Rosacea is a skin condition that mainly affects the facial area, and is mainly characterised by redness of the skin. It can be long term and tends to be more common in women and people with fair skin.
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Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition, mostly affecting the facial areas of the cheeks, chin, nose and central part of the forehead. It can cause various symptoms, mainly redness of the skin, visible blood vessels on the face and in some cases small, pus-filled bumps. But sometimes a tingling or burning sensation accompanies this, along with dryness of the skin and some swelling.
Anyone can develop rosacea, although it is generally more common in people over 45, women, and people who have fair skin.
Although the exact prevalence of rosacea is unknown, worldwide studies suggest that just over 5% of the adult population is affected. Both men and women are affected by it, but the proportion of women who get rosacea is slightly higher. It mostly affects men and women in the 45-60 age bracket.
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Although the exact cause is not known, various factors are believed to contribute towards or cause rosacea. It may be simply down to skin type (genetics), as rosacea may run in some families, such as those with photosensitive skin types. Exposure to the elements, like the sun, for example, is also seen as a risk factor, along with increasing age.
It’s also thought that a tiny mite (demodex folliculorum) which lives harmlessly on the skin of many people and usually produces normally harmless bacteria, is understood to be more prevalent if you’re more prone to rosacea.
With different people there is often a specific stimulus or trigger which may include the following:
There are various symptoms associated with rosacea. Some or all may be experienced, with the severity and duration varying greatly from person to person and even episode to episode. The first symptom you’ll normally get is redness (blushing) across your nose, forehead, cheeks and chin, which may come and go. This may be accompanied by a burning or stinging sensation, especially when washing or using skincare products. On darker skin this redness may be harder to see.
Other symptoms may include:
Usually rosacea doesn’t cause any serious complications. But if it affects the eyes, it can become serious without treatment. On very rare occasions, a particularly serious form of rosacea forms, called fulminans, which can produce large cysts which may cause permanent scarring.
Rosacea is often misdiagnosed as eczema, and the longer it’s undiagnosed and untreated, the more serious it can become.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Incidence and prevalence of rosacea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Dermatology. vol. 179, no. 2. pp. 282-289.
Rosacea: What are the risk factors? [Accessed 2 Nov. 2021].
Rosacea.
Rosacea: Overview. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.
Safety and efficacy of doxycycline in the treatment of rosacea. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. p.129
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