Rosacea

Alternative names:

acne rosacea

Definition:

A disorder involving chronic inflammation of the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, or eyelids; it may cause redness, vascularity (increased prominence of the blood vessels), swelling or hyperplasia (increase in size of the tissue), or skin eruptions similar to acne.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The cause of rosacea is unknown. The disorder involves enlargement of the blood vessels just under the skin. It occurs most often in fair skinned people, particularly those who blush easily. Women are more commonly affected, but men are usually more severely affected. Symptoms usually begin between ages 30 to 50, and the disorder is most often seen in middle-aged or older people. Rosacea may be associated with a migraine headache, other skin disorders (acne vulgaris, seborrhea), or eye disorders (blepharitis, keratitis).