Rosacea and the Problems it Can Cause

Not many people have heard of Rosacea, but it is an inflammatory skin condition which affects the face. It is thought that the condition affects up to 14 million American people, yet some of them do not even realize what they have. So just exactly what is this condition that hardly anybody has heard of?
Rosacea and its Causes
Rosacea is similar in appearance to acne and so often sufferers get confused and assume they have acne rather than this condition. Depending upon how severe the problem is, the condition has often created many social problems for its sufferers as most are too embarrassed to even go out in public.
The actual cause of Rosacea is unknown and as of yet, there is no known cure for the condition either. The symptoms which often occur include:
Redness of the skin on the face, usually on the forehead, cheeks, nose or chin
Spots which look a lot like acne
Visible blood vessels on the face
Watery and other irritable eye problems
It is also possible to have other symptoms such as a burning or stinging sensation within the face, facial swelling and the skin thickening on the face. The severity of the condition depends upon how much damage will be caused, however, generally the condition is mainly more embarrassing and emotionally scarring rather than physically. If you think that you have any signs of the condition it is always worth getting checked out at the doctors. Usually the condition is identified in a number of stages. These are:
Stage One:
People who have the first kind of Rosacea tend to have flushing and persistent redness symptoms. There also may be a few visible blood vessels in the face too. Apart from that there are no other symptoms.
Stage Two:
If you are suffering from Stage two you will have persistent redness with some pimples and bumps on the face also.
Stage Three:
Stage three includes skin thickening, and usually the nose is often enlarged a little caused by excess tissue.
Stage Four:
If the condition is particularly bad, you will notice symptoms such as dry eye, swollen eyelids, tearing and burning and there is a risk of potential vision loss due to cornea damage.
Obviously stage four is the most serious and you should really try and get this condition diagnosed as early as possible to stop the risk of it getting worse.
How to Treat Rosacea:
It is hard to prevent Rosacea due to the fact that it is not known what actually causes the condition. As each different person will have a different experience with the condition, the treatment will vary and you will have to first visit a physician in order to get the best treatment advice for you.
Once you have the condition, your skin care routine can help to control it. The routine has to be gentle and it is important to clean the face with a non abrasive and mild cleanser, rinsing well with luke warm water. The most important part of the routine is to remember to blot the face dry with a thick cotton towel. You should never dry your face roughly as this could irritate the condition.

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