Types of Rosacea

There are four main subtypes of rosacea that can be treated by your Houston rosacea doctors. These include:

Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: This subtype is characterized by flushing that is worse with certain foods, beverages, or activities. Often the redness becomes fixed and persistent and may be associated with visible, broken blood vessels (called telangiectasias).  

Papulopustular rosacea: The chronic inflammation can lead to persistent redness that is associated with transient bumps and pimples. Many people will mistakenly identify this as acne, because of the presence of pimples. Although there is sometimes overlap, papulopustular rosacea is a different entity with different treatment approaches.

Phymatous rosacea: When rosacea is left untreated for many years, the skin of the nose and cheeks can thicken, resulting in enlargement of the nose from excess tissue. This enlargement is known as rhinophyma, and often, surgical procedures are needed to correct this abnormality. Our Houston rosacea experts can diagnose this enlargement and help prevent worsening, but we refer to surgical specialists for surgical procedures to correct rhinophyma.

Ocular rosacea: Rosacea can affect the eye, resulting in dry eye, tearing, burning, swollen eyelids, and recurrent styes. If the inflammation is severe and persistent, damage to the cornea can result.

Many patients experience characteristics of more than one subtype at the same time, and those often may develop in succession. While rosacea may or may not evolve from one subtype to another, each individual sign or symptom may progress from mild to moderate to severe. Early diagnosis and treatment are therefore recommended.

If you think you have one of these subtypes of rosacea, schedule an appointment to discuss treatment options today.