Some people who have medical problems do not like the idea of seeking treatment. This is especially true if the condition – while have dramatic effects – does not actually threaten the life of the person with the condition. Rosacea is a skin condition that meets this definition. The problems caused by rosacea can lead to terrible self confidence issues, especially for younger folks who find themselves dealing with rosacea in their developing years in front of their peers at school, but it’s not going to put anyone in the hospital, and no matter how severe it gets, it does not lead to death.

Men tend to be more reluctant to go to a doctor than women, generally speaking. For rosacea, this makes for an interesting twist because by and large women are effect in far, far greater numbers than men. However, most people do not even know what rosacea is yet I bet they can recall a man they’ve seen with it, even if they didn’t know it was rosacea! The stereotype of the old cranky man with a red, bulb-like nose is actually related to the real life skin condition known as Rhinophyma Rosacea. It’s more common in men than in women, and when left untreated, it can lead to tissue buildup around the nose, accompanied with a red appearance, thus creating the stereotype of the old man with a bulb nose.

Is this what happens without rosacea treatment? Yes, absolutely, this is what can happen if treatment is not done. Now the case of a person with a grossly shaped nose caused by rosacea is rare, and occurs when treatment has been delayed or non existent for many years, if not the lifetime of the person.

But what about others with rosacea?

The truth is that while medical professionals estimate something in the range of 40 million people worldwide have rosacea, the majority of those people in the eye popping number have only a mild to moderate form of rosacea. Many of them are never even officially diagnosed with rosacea! This means they probably believe they have common acne or just, for whatever reason, tend to flush easily. For very mild cases of rosacea, not having treatment means they’ll simply have to deal with the mild symptoms they have.

For those with moderate to severe rosacea, the lack of treatment has more dire consequences. For one it means a lifetime of irritation and discomfort on the face and neck. This obviously is not an ideal situation. Over time, it can lead to scar tissue development on the skin, leading to facial disfigurement. This second part often scares those who might be tempted to not bother with treatment, and yet it’s hard to say what’s worse. Decades of facial burning and itching, not to mention constant redness, or scar tissue problems on the face? Either one is something no individual should experience.

For this reason, it’s very important to seek a proper diagnosis from a doctor on any skin problem that bears resemblance to rosacea. If diagnosed, the next logical step is the addition of antibiotics and prescription as well as  OTC rosacea treatment medications designed to reduce the symptoms.

The bad news is that without treatment, the consequences are real and while not deadly, are certainly not pleasant. The good news is that with proper treatment, most people with rosacea find a middle ground that keeps their symptoms at bay and then from there, life goes on with rosacea treatment – and rosacea! – receding to the background.

While Rosacea mostly is experienced by white women between the ages of 20 and 50, it can manifest in both men and women, as well as people of all races, not just causasions, and people of all ages, including teenagers, children, and even babies.

Here are some of the common signs and symptoms of Rosacea.

• individual has a red discoloration (“flushing”) of the skin on the cheeks, chin, forehead, nose, and around the mouth
• there are persistent bumps or pimples on the skin, often mistaken for simple acne
• patients eyes are often watery, irritated, bloodshot. there might be a negative reaction to sunlight
• the blood vessels have become swollen on the patients face and are now visible on the surface of the skin
• there is a burning and stinging sensations on the patients face (also simply called inflammation)

Note:
A reddening of the skin, is a medical condition known as erythema. It is said to be caused by capillary congestion, but in up to 50% of cases there is no known reason for the cause.
The persistent bumps or “pimples” are more properly known as papules and pastules, respectively. These are often mistaken for acne but papules and pastules are not simply pimples.

Please note that any one of these signs above, individually, could be a symptom that Rosacea is developing and should be treated as such by consulting with a doctor.

As time goes on, these symptons can create other symptoms, such as a convergence of bumps on the skin which will make it appear larger and swollen, and the same for the cheeks. (This primarily effects men and not women.) This can create that “bulb” nose look occasionally seen on elderly men.