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Rosacea, the Blushing Disease
Rosacea is sometimes dismissed as a blushing
disease, but it is much more than that.
Rosacea is a gradual disease. The disorder usually
begins with a tendency to blush easily, then progresses over several years to
include persistent facial redness (inflammation) and tiny pimples on the
forehead, cheeks and chin. This progressive vascular
disorder causes the area of the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, or
eyelids to become inflamed. The resulting condition includes symptoms
of redness, prominent blood vessels, swelling, and skin eruptions
similar to acne.
Rosacea begins in adulthood, usually in the third
decade of life or later. The disorder predominantly affects fair-skinned
people, mostly those of northern European ancestry, although individuals of any
race may be affected. It is also more common in women.
Rosacea patients often experience increased redness
(erythema) on the central areas of the face, when the blood vessels in the face
expand. This can be caused by numerous factors such as ultraviolet
radiation, heat, cold, exercise, chemical irritation, strong emotions, alcoholic
beverages, hot drinks, and spices. These are the more common triggers for
Rosacea flare-ups.
To keep flare-ups to a minimum, avoid spicy foods,
alcohol, hot showers, sunburn and emotional stress, whenever
possible.
More extreme cases of Rosacea see the
development of bumps (papules) and pimples (pustules), eye and lid
involvement (redness) and enlargement of the nose (rhinophyma). The changes
brought about by Rosacea are typically limited to the upper body -
the cheeks, chin, nose, eyes, forehead and, in bald people, the
scalp.
Rosacea starts out with mild prolonged blushing,
which eventuallly can become a permanent redness. Here is a list of symptoms
sufferers rof Rosacea face:
- Facial flushing.
- Facial redness - This is caused by hundreds of tiny dilated blood vessels near
the surface of the facial skin.
- Facial telangiectasia - These are tiny broken blood vessels that are
permanently fixed in the dilated state.
- Facial skin
hyper-reactivity.
- Lumpy-bumpy facial
skin.
- Facial papules - Facial papules are small, red bumps about the size of a
pinhead.
- Facial pustules - Facial pustules are small red bumps with
pus.
- Facial burning
sensations.
- Facial swelling.
- Rhinophyma - Rhinophyma is a form of rosacea that is characterized
by chronic redness, inflammation, and increased tissue growth (thickened
skin) of the nose.
- Ocular symptoms - Symptoms include inflammation of the eye surface, inflammation of the eye lids, scales or crusting on eye lids and eye lashes, blockage of the meibomian glands (blepharitis), dry eye syndrome, excessive tearing and blood shot eyes.
The exact cause of Rosacea is unknown, although
there maybe a relationship between the disorder and an imbalance of intestinal
bacteria. There is no direct cure for this condition either. But there are many
things you can do to mitigate the symptoms of Rosacea, from changing your diet,
learning to avoid the triggers for flare-ups, avoiding certain perfumes and
lotions, skincare routines and particular medical treatments for Rosacea.
For a good resource on how to reverse the effects
of Rosacea, check out Overcoming Rosacea.