Rosacea

What Is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a long-term inflammatory skin condition that causes facial redness and a rash, usually on the nose and cheeks. It can also cause flushing, visible blood vessels, acne-like bumps and eye problems. Symptoms typically come and go. Many people notice that certain factors, such as sun or emotional stress, bring them on.

There is no cure for rosacea, but treatment can keep it under control. Rosacea is not contagious. A 2018 review of 32 studies estimated that 5.46% of adults worldwide have rosacea. It mostly affected people aged 45 to 60. Rosacea is more common in women, but men who get it tend to have more severe symptoms.

Rosacea develops in people of all skin tones. People with darker skin may see a brown or violet color, and rosacea may be underdiagnosed in them because darker skin can mask facial redness.

Rosacea at a Glance

Also called	Acne rosacea. Ocular rosacea when it affects the eyes.
Cause	Not fully known. Inflammation, the immune system, blood vessels, skin mites and genes may all play a role.
Where it appears	Mainly the nose and cheeks. Less often the forehead, chin, ears, scalp, neck, upper chest, back or eyes.
Who gets it	Anyone, but more often women, middle-aged and older adults, and people with fair skin
Is it serious?	Considered harmless, but it can worsen without treatment. Untreated eye involvement can harm vision.
Diagnosis	An exam of the skin and eyes plus your history. Lab testing is not useful for diagnosing it.
Treatment	Trigger avoidance, gentle skin care, sun protection, prescription medicine, and laser or light therapy
Contagious?	No
ICD-10 code	L71.9 (rosacea, unspecified)

What Does Rosacea Look and Feel Like?

Most people have only some of these signs:

Flushing: a tendency to flush easily, with a warm feeling. On darker skin, warmth on the cheeks may be the only sign.
Lasting color: redness, or a violet or brown color, across the nose and cheeks that stays for weeks, months or longer
Acne-like breakouts: bumps (papules) and pus-filled bumps (pustules). On darker skin, these may be the first sign.
Visible blood vessels: thin red lines on the cheeks and nose
Burning, stinging or dryness: skin may burn or sting when anything is applied, even water. It may feel rough, dry and tight.
Thickening skin: usually on the nose and more often in men. It can develop when rosacea goes untreated for years.
Eye symptoms: dry, gritty, itchy, burning or red eyes, light sensitivity, and swollen eyelids. Styes may develop.

Rosacea often cycles between flare-ups and periods of remission, when symptoms ease.

What Causes Rosacea?

The exact cause is unclear. Inflammation likely drives many symptoms, and the immune system may be set off by triggers such as sunlight, heat or spicy foods. Other possible factors include:

Blood vessels in the skin that widen too easily, causing redness and flushing
Larger numbers of Demodex, tiny mites that live on nearly everyone's skin
Genes

Rosacea is not caused by poor hygiene. You may be more likely to develop it if you:

Are a woman
Are 30 or older
Have fair skin, blond hair and blue eyes
Have a blood relative with rosacea or severe acne
Had a lot of acne, including cysts or nodules
Are going through menopause
Have a history of smoking

People younger than 30 can also get rosacea, and in rare cases, children do.

Common Triggers

Triggers differ from person to person. A table in American Family Physician lists the share of patients with rosacea who report each trigger. The most common were sun exposure (81%), emotional stress (79%), hot weather (75%), wind (57%), strenuous exercise (56%), alcohol (52%) and spicy foods (45%).

Some skin and hair care products can also trigger flares. So can some medicines, including drugs that widen blood vessels, such as some blood pressure medicines.

Is Rosacea Serious?

Rosacea is considered harmless, but it can lead to problems:

Progression: in some people, repeated flushing leaves skin permanently red. The more rosacea progresses, the harder it becomes to treat.
Eye damage: the American Academy of Dermatology estimates that 50% of people with rosacea will have a flare-up that affects their eyes. Untreated eye symptoms can lead to eye damage and loss of vision.
Emotional effects: in a national survey, 65% of patients with rosacea reported symptoms of depression.

How Is Rosacea Diagnosed?

A clinician diagnoses rosacea by examining your skin and eyes and asking about your symptoms. Diagnosis requires at least one central facial feature: flushing, lasting redness, visible blood vessels, or bumps and pustules. Laboratory testing is not useful for making the diagnosis.

Tests are sometimes done to rule out other conditions, such as lupus or psoriasis. A skin biopsy may be needed if a rare type called granulomatous rosacea is suspected. People with eye symptoms may see an eye doctor (ophthalmologist).

How Is Rosacea Treated?

Treatment aims to reduce signs of rosacea, ease discomfort and keep it from getting worse.

Skin Care and Sun Protection

Use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer.
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide may be better tolerated.
Avoid astringents, toners, abrasives, fragrances, and irritants such as menthol, camphor and alcohol.
Green- or yellow-tinted makeup can conceal redness.

Prescription Medicines

For lasting redness: brimonidine gel (Mirvaso) or oxymetazoline cream (Rhofade). These narrow blood vessels under the skin. Both are FDA approved for persistent facial redness of rosacea in people 18 and older. Most people see their best results 3 to 6 hours after applying, and the effect can last up to 12 hours.
For acne-like breakouts: FDA-approved options include azelaic acid, encapsulated benzoyl peroxide 5%, ivermectin cream, metronidazole and minocycline foam.
Pills: low-dose doxycycline reduces inflammation and can be used long term. When another antibiotic is needed, it is prescribed for the shortest time possible. Isotretinoin may be used for severe rosacea that doesn't respond to other medicines. It must not be taken during pregnancy because it can cause birth defects.

Laser and Light Therapy

Lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL) can reduce redness, flushing and visible blood vessels. Common side effects of laser treatment include redness, bruising and mild swelling for a few days. On brown or Black skin, laser treatment might cause long-term or permanent changes in skin color.

Eye and Thickened-Skin Treatment

Ocular rosacea may be treated with warm compresses, eyelid cleansing, artificial tears and sometimes prescription eye drops. Surgery to remove some swollen nose tissue may improve appearance.

Can You Prevent Rosacea Flare-Ups?

Avoiding your triggers may help prevent or reduce flare-ups:

Track what you eat, drink and use every day for at least 2 weeks to see what lines up with your flares.
Wear sunscreen daily, even on cloudy days, plus a hat. Use a scarf in cold, windy weather.
Limit spicy foods, alcohol and hot drinks, and avoid a lot of activity in hot weather.
Reduce stress with deep breathing, yoga or other relaxation techniques.

When Should You See a Clinician About Rosacea?

Make an appointment if you notice:

Ongoing face or eye symptoms, or flushing that happens more often or lasts longer than before
Acne-like breakouts that nothing seems to clear
Gritty, sore, red or light-sensitive eyes
Firm, round bumps or thickening skin on your face

Rosacea vs. Acne and Other Look-Alike Conditions

Condition	Key features
Rosacea	Flushing, lasting central facial redness, visible blood vessels and bumps. Can affect the eyes.
Acne vulgaris	Comedones form. No eye symptoms.
Seborrheic dermatitis	Involves the scalp, eyebrows and the folds beside the nose
Contact dermatitis	Itchy. Often improves once the cause is removed.
Lupus	Rarely has pustules. Testing may be needed to rule it out.
Normal flushing	Comes and goes, clearing within a few hours or less

Rosacea Evaluation at GENEVA

At GENEVA Primary Care & Med Spa in Alpharetta, GA, a provider evaluates your skin and eye symptoms. Based on that evaluation, your provider recommends treatment at GENEVA or a referral to a specialist, such as a dermatologist or ophthalmologist.

You can raise a skin concern during a primary care visit or an annual physical exam. GENEVA serves patients from Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Roswell and Cumming.

Related Terms

Rosacea FAQs

Is rosacea serious?

Rosacea is considered a harmless skin condition, but it is long-term and can get worse without treatment. Possible lasting changes include a red, swollen nose. The bigger medical concern is the eyes. The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that 50% of people with rosacea will have a flare-up that affects their eyes. Left untreated, eye involvement can lead to eye damage and loss of vision. See a clinician if your eyes feel gritty, sore or sensitive to light.

Is rosacea contagious?

No, rosacea is not contagious. You can't catch it from other people, and it isn't caused by poor hygiene. The exact cause is unclear. Inflammation likely plays a key role, along with blood vessels that widen too easily, genes and larger numbers of Demodex mites, which live on nearly everyone's skin. Because eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and lupus can look similar, have a clinician confirm the diagnosis rather than assuming a facial rash is rosacea.

What triggers rosacea flare-ups?

Common rosacea triggers include sun exposure, emotional stress, hot weather, wind, exercise, alcohol and spicy foods. Triggers differ from person to person. In data summarized in American Family Physician, 81% of patients with rosacea reported sun exposure as a trigger, 79% emotional stress, 75% hot weather, 52% alcohol and 45% spicy foods. The National Rosacea Society recommends tracking possible triggers every day for at least 2 weeks to see which ones line up with your flares.

Can rosacea be cured or go away on its own?

No, rosacea can't be cured, but treatment can control it and help keep it from getting worse. Symptoms may flare for weeks to months and then go away for a while, so rosacea can seem to clear up. Mayo Clinic notes that even when the skin calms with treatment, symptoms often return. The more rosacea progresses, the harder it becomes to treat, so see a clinician early rather than waiting for it to clear.

How long does rosacea treatment take to work?

Rosacea creams for persistent redness work within hours, while treatments for acne-like bumps take weeks to months. With brimonidine gel or oxymetazoline cream, most people see their best results 3 to 6 hours after applying, and the effect lasts up to 12 hours. For acne-like breakouts, topical medicine may bring slight improvement in 3 or 4 weeks, but a noticeable difference usually takes 2 to 3 months. The full effect of laser treatment may take weeks, and repeat treatments may be needed. Tell your clinician if you don't see progress.

What is the difference between rosacea and acne?

Rosacea and acne can both cause facial bumps, but they are different conditions that need different treatment. According to American Family Physician, acne involves comedones and doesn't cause eye symptoms. Rosacea typically brings flushing, lasting redness in the center of the face, visible blood vessels, and burning or stinging, and it can affect the eyes. MedlinePlus notes that rosacea will not improve with over-the-counter acne treatment. If breakouts don't clear with acne products, have a clinician take a look.

Can a primary care provider diagnose and treat rosacea?

Yes, in many cases. MedlinePlus notes that a health care provider can often diagnose rosacea with a physical exam and questions about your medical history. Lab testing is not useful for diagnosing rosacea, but tests are sometimes used to rule out look-alike conditions such as lupus or psoriasis. At GENEVA, your provider evaluates your skin and symptoms, then recommends treatment at GENEVA or a referral to a specialist, such as a dermatologist. Ocular rosacea that threatens eyesight calls for immediate referral to an ophthalmologist.

References

GENEVA's glossary is based on evidence-backed information from government health agencies, medical societies and peer-reviewed research.

View sources

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Rosacea (https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rosacea). Accessed 10/22/2026.
MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Rosacea (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000879.htm). Last updated 7/3/2025. Accessed 10/22/2026.
MedlinePlus Genetics, National Library of Medicine. Rosacea (https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/rosacea/). Last updated 9/1/2018. Accessed 10/22/2026.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. Rosacea: Overview (https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/rosacea/what-is/overview). Last updated 4/3/2024. Accessed 10/22/2026.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. Rosacea: Signs and symptoms (https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/rosacea/what-is/symptoms). Last updated 4/3/2024. Accessed 10/22/2026.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. Rosacea: Causes (https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/rosacea/what-is/causes). Last updated 4/3/2024. Accessed 10/22/2026.
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Mayo Clinic. Rosacea - Symptoms and causes (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rosacea/symptoms-causes/syc-20353815). Last updated 10/17/2023. Accessed 10/22/2026.
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Gether L, Overgaard LK, Egeberg A, et al. Incidence and prevalence of rosacea: a systematic review and meta-analysis (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29478264/). Br J Dermatol. 2018 Aug;179(2):282-289. Accessed 10/22/2026.
National Library of Medicine. ICD-10-CM: L71.9 Rosacea, unspecified (Clinical Table Search Service) (https://clinicaltables.nlm.nih.gov/apidoc/icd10cm/v3/doc.html). Accessed 10/22/2026.