Rosacea is a skin disease that affects millions of people. The chief cause of rosacea is still unclear and hence all treatment is based on a preventive basis rather than a curative one. The management of this chronic condition is made easier by a combination of different therapies, which includes oral antibiotics, topical gel and latest laser treatments. Rosacea is one of the chronic skin diseases which affects an astounding 13 million people in the United States alone. Initially characterized by reddening of the face, the disease may gradually develop eruptions on the face giving a totally distorted look. While we are aware that some external factors like food and temperature trigger a flushing we still don't have a clue as to what is the root cause of Rosacea. Apart from the damaging effects on the skin, in a majority of the cases the disease also affects the eyes in what is called in the medical parlance as ocular rosacea. So it is pretty clear that the disease has more than cosmetic consequences and if untreated may lead to loss of vision. The typical symptoms of Ocular rosacea include dryness and irritation of the eyes and a general gritty sensation. [Simon Darken]

The capillaries get dilated and this is the main cause for the reddening. In the advanced stage of the disease the dilated capillaries do not return back to their normal size thus creating a permanent reddening. In some cases severe bumps and pustules may develop on the nose. This condition is called as rhinophyma. [Ann Marie Lindstrom, 8] Rosacea has been recorded with black population but it is markedly more visible with the white community as they tend to blush more easily. Though there is not much of a gender bias, Rosacea is found to be more frequent among women while on the other...

Rosacea is predominantly associated with adults and that too in the age group of 30 to 60. It has a disruptive influence on the lifestyle of the patients and many of them develop a negative self-image leading to severe personality disorders. We still do not have a total cure for Rosacea but with the available treatment methods we can control its effects. There are basically four types of Rosacea.
Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea is a case where there is extensive flushing which may be sometimes accompanied by stinging sensations.

Papulopustular rosacea

This is a condition wherein pustules are observed on any part of the face along with the burning sensations.

Phymatous rosacea is a case where there is a noticeable thickening of the skin and abnormal projections. The most common and obvious case is that of rhynophyma wherein there is a distinct thickening and projections on the nose.

Ocular Rosacea

This is an important subtype of rosacea and a potentially dangerous one in that any negligence may lead to impaired vision. Complications may develop within the cornea, which can drastically affect the visual acuity. [Jonathan Wilkin]

Materials and Methods

In tracing the root cause of the disease numerous theories have been put forward by researchers. This includes psychological, pharmacological, immunological and gastrointestinal causes. Of these previous research has identified rosacea as being induced by Demodex folliculorum. This has been ratified by the improvement shown by patients when treated for Demodex folliculorum. Nevertheless this result has failed to totally explain the disease origin, as it was found that out of…