Rosacea

Rosacea (ro-zay-sha) is a common, acne-like benign inflammatory ...

Rosacea is considered an incurable auto-inflammatory skin condition which mostly affects the central face, with women being more affected than men. The pathophysiology is not completely understood, but dysregulation of the immune system, as well as changes in the nervous and the vascular system have been identified. Microbes that are part of the normal skin flora, and specifically in the pilo-sebaceous unit – including Demodex mites and Staphylococcus epidermidis – may also play a role as triggers of rosacea. The main symptoms and signs of rosacea include red or pink facial skin, small dilated blood vessels, small red bumps sometimes containing pus, cysts, and pink or irritated eyes, the  redness can slowly spread beyond the nose and cheeks to the forehead and chin. Even the ears, chest, and back can be red all the time.

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• Rosacea can cause more than redness. There are so many signs and symptoms that rosacea has four subtypes:

  1. Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: Redness, flushing, visible blood vessels.

  2. Papulopustular rosacea: Redness, swelling, and acne-like breakouts.

  3. Phymatous rosacea: Skin thickens and has a bumpy texture.

  4. Ocular rosacea: Eyes red and irritated, eyelids can be swollen, and person may have what looks like a sty.

 

Rosacea can occur in anyone. But it most commonly affects middle-aged women who have fair skin. While there's no cure for rosacea, treatments can control and reduce the signs and symptoms.

 

• Facial redness. Rosacea usually causes a persistent redness in the central part of your face. Small blood vessels on your nose and cheeks often swell and become visible.

• Swollen red bumps. Many people who have rosacea also develop pimples on their face that resemble acne. These bumps sometimes contain pus. Your skin may feel hot and tender.

• Eye problems. About half of the people who have rosacea also experience eye dryness, irritation and swollen, reddened eyelids. In some people, rosacea's eye symptoms precede the skin symptoms.

• Enlarged nose. Rarely, rosacea can thicken the skin on the nose, causing the nose to appear bulbous (rhinophyma). This occurs more often in men than in women.

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A number of factors can trigger or aggravate rosacea by increasing blood flow to the surface of your skin. Some of these factors include:

• Hot drinks and spicy foods

• Alcohol

• Temperature extremes

• Sunlight or wind

• Emotional Stress

• Strenuous exercise

• Hot baths or saunas

• When there is inflammation or dysbiosis of the gut, it can cause flare-ups on the skin. In the case of rosacea, one particular gut condition has been observed to be the most common culprit – and that is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

 

Complications

In severe and rare cases, the oil glands (sebaceous glands) in your nose and sometimes your cheeks become enlarged, resulting in a buildup of tissue on and around your nose — a condition called rhinophyma (rie-no-FIE-muh). This complication is much more common in men and develops slowly over a period of years

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