What is rosacea?

• Rosacea is a skin condition that is frequently mistaken for acne. In fact, as recently as the 1980s, rosacea was referred to as acne rosacea.

• It is a common condition with no known cause or cure.

Who gets it?

• Rosacea develops later in life than acne, usually between 30 and 50 years of age.

• It occurs most commonly in fair-skinned people of northern European ancestry; less often, it appears in people of color and Hispanic individuals.

What does it look like?

• Rosacea consists of red pimples (papules), pus pimples (pustules), and small blood vessels known as telangiectasias.

Where does it appear?

• Rosacea is typically seen on the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin.

What are its symptoms?

• It is mainly a cosmetic problem, although a burning sensation can sometimes be bothersome.

• It can also involve the eyes and eyelids, which may require treatment by an eye doctor.

What makes it worse?

• Sun exposure may trigger flares of rosacea.

• Excessive washing of the face may also aggravate it.

• Irritating cosmetics are another factor that can worsen it.

In some people, the following factors may aggravate rosacea:

• Excess alcohol

• Emotional stress

• Spicy foods, smoking, or caffeine

How is it treated?

Topical therapy

• A metronidazole cream or gel used once or twice daily. It is applied in a thin film to all rosacea prone areas.

Oral therapy

• Your health care provider may also prescribe an oral antibiotic such as

tetracycline.

Surgical treatment

• Special light treatments and lasers are sometimes effective for the continuing redness that can remain even after the pimples and papules are gone.