The symptoms of rosacea often vary from person to person. Although the condition has a number of common symptoms, not everyone will experience all of the possible symptoms. The common symptoms of rosacea include:
- flushing
- persistent redness
- papules and pustules
- visible blood vessels
- thickened skin
- eye irritation
These symptoms are explained below.
Flushing
Flushing (when your skin turns red) is usually the first sign of rosacea. Episodes of flushing can last up for up to five minutes. The flush can spread to your neck and chest, and you may experience an unpleasant feeling of heat.
Persistent redness
With rosacea, episodes of flushing are sometimes followed by episodes of persistent facial redness. This redness is like a blush or a patch of sunburn that does not go away.
Papules and pustules
If you have rosacea, you may develop:
- papules: round red bumps that rise from your skin
- pustules: pus-filled swellings
These spots will appear on your face and are similar to teenage acne. However, unlike acne, your skin should remain free of blackheads (small, blocked pores).
Visible blood vessels
If you have rosacea, you may experience inflammation of the small blood vessels in the surface of your skin. This can cause your skin to appear red and swollen, producing the sort of blotchy skin that is often associated with excessive alcohol consumption. This can be upsetting for people with rosacea, as people often mistakenly assume that they are heavy drinkers.
The medical name for visible blood vessels is telangiectasia.
Thickened skin
In the most serious and developed cases of rosacea, the skin can thicken and form excess tissue, usually around the nose. This causes the nose to take on a large, bulbous appearance. This is known as rhinophyma.
Rhinophyma is a rare symptom of rosacea. When it does occur, it is usually more common in men than women.
Eye irritation
Over half of people with rosacea also experience symptoms that affect their eyes, such as:
- feeling like there is something in your eyes
- dry eyes
- sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- irritated and bloodshot eyes, which can often lead to related eye conditions such as blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids, see Rosacea – complications)
Rosacea that affects the eyes is known as ocular rosacea.
Other symptoms
Other symptoms associated with rosacea include:
- a burning or stinging sensation on your face
- dry, rough skin
- raised red patches, known as plaques, on your skin
- facial swelling
- not being able to use cosmetics because your skin is sensitive to them
Most people with rosacea have periods when their symptoms are particularly troublesome, followed by periods where their symptoms are less problematic.
Permanent damage to the face, such as scarring, almost never occurs in rosacea.
