Rosacea is a common medical condition characterized by facial flushing, erythema, telangiectasia, coarse skin, and an inflammatory papulopustular eruption. Rosacea looks similar to acne and is often mistaken for it. There are four different subtypes of rosacea and various treatment methods that are based on the type and severity of rosacea.

In order to be diagnosed with rosacea, the patient is examined and usually a biopsy is obtained to verify the diagnosis. Other diseases may mimic rosacea, so the medical professional must be certain of the diagnosis. Other diseases that mimic rosacea include polycythemia vera, lupus erythematous, dermatomyositis wich are connective tissue diseases and mixed connective tissue disease.

The subtypes of rosacea are erythematotelangiectatic, papulopustular rosacea, phymatous rosacea, and also ocular rosacea.

Treatment for rosacea is based upon signs and symptoms that are presented to the medical professional.

Erythematotelangiectatic involves central facial flushing that typically involves a feeling of stinging or burning. The individuals who suffer from erythematotelangiectatic are usually those with fine textured skin. The erythematous have a rough appearance that is scaly because of chronic, low-grade dermatitis. Individuals will notice outbreaks after experiencing emotional stress, after drinking hot beverages, consuming alcohol, eating spicy foods, after exercising or during cold or hot weather months. They may also experience breakouts after taking hot baths or showers.

Papulopustular rosacea (PPR) occurs on the faces of mostly women of middle age. It looks like small red erythematous papules with pinpoint pustules. They also have a history of flushing. Telangiectasias appear over an erythematous background. Telangiectasias are a chronic dilatin of groups of blood capillaries that cause an elevated blotchy dark red patch of skin.

Phymatous rosacea looks like thick and irregular surface nodularities that appear on the nose, forehead, chin and possibly one or both eyelids and/or ears.

Ocular rosacea manifests itself as blepharitis, conjunctivitis, or an inflammation of the eyelid, meibomian glands, interpalpebral conjunctival hyperemia or conjunctival telangiectasias. Symptoms include stinging of the eyes or perhaps a burning sensation, a feeling of dryness, an irritation when exposed to light and also a feeling that there is a foreign body sensation.

It is not entirely understood what causes rosacea but it is thought that climatic exposures, chemicals or ingested agents and microbial organisms may play a role in the occurrance of rosacea. Triggers for each individual will be determined by what the patient is most sensitive to. The redness and flushing may be caused by an increased blood flow to the face and an increased amount of blood vessels that are close to the surface of the face like during special times in the life of the individual like during pregnancy, or during the hormonal fluctuations of the teen years. Those with rosacea tend to be more sensitive to environmental changes such as with extreme weather changes and harsh winds.

Rosacea ranges from being mild to severe enough to cause disfigurement.

Treatment involves a combination of methods based on types and intensity of the case and may include sunscreen, laser treatment, surgical procedures, diet and also medication that includes beta-blockers, clonidine, naloxone, ondansetron and other serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Drug names that are commonly used are benzoyl peroxide (Benoxyl, benzac, Oxy-5, and Fostex. Other drugs include Azelaic acid (Azelex, finacea) and sodium sulfacetamide and sulfur (Plexion, clenia, rosula lotion, rosac cream as well as tacrolimus (protopic). Azithromycin (Zithromax), metronidazole (MetroGel, Noritate, Flagyl, Protostat), Erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Eryc, Ery-Tab) can also be prescribed. Some drugs are not recommended for pediatric patients or those who are pregnant. A doctor or pharmacist is the best source for information regarding safety or side effects.