Rosacea
What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic and inflammatory skin condition which primarily affects the face. It causes redness and produces small pustules. If left untreated, it will worsen with time.
How many people have rosacea?
Approximately 5% of the population is affected with rosacea. However, because the condition is often misdiagnosed, that number may be much higher. Talk to your doctor if you think you might have this skin condition.
What are the symptoms of rosacea?
The most common signs and symptoms of rosacea are:
• easily blushing
• hyper-sensitive skin (reacting suddenly and strongly to touch or sunlight)
• constant redness
• facial swelling
• pustules (small spots on the skin filled with pus)
• dilated blood vessels
What causes rosacea?
No one knows for sure what causes rosacea. However, there are some pre-disposing factors that you should be aware about.
• Blood Vessel Abnormalities: Dermatologist suggest that abnormalities in the blood vessels of the face may cause rosacea.
• Naturally Light Skin Color: Having fair skin increases your chances of developing rosacea compared to darker-skinned people.
• High Mite Numbers: Microscopic mites live on human skin and generally cause no problems. However, it has been noted that those individuals who develop rosacea have higher numbers of certain types of mite.
• Heredity: Those who have relatives with rosacea are more likely to develop the condition.
Can rosacea be cured?
At the present time, there is no cure for rosacea. There are several treatments available however, and many patients get it under control with regular treatments of different therapies. Different treatment options include topical medications, oral antibiotics, miscellaneous medications, facial cleansers, laser and pulsed light, glycolic peels, sun protection, and photodynamic therapy.
