{"id":4115,"date":"2019-02-20T07:14:50","date_gmt":"2019-02-20T07:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=4115"},"modified":"2022-02-07T08:02:50","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T08:02:50","slug":"15-signs-of-rosacea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-signs-of-rosacea\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Signs of Rosacea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Rosacea is a disorder affecting the skin that causes redness around select areas, often along with small red bumps and pus-filled pimples. In some cases, the condition can cause the nose to swell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, the precise cause of rosacea is currently not fully known. It is generally thought however that this might be a general disorder of the blood vessels. Others suggest that it might be caused by skin mites, fungus, or psychological factors. It could also be an issue with connective tissues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, many people may have rosacea without realizing it! That\u2019s because the condition can vary significantly in terms of severity, and may be mistaken with general acne or redness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the condition being so hard to identify, how can you know if you are suffering from rosacea, or if the problem is, in fact, something else? In this post, we will take a look at 8 signs that you may have rosacea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Redness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most obvious symptom of rosacea is redness<\/a>, which will often be focussed around the cheeks, the eyes, and the nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This redness might appear patchy and might look as though it is caused by acne. In fact, it will often be located underneath what looks like lots of tiny spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is what can often lead to confusion and prevent people from recognizing that it is in fact rosacea and not acne. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thing to recognize then is that regular acne should not cause redness that affects the entire area. It might look a little red around each spot, but there should be patches of normal colored skin in between the spots that don\u2019t look as though they\u2019re angry and enflamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the difference between the redness caused by acne and the redness caused by rosacea. Try to notice as well whether the redness is changing as the acne is changing: or is it a persistent problem that doesn\u2019t seem to be affected by anything else?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Burning and Tingling<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is another symptom that is all too easy to mistake with regular acne: burning and tingling<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have rosacea, then the reddened area will very often feel painful and as though it is burning. Again, this is a little different from the pain caused by spots and you might be able to notice the difference if you observe carefully<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is the pain coming from individual spots, or does it seem to be covering the entire area? Does it get worse and better as spots come and go? Does it accompany itching?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These clues can give you a better concept of where the pain is coming from and whether you have regular acne, rosacea, or a combination of both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Small Bumps and Pimples<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you find patches of your skin looking red and angry, you might notice that there are lots of raised bumps around the area, or potentially larger, pus-filled lumps. These might appear like spots at first, so again, you might mistake the condition for regular acne<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you inspect more closely though, then you might notice the difference. The small bumps are likely to cover larger areas and not develop in quite the same as acne, while the larger lumps may feel more like boils rather than spots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some more differences as well which we will get to in a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Absence of Blackheads<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the other clues when it comes to comparing rosacea with acne is that acne goes through a cycle of specific skin changes. If you have acne, then this will be caused by pores becoming blocked. Pores are of course tiny holes in your skin, and when these get jammed with grime and bacteria, it can then lead to the area getting infected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this first happens, you\u2019ll notice tiny blackheads <\/a>forming \u2013 which are the clogged pores. These may then get infected by bacteria, resulting in the appearance of full-blown spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Various things will contribute to the formation of spots then, ranging from having larger pores, to begin with, all the way to producing too much oil and sebum. Anything that increases the bacteria on your face is also liable to create more issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For these reasons then, you may be able to tell the difference between spots and rosacea by looking carefully for the other stages of spots. If you don\u2019t notice any blackheads, then perhaps it is not acne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Visible Blood Vessels<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, one of the possible explanations for rosacea is that it is a general disorder of the blood vessels<\/a>. Blood vessels are of course veins and arteries, as well as capillaries. You have countless tiny capillaries under the skin around your face, and these can sometimes become visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are lots of reasons for this. One is that you might have thinning skin, which allows the veins to show through. Another is that you might have issues affecting the blood vessels themselves, causing them to appear redder or to rise nearer the surface of the skin. The latter is often associated with rosacea. Fortunately, there are some management techniques you can use in order to combat the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that you are more likely to notice these small blood vessels if you have very pale skin. And in fact, you are also more likely to develop rosacea if your skin is very pale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Flushing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Flushing occurs when your face suddenly goes red in a particular area. This might be due to exercise, cold weather, stress, or embarrassment. Actually, people who blush more often are also more inclined toward rosacea<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flushing can be an indication that you have this condition then and is also useful for differentiating the problem from acne. In acne, the redness is likely to be constant, whereas in rosacea you may find that it comes and goes depending on various outside factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Dry Skin<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rosacea is sometimes associated with dry or flaking\/peeling skin. There are many potential other causes for dry skin<\/a>: for instance, it is possible that it is caused by psoriasis for instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, there are many common features when comparing rosacea with psoriasis. Both these issues can cause dryness in the skin and both are exacerbated by psychological factors. In particular, stress is known to increase the severity of psoriasis, as well as to exacerbate rosacea. This is because stress causes hormonal changes which can prevent the skin from maintaining itself as it normally would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are other reasons that rosacea may cause dry skin. One is that it is thought to potentially be an issue with collagen production in the skin, which can make the skin less flexible and less able to return to its original shape. It would then follow that this could cause the skin to feel dryer, tougher, and flakier \u2013 all of which are associated with the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, the right nutrition may help to repair the damaged skin or at least lessen the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the skin might sometimes feel tougher and harder simply due to the abundance of raised pimples. Sometimes this can make the skin feel a little like sandpaper. This again causes confusion, as you may mistake the issue for simply being a very crowded area of spots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Swelling<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Swelling <\/a>is also often caused by rosacea, and in some cases this can be particularly severe in specific areas, affecting particular facial features. In particular, it is common for the condition to affect the nose and to cause it to look red, swollen, and inflamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a particularly unpleasant symptom of rosacea and is something a lot of people will want to address. The precise reason that it happens is unfortunately not currently known, though, of course, it follows that red and inflamed areas are a logical result of having lots of pus-filled spots around the face. You might notice that the swelling also appears underneath the raised areas and causes the skin to look \u2018angry\u2019 in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are more things you can do to try and combat this, including attempting to reduce blood pressure and potentially using blood-thinning medications. If you think you may have rosacea, the next step is to speak with your physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Cysts on Eyelids <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many women who experience rosacea also experience eye irritation and swelling. The eyelids contain thousands of blood vessels, which are at risk of developing the condition. People with rosacea appearing on the eyelids <\/a>often confuse it for conjunctivitis (pink eye). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll notice swelling on the lower or upper eyelid or both. It’s more common for the condition to affect the lower eyelid than the upper one. In most cases, there is no irritation, but some unfortunate individuals experience itching of the eyelid that’s very irritating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The skin will get dry and start to crack in some cases. Using a moisturizing cream can help, but many patients find they scratch their eyelids, transferring the cream into the eye where it causes further irritation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ocular rosacea may often precede the development of the rosacea in the face. As a result, many people start treating themselves for pink eye, with no effect on the condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Skin Sensitivity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rosacea affects the blood vessels in the face, particularly around the nose and cheeks and sometimes the eyelids. In many cases, mild rosacea will only cause redness in the skin, with no other symptoms. However, an unlucky few who develop the advanced condition will experience skin sensitivity in the affected area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sensitivity can occur as a slight stinging or burning sensation. Some people may find that it’s almost intolerable and require their doctor to treat them to manage the skin sensitivity issues. If the doctor doesn’t succeed with the treatment, they may refer you to a dermatologist for further treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many cases of rosacea, patients don’t experience any skin irritation<\/a>. However, the symptoms can progress as you age, and sensitivity problems will arise, requiring you to seek medical assistance to manage the effects of the condition. However, some people live their entire lives without ever noticing any irritation symptoms; it’s different in each case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. Oily Skin<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who develop rosacea may find that they start to produce more sebum (oil) in the skin’s pores. As a result, they may think that the signs of redness and inflammation are an acne breakout. It’s common for people to confuse the early onset of the condition with acne<\/a>, and they may use lotions and skin products to rid themselves o9f the acne, with no success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The production of oils from the pores is not common with the disorder, and many people never experience the symptom of oily skin. If you do notice that you have what looks like acne, but it doesn’t appear like the normal format of the skin disorder, book a consultation with your dermatologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike acne, the oily skin symptom associated with rosacea will not go away with age. You may have to manage your condition for the rest of your life, but each case is different. In some cases, the patient may experience the development of small pimples that look similar to acne, but they are a very different problem, requiring specialist treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. Eye Problems<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, some people who develop rosacea may end up with an advanced form of the condition that spreads to the eye or both eyes. The swelling and irritation associated with the problem can end up causing vision problems on the eye’s surface. You might find that the eye feels sticky, and you have issues blinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the cysts start to “weep” puss or oil, it can get into the eyelid<\/a>, causing blurry vision, requiring the patient to wipe their eye continuously to clear the problem. The eye’s natural defense of producing tears to clear the eye of obstructions may not overcome the fluids produced by the cysts, resulting in vision disruption.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, the eyelid symptoms can precede the rosacea appearing on the face. As a result, some people may think they are suffering from pink eye and seek treatment for the problem. However, a dermatologist will quickly identify the difference between rosacea and conjunctivitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13. Plaques<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In some cases of people with chronic forms of rosacea, the patient may experience the development of plaques on the face. Initially, the patient may confuse the plaques with another skin disorder known as “psoriasis.” While the plaques may look similar in rosacea and psoriasis, they are very different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice the development of plaques, you’ll need to visit the dermatologist for specialized treatment of your condition. Plaques look like raised layers of skin, and they can be the size of a coin. The skin will feel rough and dry, and you’re likely to experience irritation that makes you want to scratch the plaque.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, scratching the plaque will cause further irritation to the affected area and increase inflammation. Don’t scratch the plaque. Make an appointment with a dermatologist<\/a>. The doctor will assess your condition and its severity and customize your treatment to the extent of the disorder in the affected area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14. Thickening of the Skin<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who experience the onset of rosacea <\/a>will sometimes notice a thickening of the skin around the nose, upper lips, cheeks, eyelids, and occasionally the forehead. The thickening of the skin is not a dangerous condition, but it may change the way the skin feels to the touch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When skin thinking occurs, it’s usually on the nose, and the patient may find that they lose a portion of touch sensitivity to the skin. The nose may appear inflamed and larger than it was prior to the condition’s onset. It may also get very red, increasing color differential to other affected areas on the face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dermatologists call the thickening of the skin on the nose “rhinophyma.” Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse the disorder, and the patient may experience a gradual thickening of the skin on the nose over several years. The dermatologist can assist you with medications and topical creams or lotions that can reduce the extent of the rhinophyma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

15. Large Pores<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It’s common for people dealing with the effects of rosacea on the face to notice enlargement of the pores <\/a>in the skin. This phenomenon is usually most noticeable on the nose, where it may cause the pores to enlarge by 300% to 400%, looking like large puck marks on the skin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The enlargement of the pores may also increase sebum production in the skin, resulting in the onset of oily skin. As a result, some people may think that they are dealing with an acne outbreak and use specialist OTC acne products to try and clear the problem, to no avail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the pores enlarge, they take in more dirt and particulate matter from the environment. As a result of this action, the patient may develop skin infections in the affected area, but this is a rare symptom of the condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment to reduce the size of the pores, and the patient will need to learn how to manage the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>