Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition. It’s very common in western countries. There are several theories why, but the exact reason is still unknown. It can be because of certain bacteria, a delicate skin layer, increased blood flow, etc.
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is abnormal flushing on the face, chest, back, ears, and scalp. This flushing is not connected with warm, cold, exercising, sweat, or constant facial redness. Having telangiectasia(1) causes Rosacea. Telangiectasias are wide but small blood vessels on the skin. They do not harm but can cause several other skin conditions like Rosacea.
Rosacea can spread to the ears, chest & back from the face. Sometimes eyelids also become red because of rosacea. Rosacea is very common with fair & light skin people than with medium-light, medium-deep, deep & dark tones.
Types of Rosacea
There are four main types of Rosacea accordingly American Academy of Dermatology Association (2)
Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea:
This subtype of rosacea shows symptoms like flushing, visible blood vessels, and skin discoloration. Visible blood vessels can be small or big. This redness will come and disappear often. But with time the flush becomes stubborn and stays in Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea.
Papulopustular Rosacea:
This Rosacea is related to whiteheads and pustules, as the name is suggesting. It also includes flushing but with swelling. Acne is common in this type of Rosacea. So a person with Papulopustular Rosacea may have breakouts often. The cheek is the most affected part of the face by this Rosacea. But the chest, scalp, & neck can be also affected.
Phymatous Rosacea:
This subtype causes skin thickening. When the skin thickens scars appear, and the face looks swollen and discolored. Phymatous Rosacea mostly affects the nose and in men than women. When the nose looks bumpy and thick it is called a Bulbous nose. But it definitely can be in other places like the chin, ears, eyelids, or forehead.
Ocular Rosacea:
This Rosacea included eye redness mainly. The person will feel irritation in the eye and then it will be swole and red. Eyes will look watery all the time. The person will look like he/she cried for a long time in pain. Primarily, the eyes will be very sensitive in Ocular Rosacea.
Symptoms of Rosacea
You will see the symptoms that I mentioned above. I’m listing here all the symptoms by Rosacea type so that you can find your type fast.
Symptoms of Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea:
- Flushing and redness in the center of the face.
- There will be visible blood vessels.
- Skin will react very sensitively. You will feel a harsh and burning sensation often.
Symptoms of Papulopustular Rosacea:
- There will be breakouts often. You may mix this with an acne problem.
- With that, your skin will be sensitive too.
- You can see blood vessels flushing through the skin.
- Because of sensitive skin and acne problems, there will be red scars on the face.
Symptoms of Phymatous Rosacea:
- Uneven skin texture
- Thickening of the nose will be visible.
- A bulbous nose, chin, ears, eyelids, cheek, or forehead can be also affected.
- Because of the skin thickening, pores will be visible, and skin will be rough looking.
- As usual blood vessels will be visible like any other type of Rosacea.
Symptoms of Ocular Rosacea:
- Eyes will be blood red and watery like someone just cried painfully.
- The eyes will be very sensitive, so there will be itching, stinging, and burning sensations.
- Sensitive to light.
- Eyes may look hazy & gritty with cysts.
- Eye vision will be poor.
- Blood vessels will be visible on the eyelids.
Causes of Rosacea
As I said in the first para the true causes of Rosacea are still unknown. Though there can be various reasons.
Genetics
Rosacea may be heretical. It may run generation after generation. When someone has Rosacea it has been observed that their close relatives also have Rosacea.
Abnormal Blood Vessels
Having telangiectasia can cause Rosacea. It means short, wide, broken vessels. Because of this cheek, ear, eye, neck, chest, and ears look reddish.
Demodex folliculorum
This is a skin mite that lives on the skin. Generally, it creates no problem but having extra mites on the skin shows symptoms of Rosacea. Now, how it’s related is unknown. But people with Rosacea have more Demodex folliculorum than others.
Helicobacter pylori
This bacteria stays inside the gut. It may increase gastric secretion and that leads to looking skin flushed. Or it stimulates the production of bradykinin. Bradykinin is a polypeptide because the blood vessels widen.
Other Factors that Triggers Rosacea
- Women have more Rosacea problems than men.
- Fair and Light skin people suffer more from Rosacea.
- Eating spicy foods a lot may cause Rosacea.
- Eating lots of coffee, tea or hot beverages may cause Rosacea.
- Consuming alcohol, light or strong can trigger Rosacea.
- Eating foods that contain Cinnamaldehyde like citrus fruits, Tomatoes.
- Extreme hot temperatures, humidity, wind flow, and sunlight can trigger Rosacea.
- Stress & Anxiety always play a huge role in skin health.
- Some medications. Even medical conditions like hypertension can trigger Rosacea.
