What is rosacea? What are the causes and symptoms of rosacea?

Rosacea is a chronic non-infectious skin condition affecting the face and décolleté area. It manifests as redness and rashes, spider veins, capillary networks, and swelling. The disease is challenging to treat and can recur after periods of remission, spreading to the skin of the nose, chest, areas around the eyes, and ears. Besides redness, rosacea can cause pustules and bumps on the face, which are difficult to eliminate. Hence, the disease is also known as “acne rosacea.” The symptoms of rosacea are quite unpleasant, causing physical discomfort and aesthetic issues.

What Symptoms Indicate the Onset of Rosacea?

The primary symptom of the disease is erythema – skin redness due to blood flow to small vessels. Rosacea typically occurs in men and women over the age of 30 and is accompanied by the following signs:

• Redness of the forehead, nose, cheeks, chin, neck, or décolleté area, less commonly the back and behind the ears;
• Rashes, pink bumps (papules), which can develop into pustules and acne;
• Skin thickening in areas of redness;
• Enlarged blood vessels, visible networks of red capillaries, and dark pink or red spider veins;
• Rhinophyma (bulbous nose) in men and rarely in women;
• Dryness and redness of the eyes, a feeling of burning and sand in the eyes.

Rosacea symptoms develop quite slowly. The disease starts with dilated superficial vessels, which gradually enlarge, accompanied by burning and tingling sensations. The dangerous consequences of rosacea include facial disfigurement due to skin thickening in some areas.

Rosacea: Symptoms Unique to This Disease

The hallmark of rosacea is that the redness does not resolve painlessly at all stages. Unlike allergic reactions that may cause only redness or dermatitis that causes itching, rosacea always has these symptoms:

• Pain;
• Itching of varying intensity;
• Burning and increased temperature at the site of redness;
• Tingling;
• Feeling of tightness and swelling.

Causes of Rosacea

The main cause of rosacea is the dysfunction of the capillaries and thin arteries of the skin of the face, neck, and décolleté area. Immune and neurovascular dysfunction, problems with vascular tone regulation, including vegetative-vascular dystonia, cause rosacea in adult men and women. Rarely, the disease is noted in children and adolescents. 

Genetic predisposition is noted. People with significant photosensitivity, red-haired women with fair skin are more often affected by rosacea. Symptoms of this disease appear between the ages of 30-50. It most often occurs in people who abuse alcohol, smoke, and have an unbalanced diet. The tendency to rosacea increases in such conditions:

• Endocrine system disorders, diabetes;
• Gastrointestinal diseases, including Helicobacter pylori infection;
• Infectious skin diseases;
• Changes in immune status due to menopause, ovarian pathology, or hormone medications.

Rosacea can be triggered by corticosteroids, spicy food, and overly hot drinks. 

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It was previously believed that rosacea symptoms were caused by Demodex mites. However, this theory was not confirmed – skin analyses of patients showed no traces of subcutaneous mites.

Rosacea symptoms can also be caused by external factors: excessive sun exposure, frequent frostbite. Acne rosacea due to exogenous reasons is often found in people who work outdoors and neglect skin protection.

Video: Dermatologist on Rosacea

To learn about this skin issue firsthand and debunk myths, we recommend watching a video where a dermatologist explains rosacea in detail and clearly.

Conclusion

Rosacea is a complex chronic disease that requires a special approach to skin care and lifestyle changes. It is important to detect symptoms in time and consult a specialist to minimize symptoms and improve quality of life.

FAQ’s About Rosacea