It's difficult to provide an answer to the question 'what is rosacea?' due to the fact that symptoms vary case to case. Even scientists have had trouble with identifying the disease.

In this case, how will you be able to determine if your skin problem is related to rosacea? Read on to become familiar with the different classifications and symptoms of rosacea.

Unfortunately, rosacea was until recently commonly mixed up with seborrhoeic dermatitis or acne vulgaris, leading to regular mistreatments. Misconceptions about the concrete symptoms of rosacea were caused by the fact that most patients failed to develop every stage of the disease and had varied reactions to rosacea skin products. In 2002, medical researchers were finally able to classify symptoms and divide rosacea into 4 different sub-groups: the Erythematotelangiectatic type, Papulopustular rosacea, Phymatous rosacea and Ocular rosacea.

How can I tell the difference between the 4 kinds of Rosacea?

The differences between the categories mentions above are subtle. The Erythematotelangiectatic type of rosacea is characterized by central facial flushing, as are the other types - however, it can be distinguished by the fine texture of the skin, which usually takes on a sebaceous quality characteristic in other rosacea sub-types. Phymatous rosacea cause thick skin growths and abnormal surface nodules on the nose, chin, forehead, ears and/or the eyelids, while pustules develop on the face of people who have Papulopustular rosacea.

You should know that you are much more likely to develop rosacea if you have fair skin and Celtic and other European genes. This is mostly likely due to the fact that Caucasians have a much higher genetic predisposition to developing rosacea. Research also has confirmed that women are more typically affected than their male counterparts.

You may be able to recognize rosacea as the development of an erythema on the central part of your face and cheek bones, nose or forehead. Eythema refers to the development of an abnormal redness in the skin resulting from an increased dilation of blood vessels. In some case, this rosacea redness extends to the neck, chest, ears and scalp.

The initial symptoms of rosacea typically occur following any change of temperature, whether it be bodily or related to the weather. If redness persists longer than usual, you may want to think about a treatment for rosacea that will reduce redness. Despite the fact that scientists cannot trace the roots of rosacea, they do know how to treat it well now.