Rosacea is simply an inflammatory, chronic skin condition that principally affects the face. Rosacea produces small, pus-filled pustules or bumps, and causes facial redness. If left untreated, Rosacea will worsen with time. It has been mistaken for eczema or acne or other skin allergy.
You will see Rosacea among the fair-skinned people in the Northern European ancestry. However, it is fast growing in many parts of Asia, Middle East and China, most especially in areas that are undergoing strong developmental process in the recent years. Some are of the view that incidence has grown in those areas due to the fact that diagnosis and healthcare techniques have really improved.
Notable or remarkable Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of Rosacea vary from individual to individual. However, the following signs and symptoms are said to be common in most cases.
Flushing- this is also known as easily blushing. Usually, this is the earliest sign of what many people call Pre-rosacea. The flushing episodes can last up to five minutes. The blush can easily spread in the face down to the chest and the neck. Some are of the claim that the skin really feels hot during flushing time.
Facial hyper-reactivity- in this case, the sensitive blood vessels can dilate easily to touch or topical triggers and other physical stimuli like sunlight. Mistakenly, some people have referred to these as sensitive skin, but in the case of Rosacea, it is really sensitive blood vessels and not really skin cells which cause this.
Persistent or consistent redness
The flushing episodes most time might be followed by consistent facial redness. The redness may not go away very easily. This occurs because lots of small blood vessels within the surface of the facial skin expand or dilate.
Papules, pustules and spots (inflammatory rosacea) – most often tiny spots, pustules and papules occur on the face. You can as well call this inflammatory rosacea. So, with rosacea, the skin will have no blackheads, unlike acne.
Vascular rosacea- when the signs and symptoms of Rosacea progresses and get worse over time, tiny blood vessels on the cheeks and the nose will swell and become very visible; they will really look like spider webs. The skin on your face might become blotchy, resembling the skin of some well known alcoholics. It is not caused by alcohols; instead it is caused by small blood vessels in the surface of your skin. Those with Rosacea may become distressed and concerned as being labeled alcohol addicts or hardened drinkers due to this. Keep in mind that alcohol may empower rosacea flare-ups on those patients that have rosacea, but consumption of alcohol is never the cause or source of this condition.
Rhinophyma- this is the excessive facial skin around the patients nose. Excessive rosacea can simply result to the thickening of the facial skin, mostly around the nose. The nose might become enlarged and bulbous. However, this is a rare occurrence or complication, and may likely affects men more than the female folk.
Ocular rosacea- this is gritty and burning sensation in the eyes, thereby making them bloodshot. The eyelid may appear scaly and inflamed causing conjunctivitis. Styles may develop and some people may not tolerate contact lenses. In some instances, vision might become blurred. Close to 50% of those suffering Rosacea experience some kind of eye symptoms or irritation.
Facial swelling- too much proteins and fluid to a very large extent leak out of the blood vessels. This gave birth to fluid buildup in the outer surface of the skin.
Risk factors:
There has been some speculations and research among experts on the real or exact causes of rosacea. However, the following related factors contribute to this.
Abnormalities or irregularities in the facial blood vessels- dermatologists or skin specialists are of the opinion that the main factor might be abnormalities within the blood vessels; this might cause visible blood vessels, persistent redness and flushing. So, the real cause of the inflammation of the facial blood vessels is still a mystery till date.
Microscopic mite- this is also known as Demodex folliculorum, this leaves within the human skin and doesnt cause any problems. Experts cannot really say whether the rosacea is being caused by the mites or whether the rosacea gives rise to the overpopulation of the mites.
H. pylori bacteria- this stimulates the manufacturing or production or manufacturing of bradykinin; a protein that is responsible for blood vessels to expand. This is also found in the gut. According to the experts, this bacterium might be very responsible for the development or existence of rosacea.
Triggers- some factors or conditions can really aggravate or trigger rosacea or even make it worse by enhancing blood flow. Below are some of those conditions; hot drinks, hot foods, spicy foods, caffeine, dairy products, humidity, sunlight, extremes of temperature, wind, anxiety, stress, embarrassment, anger, hot baths, saunas, vigorous exercise, corticosteroids, some medications like the treatment of high blood pressure, cough, cold, fever, alcohol- keep in mind that alcohol has never been proved as the authentic cause of rosacea, but it can to a very large extent trigger the cause of it.