Definitions or What Is Rosacea?

More Women most often have inflammation the cheeks nose, chin and forehead while men have redness of rosacea (erythema) affecting the middle third of the face and with the male nose having the predominance of rhinophyma (bulbous nose)caused by sebaceous gland hypertrophy (tissue growth), hyperplasia (increased growth and number of sebaceous glands) and hypergenesis (proliferation of cell growth within facial tissue which is indicative of cancer cells). Thus rhinophyma (ryno-fee-ma), the growth of the nose tissue is a perfect stage for cancer or tissue hypergenisis.

In early stages of rosacea of rosacea known as Stage I, rosacea patients typically experience repeated episodes of flushing. Rosacea begins usually as flushing or blushing more and often leads to a more persistent redness that become more noticeable to all with hard raised lesions (papules) and pus filled acne pimples (pustules). Rosacea is not acne, however, acne can co-exist with rosacea for a condition called "adult acne rosacea".

Later In Stage II, areas of the face are persistently red, telangiectasia (spider-like veins) becomes more prominent along with papules and pimples appearing on the nose and cheeks. The skin may take on a roughened, orange peel texture with large open pores. Very late in the disorder, a small group of patients with rosacea will develop rhinophyma, which can give the nose a bulb-like look known best by the well known former President William Jefferson Clinton.

Later In Stage III contains only a small percentage of rosacea patients that continue to the more serious extreme stage of being quite grotesque with nodules, hyperplasia and being quite noticeable as they have already entered rosacea treatments in an earlier age. Amazingly some of the extreme Stage III patients become so accustomed to their condition that they do not seemingly notice their disfigurements with the severely inflamed, thickened, edematous skin with large pores, resembling the peel of an orange and with coarse features of thickened skin folds and a seasoned older weathered appearance of skin layering due to extensively inflammatory infiltration, connective tissue hypertrophy, massive fibrosis and elastosis, diffuse sebaceous gland hyperplasia, and extreme enlargement of individual sebaceous glands forming dozens of yellowish unbilicated papules on the cheeks, forehead, temples, and nose. Now you know the rest of the sad story of Stage III.

The circulatory network of the skin is extensive and the capillaries are the smallest, most delicate vessels. During normal blood circulation the capillaries undergo constant changes. In between beats the pressure is relieved and the vessels constrict back to their normal size. This return to normal size is accomplished by the natural elasticity in the structure of the capillary. If telangiectasis is present, the capillaries' elasticity is deteriorated so they remain slightly dilated. The constant influx of blood perpetuates this slight dilation. The skin gradually becomes congested and eventually the capillaries become visible through the skin's surface. When it comes to telangiectasis, sometimes a person's lifestyle and habits can be the skin's worst enemy. In a fair, delicate skin predisposed to telangiectasis, a steady diet of hot, spicy food, chronic alcohol consumption and eating meals too quickly will promote telangiectasis. Many retinoids used for acne as well as many harsh soaps continue to aggravate the skin. Then there's cigarette smoking, which depletes the skin of vitamin C, essential for the formation of collagen, accelerates the cross linkage of collagen and the hardening of elastin and furthermore creates an abundance of free radicals, which destroy the capillary structure. Smoking, which additionally robs the skin of oxygen, is a potent initiator of telangiectasis. Also, the smoker may have a variety of medical problems such as high blood pressure, and mineral deficiencies, which can cause the appearance of telangiectasis.

Rosacea (pronounced roh-ZAY-sha) is a relatively common, chronic skin disorder. Most people have no knowledge of this disease, including how to recognize it and what to do about it.

Rosacea is the fifth most common diagnosis made by dermatologists. A rosacea cure has yet to be found and its cause is still unknown.

Knowing the symptoms and finding the treatment that works for you is the best defense against the social and psychological trauma of rosacea.

Its classic symptoms are patchy flushing (redness) and inflammation, particularly on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and around the mouth. It typically appears between the ages of 30 and 50 and affects more women than men. Because the symptoms emerge slowly, rosacea may initially be mistaken for sunburn, leading to a delay in treatment.

Rosacea is a hereditary; chronic (long term) skin disorder that most often affects the nose, forehead, cheekbones, and chin (Dr. Berasques). Groups of tiny microvessels (arterioles, capillaries, and venules) close to the surface of the skin become dilated, resulting in blotchy red areas with small papules (a small, red solid elevated inflammatory skin lesion without pus) and pustules (pus-filled inflammatory bumps). The redness can come and go, but eventually it may become permanent. Furthermore, the skin tissue can swell and thicken and may be tender and sensitive to the touch. Note: Pustules are NOT pimples. Pimples have a bacterial component to their makeup and are also mainly localized in and around the hair follicles.

Although it may first appear as early as the teen years, rosacea most frequently begins when sufferers enter their 30s, 40s or 50s as a flushing or transient redness on the cheeks or nose, and in some cases the chin or forehead. In this earliest stage, some patients may report stinging or burning sensations, including the feeling of dry or tight skin.

"While the incidence of rosacea appears to be rising sharply as more people enter the most susceptible age, many mistakenly think it's just a complexion problem that will go away by itself -- but in fact it usually keeps growing worse if left unchecked," said Dr. Joseph Bikowski, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh. "Of greatest concern is that only a small percentage of rosacea sufferers realize that medical help is available from dermatologists to halt its progression and reverse its symptoms."

Rosacea may be persistent and worsen over time, leading to permanent changes in appearance and affecting self-esteem. There is no known cure for rosacea, but the condition is treatable. Most cases can be controlled easily by avoiding factors that trigger flushing, using sun protection, and by keeping the body well hydrated.

As the condition progresses, flushing becomes more persistent and noticeable. Small, red, solid bumps (called papules) and pus-filled pimples (called pustules) may appear on the skin. Because these appear similar to acne, rosacea is sometimes called acne rosacea or adult acne. However, unlike acne, there are no blackheads. Though rosacea is sometimes referred to as "adult acne," it is a distinctly different and often more serious condition than acne vulgaris, which most commonly occurs during adolescence. While both conditions can cause pimples, rosacea requires different therapy -- acne treatments can actually make it worse -- and rosacea rarely goes away by itself.

Small, dilated blood vessels may become visible, too. Often when people with rosacea blush, the enlarged blood vessels in their faces can look like thin red lines. In advanced cases, more of the face is affected. The skin swells, cysts form, and small, knobby bumps develop on the nose, making it appear red and swollen. This condition, called rhinophyma, is relatively uncommon and primarily affects men. It was the cause of the late comedian W.C. Fields' best-known feature -- his trademark bulbous nose. The most outstanding treatment for rosacea has an unusual mechanism of healing that makes total sense as it's objective is "to simply do the opposite of most rosacea treatments" by leaving the sensitive rosacea skin intact on the face and is known as Rosacea-Ltd III. The non-irritating treatment has rosacea patients stating, "you can't lose anything by using this product, except your rosacea", therefore the naming of the product was "Rosacea-Ltd" meaning "to limit rosacea" or Rosacea-Limited. After 11 years of sales worldwide and the arrival of the third generation of the product, the name was changed to Rosacea-Ltd III.

Up to 85% of rosacea patients with rosacea may experience symptoms related to their eyes. Ocular rosacea, as it is called, frequently precedes the other manifestations on the skin. Most of these eye symptoms do not threaten sight, unless the ocular rosacea treatment of a 1/3 steroid and 2/'3 antibiotic is used.

Ocular Rosacea:Rosacea can also cause a persistent burning and feeling of grittiness in the eyes or inflamed and swollen eyelids with small inflamed bumps. The eyes may become bloodshot and eye lashes sometimes fall out (Dr. Thiboutot). The ophthalmic signs are exceedingly variable, including blepharitis, conjunctivitis, iritis, iridocyclitis, hypopyoniritis, and even keratitis. The ophthalmic complications are independent of the severity of facial rosacea. Rosacea keratitis has an unfavorable prognosis, and in extreme cases can lead to corneal opacity with blindness. Medical doctors and researchers have found Rosacea-Ltd III to be the best ocular rosacea solution with great accuracy as you will learn from the excellent excellent information can be found on the Rosacea-Ltd III Ocular Rosacea page. The most frequent signs, which may never progress, are chronically inflamed margins of the eyelids with scales and crusts, quite similar to seborrheic dermatitis, with which it is often confused. Pain and photophobia may be present. It is instructive to ask rosacea patients how their eyes react to bright sunlight.

What Causes Rosacea?

No one knows for certain what causes rosacea. Researchers have suggested several factors that may be related to its development:

• A disorder of the blood vessels that causes them to swell, leading to flushing.
• A genetic predisposition combined with certain environmental factors that may irritate the skin.
• Clogging of the sebaceous gland openings with skin mites called Demodex folliculorum, which live in facial-hair follicles.

Rosacea seems to affect fair-skinned people more often, though it can affect any skin type. Often several people in a family have the condition, so researchers think it may be at least partly genetic. The disorder may be somewhat more common in women, but is often more severe in men -- perhaps because men tend to delay seeking medical help until the condition reaches advanced stages Other factors that may be involved include vitamin-B deficiency, local infection, hydrochloric-acid (stomach acid) deficiency, infection with Helicobacter pylori, and/or digestive disorders. In some cases, rosacea may be associated with migraine headache, other skin disorders, and certain eye disorders, including blepharitis and keretitis.

Any one of the following warning signs can be a signal to see a dermatologist or other knowledgeable physician for diagnosis and appropriate treatment before the signs and symptoms become increasingly severe:

• Redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead.
• Small visible blood vessels on the face.
• Bumps or pimples on the face.
• Watery or irritated eyes.

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