called Demodex folliculorum. Some researchers believe that these mites clog the sebaceous gland openings. This causes skin inflammation. Other researchers have shown a possible link between rosacea and Helicobacter pylori. H. pylori are bacteria that cause infection in the digestive system. Some research has also suggested that the immune system may play a role in some people. The mites can be treated with medicine. More research is needed on the mites because some people who have many Demodex mites on their skin don't get rosacea.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe an oral antibiotic if the topical medicine doesn't work. Some people respond quickly to treatment. Others need long-term therapy. Newer treatments narrow blood vessels to reduce redness and inflammation.

By doing this, you may be able to cut back on or even stop taking medicine to control the rosacea. One way to stay away from triggers is to keep a record of things that seem to cause flare-ups. Bring this record with you when you visit your healthcare provider.

Sunscreens are recommended. They should protect against ultraviolet A and B rays and have an SPF of at least 15. Check the chemical contents of the sunscreen. Don't use brands that have octyl methoxycinnamate, octyl salicylate, or PABA.