Rosacea

Rosacea is a common yet poorly understood chronic skin condition that mainly affects the face. Symptoms begin with episodes of facial flushing.

People with rosacea may experience spots and persistent redness of their skin. Small blood vessels in the skin can become visible, and in the most severe cases the skin can thicken and enlarge, usually on and around the nose.

There is no cure for rosacea, but a range of treatments is available that can help to control the symptoms of the condition.

How common is rosacea?

Rosacea is a condition that most commonly affects fair-skinned people from northern Europe. Most experts believe that 2-5% of people are affected by the condition.

Rosacea affects twice as many women as men (although it tends to be more serious in men). The symptoms usually begin between 30 and 50 years of age.

Triggers of rosacea

While the exact cause of rosacea is unknown, several triggers have been identified that may make the symptoms worse in some people. These include:

• exposure to sunlight,
• stress,
• cold weather,
• hot drinks,
• alcohol, and
• eating certain foods.

Identifying and avoiding the triggers of rosacea can be a useful way of controlling the symptoms.