Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition characterized by facial redness and inflammation, primarily affecting individuals aged thirty to fifty, with a higher prevalence in women, though it can be more severe in men. While the exact cause of rosacea remains unknown, it is exacerbated by various triggers including hot beverages, alcohol, spicy foods, stress, and environmental factors like sunlight and extreme temperatures. Symptoms often include persistent facial redness, swelling, pimples, and noticeable blood vessels, particularly on the nose, forehead, and chin. One severe manifestation of rosacea is rhinophyma, which leads to a thickened, bulbous nose and can cause significant cosmetic concerns and impact self-esteem.
Although there is no cure for rosacea, treatments are available to manage symptoms effectively. These include oral and topical antibiotics, as well as lifestyle modifications to avoid known triggers. For those experiencing eye symptoms, additional care such as eyelid washing and medications may be necessary. In cases of rhinophyma, surgical options are available to remove excess tissue. Understanding rosacea can help individuals seek appropriate treatment and reduce the stigma associated with its visibility.
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Subject Terms
Rosacea
ALSO KNOWN AS: Acne rosacea, adult acne, rhinophyma
ANATOMY OR SYSTEM AFFECTED: Nose, skin
DEFINITION: A chronic inflammation and redness of the face that usually affects people between the ages of thirty and fifty; it is more common in women but is more severe in men.
CAUSES: Unknown; worsened by hot drinks, alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, exercise, cosmetics, stress, sun or wind exposure, extreme temperatures
SYMPTOMS: Facial redness; slight swelling; pimples, pustules, and prominent facial pores or blood vessels on nose, forehead, and chin; redness, burning, dryness, and tearing of the eyes
DURATION: Chronic
TREATMENTS: Oral and topical antibiotics, avoidance of triggers
Causes and Symptoms
Guy de Chauliac, a French surgeon, first described rosacea medically in the fourteenth century, attributing the condition to the excessive consumption of alcoholic drinks. It is now known that although may exacerbate the condition, rosacea can develop in individuals who have never consumed alcohol. While the actual cause is unknown, rosacea is more common in fair-skinned people who flush easily and those whose family members have had the condition.
The most common triggers for this flushing are hot drinks, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, cosmetics, stress, exercise, sunlight, wind exposure, and extreme heat or cold. There is no cure for rosacea, but it can be treated.
Untreated, rosacea may progress from facial redness to slight swelling, pimples, pustules, and prominent facial pores on the nose, mid-forehead, and chin. In some patients, particularly in men, the oil glands enlarge, causing a bulbous, enlarged red nose and puffy cheeks. Thick bumps can develop on the lower half of the nose and nearby cheeks. This stage is known as rhinophyma, a condition made famous by actor W. C. Fields with his red, bulbous nose. Rhinophyma can be extremely disfiguring, and its mistaken association with can cause embarrassment and affect self-esteem.
Treatment and Therapy
Rosacea and rhinophyma cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be lessened or even eliminated. Oral and topical antibiotics and avoidance of triggers are the primary ways in which rosacea is managed. Eyelid washing and prescription medication may be recommended for patients whose eyes are affected.
Rhinophyma is usually treated with surgery. The excess tissue that has developed can be removed with a scalpel or a laser or through electrosurgery.
Bibliography
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"Rosacea." Cleveland Clinic, 12 Apr. 2023, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12174-rosacea. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.
Sharma, Anuj, et al. "Rosacea Management: A Comprehensive Review." Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 1 Feb. 2022, doi.org/10.1111/jocd.14816. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.
Turkington, Carol, and Jeffrey S. Dover. The Encyclopedia of Skin and Skin Disorders. 3d ed. New York: Facts On File, 2007.