But for many people, it may be an indication of rosacea.
It tends to show up later in life, typically after age 30.
Many will experience flushed patches of skin around their nose and forehead at first, for instance.
Rosacea affects millions, yet much about it remains unknown.Photo: Francesco Carta (Getty Images)
But over time, these patches can become permanently reddened.
More severe cases can cause a persons skin or nose to become thickened and bulbous.
Another maddening aspect of rosacea is its etiologymeaning that no ones really sure why it happens.
An example of rosacea.Photo: BSIP/UIG (Getty Images)
Its known torunin families, for instance, indicating that our genetics play a role.
Some people seem to develop it as a reaction to certain medications, such as steroids.
In 2002, the National Rosacea Society released the first proposed standardized criteria for rosacea diagnosis.
Not everybody fits into those nice little categories.
Lots of people have a combination of problems.
So we changed it again, she told Gizmodo over the phone.
This newer system, Baldwin says, allows for more preciseness in diagnosing, treating, and studying patients.
So everyone with rosacea requires a combination of treatments.
In the past, people would have gotten just one treatment, which is just not good enough.
Many of these drugs are antimicrobials, though their anti-inflammatory properties might be more relevant for treating rosacea.
Were also now finally on the verge of finding drugs that can work for several symptoms at once.
Thesetreatments and othershave made rosacea considerably more manageable than before.
People can also reduce episodes of rosacea by identifying and avoiding their triggers.
And there are many enduring mysteries about it left to be solved.
We do appear to be getting closer toward unraveling some of the mechanisms behind rosacea, at least.
And its possible that finding a way to stabilize these cells could lead tonew treatments.
We still have a lot more to understand about rosacea.
I have had patients who come in with bright red faces for treatment of a wart on their toe.
And when I point out that theyve got redness, theyll say, What redness?
Or theyll say that this just happens in their family, that theres nothing wrong.
So improved awareness, I think.
is the very first step.
The journey to demystifying rosacea continues.
And as Baldwin points out, awareness is the first step towards change.
With the right knowledge, anyone can seek the care they deserve.
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