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Summary
Rosacea is a long-term disease that affects your skin and sometimes your eyes. It causes redness and pimples. Rosacea is most common in women and people with fair skin. It most often affects middle-aged and older adults.
In most cases, rosacea only affects the face. Symptoms can include:
- Frequent redness of the face, or flushing
- Small, red lines under the skin
- Acne
- A swollen nose
- Thick skin, usually on the forehead, chin, and cheeks
- Red, dry, itchy eyes and sometimes vision problems
No one knows what causes rosacea. You may be more likely to have it if you blush a lot or if rosacea runs in your family. Rosacea is not dangerous. There is no cure, but treatments can help. They include medicines and sometimes surgery.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Treatments and Therapies
- Relieving Rosacea: Treating Face Redness (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
- Rhinophyma Treated with Options Today (National Rosacea Society)
Living With
- Coping with Rosacea: Identifying Your Individual Rosacea Triggers (National Rosacea Society)
- Coping with Rosacea: Managing Psychosocial Aspects of Rosacea (National Rosacea Society)
- Managing Rosacea (National Rosacea Society)
Related Issues
- Seborrheic Dermatitis and Rosacea (National Rosacea Society)
Specifics
- Ocular Rosacea (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Genetics
- Rosacea: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Images
- Rosacea (VisualDX)
Statistics and Research
- Other Skin Conditions Often Present in Rosacea Patients (National Rosacea Society)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Rosacea (National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish
Women
- Women May Need Added Therapy for Rosacea (National Rosacea Society)
Patient Handouts
- Rhinophyma (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Rosacea (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.