You may have Rosacea and not even know it! Rosacea plagues some 14 million Americans, but often escapes diagnosis leaving the sufferer to endure their pain in silence. How can you tell if you have it? Symptoms can be easily detected if they are understood, so to assist you in your preliminary diagnosis before you seek professional assistance, here is a breakdown of this incurable disease that gives you more than just oily skin.

Rosacea exhibits itself in the facial area. If you went through that embarrassing acne stage and oily skin as a teenager, you’ll understand the affect this malady has one its sufferers. Unlike teenage acne and oily skin, Rosacea attacks when you are between the ages of thirty and sixty years old. Rosacea appears as red areas on your face with small bumps, or as medical professionals refer to them, pustules. These appear on your chin, cheeks, nose and forehead. Do not confuse these bumps with whiteheads or blackheads that accompany a relatively normal oily skin condition. Your dermatologist will be able to determine for sure whether you have regular oily skin or Rosacea. Rosacea also manifests itself in Rhinophyma. Rhinophyma is a condition that causes your nose to redden and swell in a bulbous fashion. Also Rosacea causes your facial dermal capillaries to show on your face. This makes you, the sufferer, to redden or blush at the drop of a hat. If you are unlucky enough, Rosacea in its advanced stage can morph into Ocular Rosacea, a condition that results in a feeling like you constantly have sand in your eyes - definitely far worse than having oily skin.

Rosacea does not set in all at once. There are three stages that it usually passes through before it becomes full blown. The first stage is usually referred to as Preliminary Rosacea. This stage results in distended facial capillaries, thus provided the effect of flushing easily. The second stage is called, Vascular Rosacea. This phase of the disease causes the capillaries in your face to be visible. You facial skin may become sensitive and you may also develop oily skin and dandruff. The third phase is called Inflammatory Rosacea. This is when your malady becomes very apparent with the appearance of pustules that may or may not travel across your face.

Because of its symptoms, Rosacea goes past regular oily skin by causing emotional and psychological distress. It has caused many of its sufferers to become hermits in order to avoid public humiliation. Far worse than just having oily skin. It has been reported that seventy percent of sufferers have experienced a drop in their confidence and thirty percent of the acute cases actually avoid going to work or attending public events because of their shame. If you have Rosacea and not just oily skin, you may be worried to note that there is no professionally recognized cause of the malady. So unlike oily skin, it is impossible to actively avoid. But you will be relieved to note that there are risk factors that could be avoided, thus lessening your chances of developing this condition, as you grow older. You may want to avoid hot foods and hot beverages like coffee. You may also want to stay away from such things as foods containing spice like chicken vindaloo. Drinking alcohol also isn’t a recommended practice. Keep away from the sun, control your stress, do not over exercise, and stay away from places like saunas and hot tubs.

Rosacea does not go away on its own and it is important that you seek professional help in the form of your doctor or dermatologist for diagnosis and advice.

There is no way to completely clear up Rosacea, but with proper treatment, and taking personal precautions and care, you may alleviate the symptoms to the point where going out is not an activity to be feared. Please check with your physician, follow their advice and you will be well on your way to controlling this damaging skin condition.