Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsRare SymptomsComplicationsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Rosacea GuideHow Rosacea Is Diagnosed
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Rare Symptoms
Complications
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Rosacea Guide
Less often, rosacea may be associated with mild discomforts, such as a burning sensation, but the cosmetic issuetends to be more distressingthan the discomfort.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
You can experience any of the following with rosacea:
Rosacea affects the face. It typically involves the cheeks and nose, as you can see in this photo of a rosacea patient, as well as the middle part of the forehead and the chin. It is usually symmetric, affecting both sides equally. The condition can flare up, with partial or complete improvement between flare-ups.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
You may have obvious symptoms for days, weeks, or longer and you can see improvement in your skin in between flare-ups. Some people notice that the symptoms are more severe in response to triggers, such as spicy food, sun exposure, or stress.
Signs of a Rosacea Flare-UpThe first sign of a rosacea flare-up is usually skin discoloration (a change in skin tone) or redness.However, you may be more prone to some symptoms and not others. Or you may notice certain symptoms right at the beginning of an outbreak and then other symptoms may develop over the following days.
Signs of a Rosacea Flare-Up
The first sign of a rosacea flare-up is usually skin discoloration (a change in skin tone) or redness.However, you may be more prone to some symptoms and not others. Or you may notice certain symptoms right at the beginning of an outbreak and then other symptoms may develop over the following days.
Some people may experience rosacea of the eyes, a condition called ocular rosacea. This typically appears along with rosacea that affects the skin, but experts suggest that ocular rosacea may be more common in children who also have the skin condition.
Signs of rosacea in the eyes include:
Rarely, rosacea may involve other areas of skin besides the face, such as the neck, ears, or other areas of the body.
Rosacea is more common among people who have light skin. But if you have dark skin, you can also develop rosacea. The symptoms may involve bumps and thickening of the skin, as well as a burning sensation. Redness might not be prominent or might not occur at all.
Rosacea can cause complications that affect the skin, and it can also cause emotional distress due to feeling self-consciousness about the appearance of the skin.
The most common physical complication of rosacea is thickening of the skin. This can happen after years of living with rosacea. Recurrent lesions may also cause scarring of the skin.
Rarely, the condition may be associated with bleeding and/or skin infections. Bleeding can occur due to scratching the skin. Infections can occur if the skin is cut, allowing bacteria to enter. An infection may cause enlarged pus-filled bumps, tenderness, swelling, and fevers. If not treated, the infections can worsen and spread. After an infection on the face heals, it may result in persistent facial scars.
Skin Infections
In severe cases of ocular rosacea, sores can develop in the eye and vision can be affected unless the condition is treated effectively.
You don’t need to wait for complications to happen before talking to your healthcare provider. If the appearance or feel of your skin is bothering you, it’s important that you seek medical attention for your condition.
You and your healthcare provider can talk about possible triggers and come up with a plan to reduce your flare-ups. Your treatment plan can include strategies such as avoiding triggers, taking medication, or a combination of approaches.
If you have a treatment plan that stopped working after it had been controlling your symptoms, its time to talk to your healthcare provider about a new treatment plan. Your condition can change, or you might be encountering a new trigger that is causing your skin to flare up.
A Word From Verywell
Symptoms of rosacea are visibly noticeable. You may see your own skin reaction in the mirror and you can usually feel the change in skin texture. You can also experience mild skin discomfort at times.
If you have any symptoms of rosacea, it’s important that you discuss your condition with your healthcare provider so that you can get started in treatment and avoid lasting changes in the appearance and texture of the skin on your face.
Frequently Asked QuestionsSome skin conditions that cause pimples or skin discoloration. Swollen skin can sometimes be mistaken for rosacea. These include acne, dermatitis, and psoriasis.The four subtypes of rosacea and their characteristics are:Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (facial discoloration or redness and visible broken blood vessels)Papulopustular rosacea (acne-like pustules)Phymatous rosacea (thickening skin)Ocular rosacea (eye symptoms)You can have more than one subtype of rosacea at once.It isn’t clear what causes some people to develop rosacea. Researchers think it could be a combination of factors, including genetics and an overactive immune system.Probably not, but it can get better for periods of time if you avoid triggers. These include hot weather, stress, alcohol, and certain foods.It can. Rosacea tends to start anytime in your 30s, 40s, and 50s. Without treatment, symptoms like redness and broken blood vessels can become more noticeable and persistent.It might. Rosacea can get worse when you’re overheated. If so, drinking a cool glass of water may help to avoid a flare.
Some skin conditions that cause pimples or skin discoloration. Swollen skin can sometimes be mistaken for rosacea. These include acne, dermatitis, and psoriasis.
The four subtypes of rosacea and their characteristics are:Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (facial discoloration or redness and visible broken blood vessels)Papulopustular rosacea (acne-like pustules)Phymatous rosacea (thickening skin)Ocular rosacea (eye symptoms)You can have more than one subtype of rosacea at once.
The four subtypes of rosacea and their characteristics are:
You can have more than one subtype of rosacea at once.
It isn’t clear what causes some people to develop rosacea. Researchers think it could be a combination of factors, including genetics and an overactive immune system.
Probably not, but it can get better for periods of time if you avoid triggers. These include hot weather, stress, alcohol, and certain foods.
It can. Rosacea tends to start anytime in your 30s, 40s, and 50s. Without treatment, symptoms like redness and broken blood vessels can become more noticeable and persistent.
It might. Rosacea can get worse when you’re overheated. If so, drinking a cool glass of water may help to avoid a flare.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Forton FMN, De maertelaer V.Rosacea and demodicosis: Little-known diagnostic signs and symptoms.Acta Derm Venereol.2019;99(1):47-52.doi:10.2340/00015555-3041American Academy of Family Physicians.Rosacea.FamilyDoctor.org.American Academy of Dermatology.Could my child have rosacea?American Academy of Dermatology.People with skin of color can get rosacea.National Rosacea Society.Red skin & rashes are not always the result of rosacea.American Academy of Dermatology.Rosacea: Signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology.Rosacea: Who gets and causes.National Rosacea Society.All about rosacea.American Academy of Dermatology.How to prevent rosacea flare-ups.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Forton FMN, De maertelaer V.Rosacea and demodicosis: Little-known diagnostic signs and symptoms.Acta Derm Venereol.2019;99(1):47-52.doi:10.2340/00015555-3041American Academy of Family Physicians.Rosacea.FamilyDoctor.org.American Academy of Dermatology.Could my child have rosacea?American Academy of Dermatology.People with skin of color can get rosacea.National Rosacea Society.Red skin & rashes are not always the result of rosacea.American Academy of Dermatology.Rosacea: Signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology.Rosacea: Who gets and causes.National Rosacea Society.All about rosacea.American Academy of Dermatology.How to prevent rosacea flare-ups.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Forton FMN, De maertelaer V.Rosacea and demodicosis: Little-known diagnostic signs and symptoms.Acta Derm Venereol.2019;99(1):47-52.doi:10.2340/00015555-3041American Academy of Family Physicians.Rosacea.FamilyDoctor.org.American Academy of Dermatology.Could my child have rosacea?American Academy of Dermatology.People with skin of color can get rosacea.National Rosacea Society.Red skin & rashes are not always the result of rosacea.American Academy of Dermatology.Rosacea: Signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology.Rosacea: Who gets and causes.National Rosacea Society.All about rosacea.American Academy of Dermatology.How to prevent rosacea flare-ups.
Forton FMN, De maertelaer V.Rosacea and demodicosis: Little-known diagnostic signs and symptoms.Acta Derm Venereol.2019;99(1):47-52.doi:10.2340/00015555-3041
American Academy of Family Physicians.Rosacea.FamilyDoctor.org.
American Academy of Dermatology.Could my child have rosacea?
American Academy of Dermatology.People with skin of color can get rosacea.
National Rosacea Society.Red skin & rashes are not always the result of rosacea.
American Academy of Dermatology.Rosacea: Signs and symptoms.
American Academy of Dermatology.Rosacea: Who gets and causes.
National Rosacea Society.All about rosacea.
American Academy of Dermatology.How to prevent rosacea flare-ups.
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