What Is Acne Rosacea?
Acne rosacea is a common and chronic skin condition that often triggers facial redness. Also known simply as rosacea, it can spread to other areas of the body as well and cause other symptoms.
Rosacea usually affects people over 30 and causes many to feel frustrated, embarrassed or anxious. The right care can keep it in check, though.
Acne rosacea symptoms
Blushing or facial flushing is an early sign of rosacea, with the skin condition often spreading from the nose and cheeks to the forehead and chin and potentially on to the ears, chest and back. Small bumps or pimples are also possible.
There are four types of rosacea, each with its own variation of symptoms. Some people have more than one type:
Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea
This type is marked by:
- Tendency to blush or flush more than others
- Flushing and redness in center of the face
- Broken blood vessels (learn more about spider veins)
- Swollen, sensitive, stinging or burning skin
- Dry, rough or scaly skin
Papulopustular rosacea
This type is characterized by:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Acne-like breakouts that usually come and go
- Oily skin
- Sensitive, burning or stinging skin
- Broken blood vessels (learn more about spider veins)
- Raised skin patches (plaques)
Phymatous rosacea
This rare subtype is usually preceded by another kind and causes:
- Bumpy and thickened skin — especially on the nose (rhinophyma)
- Large pores
- Oily skin
- Broken blood vessels (learn more about spider veins)
Ocular rosacea
When rosacea forms in the eyes, it can cause:
- Redness and irritation — may look watery or bloodshot
- Swollen eyelids
- Gritty feeling
- Itching, dryness, stinging or burning
- Unusual sensitivity to light
- Blurred and impaired vision
- Eyelid cysts (learn more about cysts and moles)
- Broken eyelid blood vessels (learn more about spider veins)