A skin condition primarily affecting the face, rosacea is marked by spreading patches of red skin. Some patients also develop pimples. In others, the condition spreads to the ears, neck and upper chest. There is also a subtype of rosacea which affects the eyes. It is unknown what causes rosacea, but it primarily affects people of European descent and it is about three times more common in women than men. In severe cases, pustules may also develop, and the nose may become red and crusty around the tip, which may enlarge. There is currently no cure for rosacea, but the condition can be managed, primarily through topical and systemic prescription treatments.
