Acne Rosacea

Acne Rosacea is mistakenly named, because this inflammatory skin disease is not actually a type of acne at all. Although the small red bumps or pustules can easily be mistaken for acne, it is a completely different skin condition.

Fourteen million Americans are affected by acne rosacea, and women are more likely to suffer from it than men, although men tend to experience worse symptoms. Acne rosacea usually affects fair skinned people between the ages of thirty and sixty, and it is a progressive skin disease that appears in a number of stages if it is left untreated.

Stages of Acne Rosacea

1. Pre-rosacea is the first stage of acne rosacea and begins as a simple tendency to flush or blush easily. This progresses to a constant redness around the nose and central part of the face caused by the dilation of blood vessels close to the surface of the skin.

2. Vascular acne rosacea is the second stage of acne rosacea and is characterized by blood vessels around the cheeks and nose becoming swollen and easily visible. At this stage of acne rosacea you may develop overly sensitive or oily skin and dandruff.

3. Inflammatory acne rosacea is the stage at which small red bumps or pustules may appear around the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin. This is the stage that can easily be mistaken for acne, although white or blackheads are not seen.

4. Rhinophyma can occur in very severe and rare cases of acne rosacea. This is a buildup of tissue around the nose caused by oil glands in the nose and cheeks becoming enlarged. It is usually only men that experience rhinophyma, and this can take many years to build up.

5. Occular acne rosacea is experienced by over half of sufferers. It is a burning and gritty sensation in the eyes which occurs when the inner skin of the eyelids become inflamed and scaly.

Signs of Acne Rosacea

Here are some of the signs and symptoms of various stages of acne rosacea:

· Red areas on the face, especially the nose and cheeks

· Small puss filled red bumps on the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin

· Visible swollen blood vessels on the nose or cheeks

· A burning or gritty sensation in the eyes

· Tendency to flush or blush easily

· A red bulbous nose known as rhinophyma

What causes Acne Rosacea?

It is a common myth that acne rosacea is caused by drinking excessive alcohol, but while this may contribute to flushing and make acne rosacea worse, it is not a cause in itself.

The exact cause of acne rosacea is unclear but there are a couple of theories as to its cause. One theory is that a blood vessel disorder causes vessels in the face to swell. Another is that the cause of rosacea is a chronic bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal system caused by a Helicobacter pylori infection.

Some researchers have suggested that tiny mites living in human hair follicles may play a role by clogging up sebaceous gland openings. Many people with acne rosacea have sun-damaged skin and this may also be a contributing factor. However, none of these theories has been conclusively proved.

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