Q&A : RED CHEEKS AND NOSE LIKE SANTA MAY INDICATE ROSACEA.Red cheeks and a nose not unlike Santa's may have little to do with cold temperatures or too many holiday spirits. In fact, a legitimate medical reason may explain someone's rosy glow. It's called rosacea Rosacea Definition Rosacea is a skin disease typically appearing in people during their 30s and 40s. It is marked by redness (erythema) of the face, flushing of the skin, and the presence of hard pimples (papules) or pus-filled pimples (pustules), and (rose-A-she-a) and it afflicts one in 20 American adults, according to the National Rosacea Society in Barrington, Ill. The society and Arthur Sober, a dermatology professor at Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS) is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University. It is a prestigious American medical school located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. in Massachusetts, provided the following information on the skin ailment. What is rosacea? It's an inflammatory skin condition of the central third of the face. What are some of the condition's characteristics? Blood vessels Blood vessels Tubular channels for blood transport, of which there are three principal types: arteries, capillaries, and veins. Only the larger arteries and veins in the body bear distinct names. dilate dilate /di·late/ (di´lat) to stretch an opening or hollow structure beyond its normal dimensions. di·late v. To make or become wider or larger. , resulting in redness of the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. The severity and length of time of the flushed coloring fluctuates. Small, red bumps also can develop. In addition, rosacea sometimes affects the eye area, for example, causing inflammation of the eyelids eyelids, n.pl a moveable fold of thin skin over the eye. The orbicularis oculi muscle and the oculomotor nerve control the opening and closing of the eyelid. . Although rosacea doesn't hurt, it can be discomforting. And constantly being red in the face can be socially challenging. Who is most likely to get rosacea? Middle-aged men and women with fair skin. Men tend to have more severe rosacea, although more women seek treatment for the condition, Sober said. What causes rosacea? How serious is the disease? At this point, no cause is known. The disease is not deadly. Although rosacea is not genetically transmitted, it tends to run in families. Is there a cure or treatment? Although there's no cure, many treatments are available, including topical, anti-inflammatory compounds, internal antibiotics and lasers. Can any lifestyle changes counteract rosacea? Yes. Patients should avoid alcohol, caffeinated products and spicy food spicy food Nutrition Any comestible marinated in and/or which contains chili peppers, mustard with horseradish, curry or other spices that evoke a desired intraoral sensation that crosses pain with pleasure; SFs may elicit an autonomic nervous system , all of which can aggravate rosacea. And stay clear of too much sun exposure, extreme temperatures and gusty gust·y adj. gust·i·er, gust·i·est 1. Blowing in or marked by gusts: a gusty storm. 2. Characterized by sudden outbursts. winds. For more information on the disease, call your physician or dermatologist. Or contact the National Rosacea Society at 800 S. Northwest Highway, Suite 200, Barrington, Ill. 60010. Their e-mail address is rosaceasaol.com. |
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