Acne Rosacea

What Is Acne Rosacea and How To Treat It

Acne rosacea is a chronic skin disorder which mainly affects the face. The rosacea affliction usually starts between the ages of 30 and 50, and is most commonly seen in women.

Appearance of Acne Rosacea

Acne rosacea has quite a unique appearance. When it first appears, it affects the nose or the cheeks. Later, it can spread, involving the chin and forehead. The skin affected by acne rosacea turns red, and surface blood vessels become permanently dilated. In addition, acne-like pimples commonly appear, and there may be a slight burning sensation in the affected area.

Causes of Acne Rosacea

Although at times more than one member of a family has acne rosacea, no genetic basis for this has been found. It is most commonly seen in the fair-skinned decendants of North Europe who have the common trait of blushing easily. People with black skin rarely have acne rosacea. Unlike acne, acne rosacea does not involve blackheads or over active oil glands.

Alcohol, spices and hot foods seems to temporarily aggravate the flushed appearance of acne rosacea, but they are not the primary cause.

Complications of Acne Rosacea

There are several complications associated with acne rosacea, and some of them are severe:

• Eye irritation often occurs in acne rosacea from inflammation of the eyelashes or the outer surface of the eyes.
• In people suffering from rosacea, the clear membrane covering the lens (cornea) can become inflammed leading to visual impairment. However, this is a rare complication of acne rosacea.
• Occasionally, the skin of the nose of a person with rosacea becomes irregularly thickened and bulb-like. The color of the nose can range from bright red to purple. This is quite unsightly and can be devastating to the person suffering from this complication.  It is  known as rhinophyma. This acne rosasea complication (the bulbous nose) happens mainly in men, and occurs in only the most severe cases. Sometimes, this extreme appearance is the only sign of acne rosacea.

Acne Rosacea Treatment Options

Acne rosacea is not life threatening, but it does seriously affect the appearance of the person afflicted. There is no known cure for the acne rosacea at this time. However, the acne-like symptoms of rosacea can be controlled by the same topical and systemic medications used to commonly treat acne. Long-term oral use of low doses of antibiotics such as tetracycline can be very helpful in allaying the symptoms and progression of acne rosacea.

If antibiotics are not helping, doctors may prescribe Isotretinoin, a vitamin A derivative to treat acne rosacea. Laser treatments can help eliminate some of the persistent symptoms and improve the appearance of the complexion.

For additional information about the types of acne, see:

Stress Acne - Can Life's Stress Cause Acne      
Teen Acne - Teenager Experiencing Physical | Psychological Changes
Adult Acne - Causes and Treatment
Acne Rosacea - What It Is and How To Treat It
Types of Acne - Know Which Form You Have
Back Acne - Causes and Treatment
Helpful Source for Acne Information