What is Rosacea?
Rosacea (rose-AY-sha) is a chronic skin disease that causes redness and swelling, primarily on the face, and can also affect the scalp, neck, ears, chest and back. Those afflicted with rosacea may first notice a tendency to flush or blush easily. The condition can occur over a long period of time and often progresses to a persistent redness, pimples and visible blood vessels in the center of the face that can eventually involve the cheeks, forehead, chin and nose.
Since rosacea causes facial swelling and redness, it is easily confused with other skin conditions, such as acne and sunburn. For this reason, it is known as the “great pretender,” and is often incorrectly diagnosed as “adult acne.”
FAQs
Who gets rosacea?
Rosacea affects an estimated 14 million Americans. Adults, especially those between 30 and 50 years of age who have lighter skin, blonde hair and blue eyes, are most likely to suffer from rosacea. However, rosacea can affect children and people of any skin type.
It is often passed on in families, with women being afflicted more often than their male counterparts. Men, however, often get more severe forms of rosacea. For women with rosacea, increased flushing and blushing may occur around and during menopause.
What causes rosacea?
While the precise cause of rosacea remains a mystery, researchers believe that heredity and environmental factors are to blame. One explanation is that something causes the blood vessels to swell. The result, these scientists believe, is the flushing and redness characteristic.
Another theory is that a mite called Demodex folliculorum, which lives in hair follicles, could be a cause. The belief is that the mites clog oil glands, which leads to the inflammation seen in rosacea. Others believe that a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, which causes intestinal infection, might be a cause. The immune system also has been implicated as playing a role in rosacea’s development.
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