Typically, those who suffer from rosacea will have it on the face, which is the worst place to have it because it’s the first thing people see when they look at you. It starts with heavy flushing of the cheeks to the point they are quite red for no reason. The blood vessels around the nose may be visible and spread outward, i.e. “spider veins”. The skin will thicken in places and there will be breakouts that are similar to acne but not related to it.
The first thing to do if you think you have the beginning stages of rosacea is see a specialist. Your family doctor can refer you to a professional dermatologist. Skin specialists know exactly what to look for and how to treat it. There is no cure for this disease but doctors have successfully been able to get it under control with medications and skin treatments. The technical names for the four types of rosacea are Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, which is persistent redness and spider veins, Papulopustular rosacea, which is characterized by constant red skin and pimples, Phymatous rosacea, which is thickened skin around the nose and surrounding tissue and occurs more in men than women and Ocular rosacea, a form of rosacea that causes dry eyes, tearing up, burning in the eyes and swollen eyelids. This last type can lead to corneal damage and should be treated as early on as possible.