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“Rosacea” comes from the Latin “like roses”.
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease of the face in which the skin becomes abnormally flushed. At times it can become pustular & weepy. The Rosacea condition may affect both sexes in all age groups but it is more common in women in their middle or late middle ages. The cause is unknown.
It usually affects the hair follicles and their associated sebaceous glands involving most commonly the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin. Sometimes the neck and upper chest may be affected but rarely does Rosacea occur elsewhere on say, the back and arms for instance. Rosacea is accompanied by an increased reactivity of the capillaries causing temporary flushing (in the initial stages) and “permanent” erythema (redness) in later stages. Interspersed inflamed pinhead papules and pustules may also appear.
As the condition progresses, the erythema does not fade and permanent dilation of the capillaries results – (telangiectasia). Chronic and deep inflammation of the nose may occur, mainly in males, leading to rhinophyma (bulbous craggy swelling of the nose).
Lymphoedema (swelling) around the eyes and the forehead may develop.
When involvement of the eyes occurs the following symptoms may be experienced:
- Mild conjunctivitis with soreness and lacrimation (overproduction of eye fluid-tears)
- Blepharitis – inflammation of the eyelids
- Inflammation of the cornea (keritis) and the sclera – the whites of the eyes (Scleritis) may occur.
- Should the eyes be involved an Opthalmologist (Eye Specialist) should be consulted.
- In rare cases Otophyma – cauliflower-like swelling of the earlobes and Gnathophyma- swelling of the chin – may occur
Acne Rosacea
What is the difference between Rosacea and Acne Rosacea?
The term Acne Rosacea is often used interchangeably to define Rosacea as distinct from Acne. With both Acne Rosacea and Rosacea, although there may be papules (red spots) and debris-filled pustules, which are normally dome-shaped in cases of Rosacea, but there are usually NOT any “whiteheads”, “blackheads”, cysts or lumps, as there often are with Acne. Further, Acne does not normally present with dry scaly areas and the papules and pustules are normally pointed rather than dome-shaped.
Is Rosacea incurable?
A great deal of the time our patients have cleared up their Rosacea symptoms completely, but some cases of Rosacea are more resistant due to a number of factors, including the degree of severity and length of time that it has been chronic.
However, the protocols that we use to assist patients often result in patients being able to place their condition into total remission for long periods, but at the very least we target significant management strategies to reduce the symptoms.*
*DISCLAIMER: results may vary by person to person
Address the internal causative factors with respect to nutrients lacking in your diet, or metabolically blocked by your body, by seeing a Skin Professional who can assess which nutrients are lacking in your diet and which ones your body is blocking.