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What is acne rosacea? Acne rosacea is a skin problem that affects the nose and face. It causes redness and lumps. Blood vessels become more visible. Sometimes the nose gets larger and looks misshapen. Rosacea can happen at any age, but it is most often seen in adults who are fair-skinned between the ages of 30 and 50. How does it occur? The cause of acne rosacea is not well understood. It seems to run in families and so may be inherited. It may be caused by overactive blood vessels in the skin. Contrary to popular belief, rosacea is not caused by alcoholism. Rosacea is not related to the pimples and cysts of acne. But people who have rosacea may also have acne. Acne and rosacea are often treated with the same medicines. What are the symptoms? The most common symptoms are a red nose and visible blood vessel patterns on the nose. In women, redness and blood vessels may appear only on the cheeks and chin. Over time the nose may develop small lumps and look swollen. The nose can become quite enlarged, and its surface may become thickened with scar tissue. Sometimes rosacea also affects the eyelids, which become red and swollen. Rarely, the surface of the eyes may be affected, causing a sense of burning and grittiness. How is it diagnosed? Your health care provider will examine your skin. In rare cases a skin biopsy (removal of a small sample of skin) may be done to confirm the diagnosis. How is it treated? If you have increased flushing and blushing that does not go away and gets worse, you should see your health care provider. Treatment of rosacea is very important because it can permanently damage facial tissues. Rosacea is often first treated with antibiotics. Some of these medicines are taken by mouth. Others are put on the skin. If rosacea is affecting your eyes, your provider may prescribe antibiotic medicine for your eyes. You may be referred to an eye doctor. For more severe cases of rosacea, an oral medicine called isotretinoin (Accutane), may be prescribed. Women must use isotretinoin very carefully. It causes birth defects if a woman is pregnant while she is taking the drug or if she has taken it 1 or 2 months before becoming pregnant. A new medicine that may be prescribed for rosacea is called Finacea (azelaic acid). It is a gel medicine for acne that can be put on your skin. Steroid creams put on the face can sometimes help. These creams should be used only under the supervision of a health care provider even if they are nonprescription. Sometimes prolonged use of steroids can cause skin damage. If the usual medicines do not help the problem, and especially if your nose is significantly enlarged or deformed, you may be referred to a dermatologist. Dermatologists are skin specialists and can suggest other possible treatments, including various types of surgery. A few medical centers are beginning to experiment with laser surgery for rosacea. How long will the effects last? It is rare for rosacea to go away on its own and the condition usually worsens over time. Rosacea can be successfully treated if it is diagnosed in its early stages. How can I take care of myself?
How do I prevent acne rosacea? Because the cause of rosacea is not well understood, prevention of this problem is also not well understood. Rosacea may be inherited and therefore it may not be easy to prevent. However, people who have just started having rosacea, or who have a family history of rosacea, should avoid any foods, drinks, or other irritants (such as sunburn) that cause facial flushing. Frequent facial flushing may cause rosacea to appear for the first time or to worsen.  Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a
replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIA File SKN4865F.HTM Release 9.0/2006. Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subdiaries. All Rights Reserved.
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