Rosacea
When I was growing up my grandfather has a rosy red cheeks… today they call it "Rosacea." Rosacea is a common but often misunderstood condition that is estimated that it affects over 45 million people worldwide. When rosacea first begins, it is a slight flushing or redness on the center of the face and across the cheeks, nose, or forehead but can also less commonly affect the neck, chest, scalp or ears.
Later as the rosacea progresses, other symptoms can develop such as permanent redness, red bumps (some with pus), red gritty eyes, burning and stinging sensations, small blood vessels visible near the surface of the skin, and in some advanced cases, the classic Jimmy Durante bulbous nose.
Sometimes the rosacea skin disorder can be confused and even co-exist with Acne Vulgaris and/or Seborrheic Dermatitis. The worst part of this condition seems to be the way people retreat from society to avoid painful glances and comments.
If you are fair-skinned, you are disproportionately at risk. More fair-skinned people have rosacea than any other group. Rosacea affects both men and women of all ages, but middle-aged women are more susceptible because of hot flushes caused by menopause.
So far research has shown that there are four identified rosacea; and patients may have more than one of these types of rosacea combined with other types.
