Factors That Can Influence Rosacea

The symptoms of rosacea are influenced by many factors, some we can control and some we cannot. We can't harness the sun light and it's effect on the skin but we can regulate our response to it - applying sun screen even on cloudy days can protect the skin from the harmful effect of the sun rays. Wearing a hat to shield the face and eyes is another option. Stress can have a physical and mental impact on the body. We each handle and process stress differently. The physical stress from over exertion causes a laborious or strenuous effort. This effort can result in facial redness and perspiration. The mental impact of stress or stressful situation can influence the body by lowering immune system's ability to function properly. This can result in increased skin inflammation. The steam from hot beverages can feel wonderfully warm on the skin on a cold day but can also cause a flush of redness on the skin from the heat of the beverage. Spicy foods create an internal heat in the body which can result in facial redness, and sweating.

The Early Symptoms of Rosacea

The earliest recognizable stage of rosacea is called pre-rosacea. That blush of embarrassment that may pop up at an inopportune moment. The classic symptoms of pre-rosacea are patchy diffuse redness or flushing. Because the symptoms emerge slowly, rosacea may initially be mistaken for sunburn, leading to a delay in treatment.

Although rosacea may first appear when one is in their 20s, rosacea most frequently begins when sufferers enter their 30s, 40s or 50s as a flushing or transient redness on the cheeks or nose, and in some cases the chin or forehead. In this earliest stage, some sufferers may report stinging or burning sensations, including the feeling of dry or tight skin.

The signs and symptoms at this stage of rosacea include frequent episodes of flushing and redness of the face and neck that come and go. Many things can trigger a flushing episode, including exposure to the sun, emotional stress, alcohol, spicy foods, exercise, cold wind, hot foods and beverages, and hot baths. What causes flushing in one person may not cause a problem in another.

Classic Rosacea Symptoms

Rosacea has long been thought to be a genetic, chronic skin condition that most commonly occurs on the nose, forehead, cheekbones, and chin. Because they often re-occur, the episodes of breakouts are called flares. In one of these rosacea flares, the blood vessels close to the surface of the skin become dilated, resulting in blotchy red areas with small bumps consisting of a small, red areas or bumps of inflamed skin lesions called papules. These differ from acne pimples in that they do not contain pus. Rosacea usually begins with frequent flushing of the face, particularly the nose and cheeks. This facial flushing is caused by the swelling of the blood vessels under the skin. The facial redness can come and go, eventually becoming more permanent. Furthermore, the skin tissue can swell and thicken and may be tender and sensitive to the touch.