Home > Conditions / Ailments > Rocacea / Acne Rocacea > DESCRIPTION Rosacea, commonly spelled Rosecea and Roseacea, is a chronic, acne-like condition of the facial skin that may affect as many as 13 million Americans. It typically first appears when people reach their 30s and 40s as a flushing or subtle redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that comes and goes. If left untreated, rosacea tends to worsen over time. As the condition progresses, the redness becomes more persistent, bumps and pimples called papules and pustules appear and small dilated blood vessels may become visible. In some cases the eyes also may be affected, causing them to be irritated and bloodshot. In advanced cases, the nose may become red and swollen from excess tissue. Individuals who suspect they may have rosacea may wish to see a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment. Several medications are available by doctors prescription. They control redness and reduce the number of papules and pustules. Some are applied to the skin (topically) and others are taken by mouth (orally) -- different types can be used in combination. In most cases, it may take several weeks to see results -- dont worry. Once symptoms have cleared, patients may need to continue taking medication to keep rosacea under control. Controlling the causes of flushing and blushing can help prevent rosacea from getting worse and blood vessels from getting larger. But once red lines appear, they can only be covered up by makeup or removed by a surgical method. Surgery can also be used to correct a nose enlarged by rhinophyma. Without regular treatment, redness and pimples can return. Studies of patients who stopped treatment after their symptoms were successfully cleared show that rosacea came back in many of the patients within a week to 6 months. Rosacea can not Be Cured! Not yet. But simple treatments can control rosacea, improve the skins look, and maybe even stop or reverse progress of the disease. Getting medical help early and following the treatment program carefully are the keys. Can Anything Make Rosacea Worse? Facial flushing can make symptoms worse. It can even cause flare-ups in patients whose rosacea was under control with medications. Flushing can be triggered by many things ... hard exercise -- even menopause or some medicines. The most common triggers are: hot drinks, alcohol, spicy foods, stress, sunlight, extreme heat or cold. Experts say you should avoid anything that causes flushing. But what bothers one person may not cause a problem in another. You will need to find out what things affect you and decide if you want to change your habits to avoid them. Just remember -- flushing may affect your success in controlling rosacea. Talk to your doctor about how you can learn to identify -- and deal with -- your own flushing triggers. Washing or Moisturizing Face How and what you use to cleanse your face -- and keep it moist -- are important when you have rosacea. Following a regular cleansing and medication routine will make treatment easier and more successful. You should be careful about what products you use with rosacea medications. Soaps/cleansers -- Only very mild products should be used on the face. Avoid products that contain alcohol or irritants. Moisturizers -- Apply a quality moisturizer as needed. When using with a topical medication, you can usually apply the moisturizer after the medication has dried. Sunscreens -- Use an SPF 15 or higher whenever you think you will be in the sun for a while. In general, it helps to choose facial products that will not clog pores; they will have the word noncomedogenic (non-coh-mee-dough-jen-ic) on the package. Avoid products that contain alcohol (check hair spray and astringent labels), acetone or oil. (From the National Society of Rosacea) SUGGESTED PRODUCTS: For More Product Information & Alternative Formats, Click Item Descriptions.