Rosacea symptoms – how to tell if you have it

Amazingly – many people who suffer the symptoms of rosacea don’t even know that they have the condition.

Although there is no cure for rosacea – when caught early – the symptoms of rosacea can be treated much more effectively. Early treatment of rosacea means that long term discomfort and permanent – possibly disfiguring – changes to the skin are prevented

Unfortunately there is no test to diagnose rosacea – it’s only possible to know whether you have rosacea for sure by observation.

So – if you suspect you may have rosacea then here’s a checklist of the most common symptoms so you can do your own diagnosis:

Frequent facial flushing: The single most common symptom of rosacea, facial flushing is caused by an increase of blood flow to the blood vessels in the affected regions of the face. Depending on the advancement of the disease, flushes can stay only for a few seconds, or last for days or even months.

Facial telangiectiasia:Commonly known as spider veins or thread veins. These are broken blood vessels fixed in their dilated state. They look like extremely fine red lines just beneath the surface of your skin and they are a direct result of continued flushing of the face.

Increased skin sensitivity: The skin on your face may become very sensitive to any outside trigger. It may feel sore to the touch and ‘raw’ on occasions.

Lumpy or rough skin on your face: This is more common if the condition is allowed to advance. The lumps and bumps are caused by localized swelling and the leakage of inflamed cells into the upper skin layers. Other lumps, called papules, may appear as well as small red, liquid-containing bumps that form around sebaceous glands. These two common rosacea symptoms may be mistaken for acne, but should never be treated in the same way.

Burning sensations: These are common when rosacea sufferers are exposed to sun, wind or extreme cold. The heat associated with dilated veins and increased blood flow can cause the nerves in your face to activate when they should not. In some people, burning sensations can become debilitatingly severe.

Inflammation of the eyes and eyelids: Ocular rosacea – as it is known – affects more than half of all rosacea sufferers and symptoms also include blood shot and weeping eyes.

If you are in the right age range for rosacea (30-65) and you have noticed any of the symptoms described – you may want to get the diagnosis confirmed by a dermatologist who has experience of the condition.

Catching rosacea early and starting a program of treatment and self management including the application of appropriate rosacea skin care products is vital.

Ignoring any of the classic rosacea symptoms may mean the condition worsens and treatment of your rosacea becomes much more difficult.

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