Rosacea is chronic skin condition that leads to redness, inflammation and acne-like bumps on the nose, forehead, cheeks, chin and sometimes the eyes.

Because it resembles acne, rosacea is sometimes called acne rosacea or adult acne. However, unlike acne, it rarely causes blackheads. About 14 million Americans have rosacea, according to the National Rosacea Society.

There are different types of rosacea, which are classified according to the kind of symptoms experienced. Many patients experience symptoms that characterize more than one type of rosacea.

The cause of rosacea is unknown, but several factors have been identified that trigger flare-ups, including spicy floods, alcohol, sunlight and stress. Rosacea is a progressive condition, which means that it gets worse over time.

Rosacea usually starts after age 30 with a tendency to blush (sudden reddening of the face often due to shame or embarrassment) easily. This may develop into a persistent redness. Other symptoms of rosacea include small, red bumps (papules), red pus-filled bumps (pustules) or small, visible blood vessels (telangiectasias) on the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin.

Rosacea is usually diagnosed during a physical examination. Treatment may consist of antibiotics that are applied to the skin or taken by mouth. Severe cases may be treated with laser surgery or electrosurgery.

Rosacea cannot be prevented, but symptoms can be lessened by avoiding the factors that trigger flare-ups, such as eating spicy foods and drinking alcohol.