Overview
Rosacea (pronounced “row-zay-sha”) is a common inflammatory skin condition that causes redness on your face or other parts of your body, including your eyes. Different types of the condition can cause pimples and swelling on your skin. This is a lifelong condition without a cure.
What are the types of rosacea?
Four different types of rosacea include:
- Erythematotelangiectatic: Rosacea is persistent and causes facial redness with enlarged and visible blood vessels (vascular). This type flares, where symptoms come and go unexpectedly.
- Papulopustular: Pus- or fluid-filled pimples form on your skin. Your skin could swell and symptoms are similar to acne.
- Phymatous: Symptoms cause your skin to swell and thicken. Your skin could be bumpy and it most often affects your nose. Symptoms could make your nose appear bulbous (rhinophyma).
- Ocular: Rosacea can affect your eyes, causing them to feel irritated and bloodshot or watery. Your eyes are sensitive to light and painful bumps can form on your eyelids (styes).
How common is rosacea and who does rosacea affect?
Rosacea affects more than 14 million people in the U.S. It can affect anyone, but it most often affects people who have fair skin and women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB). Symptoms usually arise after age 30. The condition can affect children and adolescents but it’s very rare. You’re more likely to have rosacea if someone in your family has the condition.
Studies suggest that men and people assigned male at birth have more severe symptoms as a result of delaying treatment until the condition becomes advanced.
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Prevention
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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