Rosacea: The Hidden Disease In America
There is no known cause nor cure for rosacea. In spite of the many studies that have been done, scientists have not been able to find a definite cause. The worst part of this disease is that the majority of the 14 million people who have it, don’t realize it in the beginning stage.
In 50 percent of the patients with rosacea, the eyes are affected. Others suffer from long-term skin problems on their face, neck, back, chest, scalp and ears. The facial area is normally affected the worst.
A redness on the cheeks, forehead, nose or chin, pimples or bumps on the face and irritated or watery eyes are the beginning symptoms of rosacea. Swelling on the nose, cheeks, forehead and around the mouth can, also, be noticed. At this point it is best to consult a dermatologist because rosacea can be more easily treated if it is diagnosed in the early stage.
If treatment is begun in the beginning stage, the signs and symptoms can be controlled to the point where they are not visible or uncomfortable. It is also possible at this point to stop the disease from progressing.
By the time it reaches the second stage the face stays red and bigger bumps begin to appear on the nose and cheeks. The red skin begins to have large open pores and looks like the texture of orange peel.
When rosacea reaches the third stage, the face is grotesquely disfigured with large nodules. These nodules especially affect the shape of the nose. Even though the patient may have been in treatment for years, there is nothing that can be done at this point to change the deformity that is taking place.
You won’t believe this, but the people who are most likely to be affected by rosacea are adults between the ages of 30 and 50. The majority will also have blue eyes, blonde hair and a lighter skin color. In spite of these statistics, children and people with any color of skin can also be affected. Interestingly enough, rosacea is often passed on in families. Women are affected more often than men, but men experience more severe forms of the disease.
Can you even begin to imagine how much you would be affected psychologically by rosacea? Is it any wonder that people with this disease have no self-esteem or self-confidence? Can you blame them for missing work so they don’t have to interact with people on the job? The psychological effect of rosacea is much greater than the physical symptoms.
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