There is a skin redness, primarily of the middle third of the face, affecting the nose and cheeks first, but also the forehead and chin. The general effect can be mistaken for sunburn. The redness progresses over time and can affect psychological well-being, self esteem, social and business activities. The cause is unknown but demodex folliculorum, the skin debris eating face mites, are five times as dense as in the normal population. Rosacea can't be cured but it can be controlled.
Symptoms come and go in cycles and flare-ups are common.
There are triggers that cause trouble are first cosmetics, shaving creams, after shave lotions, and all compounds that contain alcohol or irritants. Different people have different triggers of flare-ups. These include hot drinks, stress, alcohol, sunlight, spicy foods, extreme heat or cold. A diary is useful to pinpoint your triggers. Men do best with an electric shaver.