Rosacea
is a common skin disease that frequently begins as a tendency to flush or blush easily. It can be caused, or worsened, by things you are doing, unwittingly, to trigger your skin’s aging.
As rosacea progresses, people often develop persistent redness in the center of the face. This redness may gradually spread beyond the nose and cheeks to the forehead and chin. Even the ears, chest, and back can be affected.
What Rosacea Looks Like
Tiny blood vessels, which many call spider veins, can develop. Some people see small red bumps. Usually appearing in crops, some of the red bumps may contain pus. Dermatologists call the pus-filled bumps pustules.
If the bumps do not contain pus, they are called papules. These pustules and papules resemble acne, so people often refer to rosacea as adult acne. Unlike with acne, blackheads do not develop. Rosacea may also cause the affected skin to swell.
Rosacea and your eyes
Rosacea can also affect the eyes. About 50 percent of people with rosacea have eye involvement called ocular rosacea. This often causes dryness, burning, and grittiness of the eyes. Left untreated, ocular rosacea can lead to serious eye complications.
In more advanced cases, a condition called rhinophyma may develop. Caused by enlarged oil glands in the skin, rhinophyma makes the nose larger and the cheeks puffy. Thick bumps may develop on the lower half of the nose and nearby cheeks. Most people do not develop rhinophyma; those who do tend to be men.
Surgery is the most effective treatment for rhinophyma. The excess tissue can be carefully removed with a scalpel, laser, or electrosurgery. Dermabrasion, a surgical method that smoothes the top layer of the skin, will help improve the look of the scar tissue.