Rosacea: red in the face

Many people develop a red scaly rash on their faces as they age, particularly in the center on the nose and cheeks. They flush or blush and often also have small acne-like bumps on their faces, swollen noses and prominent red blood vessels. Sometimes, this same rash may extend to the shoulders, chest and back. It's called rosacea.

Nobody knows what causes rosacea, but most doctors feel that it is a genetic disorder associated with other skin conditions, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis. They may also have terrible dandruff, scaly ears, thick big toe nails, and sometimes thick skin on their elbows and knees. The recommended treatment is to take an antibiotic such as doxycycline 100 mg twice a day plus an antibiotic cream such as metronidazole cream until the rash clears. Then stop the doxycycline and resume it when the rash returns. You should also shampoo your scalp and face every day.