Sometimes called the "great pretender," rosacea (rose-AY-sha) affects an estimated 14 million Americans and is a common, chronic skin disease. Also referred to as "adult acne," rosacea causes facial swelling and redness and, therefore, is easy to confuse with other skin conditions, such as acne or sunburn.

Famous rosacea sufferers include W.C. Fields and former President Bill Clinton, both often captured on film with the classic mid-face redness and bumpiness of rosacea.

People with rosacea might first notice a tendency to flush or blush easily. The condition can occur over a long period of time and often progresses to a persistent redness, with pimples and visible blood vessels in the center of the face that might eventually involve the cheeks, forehead, chin and nose. Other affected areas include the neck, ears, chest and back. Sometimes, rosacea affects the eyes.

The cause of this disease is unknown. Researchers think that heredity and the environment might play roles in the development of rosacea.

The symptoms of rosacea
Rosacea can cause redness, similar to that of a blush or sunburn. The flushing occurs when an increased amount of blood flows through vessels at a fast rate, and the vessels expand to accommodate the flow. The redness might become more noticeable and persistent as the disease progresses. Some people notice that their facial skin becomes increasingly dry.

Rosacea-related pimples, which often occur as the disease has progressed, are different from those caused by acne, because blackheads and whiteheads (known as comedones) rarely appear. Rather, people who have rosacea have visible small blood vessels and their pimples — some containing pus — appear as small, red bumps.

Some with rosacea notice red lines, telangiectasia (tell-an-jek-taze-yah), which appear when they flush. This is because the small blood vessels of the face become enlarged and show through the skin. These red lines usually appear on the cheeks — especially when the overall redness diminishes.