What Happens

Rosacea develops in phases. The first sign may be the tendency to blush often. Rosy cheeks or patches of red appear on the face. Facial skin may be more sensitive and may react to skin products, such as lotions or soaps. Some people notice eye irritation before they note any skin symptoms.

See a picture of rosacea.

As rosacea progresses, facial redness comes and goes on the cheeks, forehead, or chin. Facial flushing occurs when there is a sudden increase of blood flowing through the blood vessels under the skin. This causes the blood vessels to relax and get wider (dilate), which results in skin redness. In time, ongoing dilation may cause blood vessels to get larger and look like small red lines on the skin.

Tiny pimples may begin to appear on and around the area of redness. As flare-ups continue, the redness increases, and flare-ups occur more often. Later on, if rosacea is untreated, the redness and red lines may become permanent.

Along with the redness and pimples of the face, rosacea can also affect the eyes. Eye symptoms may develop before you notice facial symptoms, and they include redness, dryness, infection, and burning (conjunctivitis). If eye problems are not treated, they can lead to more serious complications. In some cases, vision may be blurry, but vision is damaged only in severe cases.

Treatment can help control rosacea symptoms and prevent the condition from getting worse. If untreated, rosacea may lead to a condition called rhinophyma, in which long-term (chronic) inflammation causes the nose to appear enlarged and bulbous, red, and with thick bumps. This is due to the oil-producing (sebaceous) glands and the tissues of the nose getting larger. Rhinophyma is more common in men than women. It often takes several years to develop. But most cases of rosacea do not progress this far.