The Nitty Gritty on Rosacea
So, you want to know about rosacea? Perhaps you or someone you know has it and you are curious as to what the heck it is? This article will give you enough information to get you started on your quest. Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and get ready for some basic information about rosacea.
Rosacea is often confused with Acne. The confusion is understandable because they are both skin conditions and they both can involve pustules and red bumps. They both cause embarrassment and can appear on your face at the most inopportune times like when you are about to take a school photograph, have a very important job interview or date. The differences between rosacea and acne are easy to spot once you understand what they are.
Differences between Acne and Rosacea:
They both resemble each other BUT rosacea occurs mostly in adults and acne happens to teens most often with some acne breakouts for adults during times of hormonal fluctuations like menopause, or pregnancy.
Acne has pimples, blackheads and whiteheads and rosacea does not.
Rosacea is a neurovascular skin condition that affects the blood vessels and causes a flushing reaction on the skin’s surface and acne does not have this at all.
What Rosacea Also Has:
Rosacea can also have associated with it the scalp condition known as seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff). The common thread is that both of these scalp skin conditions have the characteristic of oil glands that can become infected. Seborrheic dermatitis however does not have the flushing that rosacea does have. The same individual can have both rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis going on at the same time.
Subtypes of Rosacea:
Rosacea is the general term for the skin condition that describes the normal characteristics of what is typically seen in those who have it. There are 4 subtypes of rosacea that is used to further identify the specific manifestation or symptoms of each individual who has the condition.
The four subtypes of rosacea are erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, ocular rosacea, papulopustular rosacea and also phymatous rosacea. There are different factors that distinguish one subtype from another.
Subtype factors:
Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea is known for the quick flushing affect and small blood vessels that come out near or on the skin’s surface. The individual may also have a burning sensation over the affected reddened skin.
Ocular Rosacea affects the eye and eyelid and the symptoms are burning, dry, and itchy eyes and eyelids. The eyes also appear red in color, as irritation is a common symptom.
Papulopustular Rosacea is the subtype that is most often confused with acne. The individual who has this subtype of rosacea will have pustules that contain pus, and red bumps called papules as well as some degree of redness to the skin’s surface.
Phymatous Rosacea can be seen mainly on the cheeks, chin, ears, forehead, and nose areas. It is a noticeably thickening of the skin in the affected areas and at times you will also see small blood vessels that have expanded near the surface of the skin appearing in the same affected areas.
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