A common skin condition known as rosacea can cause your face, chest, back, or neck to become a reddish color, which can cause embarrassment and self-consciousness. Fortunately, the condition can be treated by clinics like Westover Hills Dermatology in San Antonio, TX, especially if you catch it early, and as such, it’s important to understand the early signs of this skin condition.
The appearance of this skin condition can differ greatly from person to person, and in general, you probably will not see most of the signs that can indicate its presence. However, all patients who are eventually diagnosed with this condition have at least one of the following signs.
One early sign of this condition is that there is a constant redness on your face or other affected area that does not go away. It often resembles a blush or sunburn, but the key aspect of this redness is that it does not clear up with time. In fact, the redness may feel like a slight burn, as some patients report that the skin stings during a flare-up. It may also feel rough or scaly to the touch.
Of all the signs mentioned here, this one might be the one that appears earliest. If you have a history of frequent flushing or blushing, you may develop the condition later. People who blush frequently in their younger years often notice the condition getting worse over time before getting to the point where the redness does not go away. Not all blushing is an indication of this condition, so it should be monitored to determine the frequency before seeking treatment.
Sometimes, the redness on the face is accompanied by acne-like eruptions that include small solid or pus-filled bumps. These breakouts tend to come and go, but they aren’t really pimples or acne. There won’t be any blackheads present, which is one way to tell the difference between this condition and acne. Your skin may also be oily or have raised skin patches called plaques. As with other early signs of this condition, the skin may burn or sting.
Spider veins, which is the common name for broken blood vessels, often show up on the faces of patients with this skin condition. They typically appear in tandem with the acne-like breakouts, but they can also show up without the bumps or redness associated with flare-ups. Typically, spider veins are very common on the legs, but in patients with this condition, they may see broken vessels show up on their face as an early symptom.
The four signs mentioned above are the earliest possible symptoms of this condition, but there are some other signs that could appear in some patients. For example, you might experience eye irritation, inflamed eyelids, or the thickening of the skin on the face or other affected area. These are often signs that the condition has advanced, but they usually occur early enough to treat successfully. However, if you notice these signs, seek treatment right away to avoid permanent scarring.
Along with the early signs of rosacea, you should know what conditions trigger a flare-up so that you can determine if you do have the condition or not. Keep track of these triggers so you can talk to your provider about them and show a pattern of when your symptoms appear. Some of the more common triggers appear below.
There may be other triggers for your condition that aren’t listed here, but try to pay attention to when your flare-ups occur so you and your provider can work together to identify the times when your condition worsens. If your redness or other signs come and go, you might think you are overreacting by considering treatment, but you’re not. Early treatment is the main key to effective treatment.
The early signs of this skin condition are usually only embarrassing, and while that’s enough reason in itself to seek treatment, if left untreated, the condition can become worse, leading to noticeably large pores and semi-permanent scarring. Women are more prone to acne-like breakouts, while men tend to experience the thickening of the skin and enlargement of the nose and cheeks. Even your eyes can become affected, making them dry and irritated. They may even burn uncomfortably.
Even though there is no cure for this condition, it can be managed effectively through treatment. The symptoms can be treated, and your provider will help develop a plan for handling your triggers. If you have a more advanced case and it has spread to your eyes, it can be treated with antibiotics or steroids. However, the first step toward effective treatment of any kind is to schedule a consultation with a qualified provider to assess your condition.
If you’re experiencing any of these signs mentioned here, or other strange skin conditions you are unsure of, getting a professional examination is the next recommended step. Contact Westover Hills Dermatology in San Antonio, TX right away to schedule your consultation and examination with our expert dermatologists.
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