Rosacea myths & misconceptions

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Man with visible facial redness on his cheeks​

Rosacea is a skin condition that affects around 5%* of the world population. Until recently, it was rarely spoken about, despite being one of the most visible skin conditions leading to unpredictable “flare-ups” that redden the skin. Facial redness often provokes disparaging remarks and judgments, particularly as the condition remains little-known and is often associated with a number of misinterpretations, described in the following section.

 

*Epidemiology of acne and rosacea: A worldwide global study - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, January 2024.

Rosacea only affects women

 

FALSE. Although women are more commonly affected, rosacea also affects men. Moreover, thickening of the skin on the nose, which becomes red, bumpy and bulbous, is more common in men.

Dark skin showing visible signs of rosacea on her

Rosacea only affects fair-skinned people

 

FALSE. Although it is most commonly seen in fair-skinned patients, rosacea has also been diagnosed in Asians, Latin Americans, African Americans and Africans. For patients with the darkest skin, the characteristic signs of rosacea, particularly redness in the centre of the face, can be masked by pigmentation, even though the symptoms are still present and disabling. This leads to errors and delays in diagnosis and has an impact on disease management and patients’ quality of life.

Woman with mild facial redness​

Rosacea only affects people aged 40 and over

 

FALSE. The risk of developing rosacea does increase with age (and the first symptoms most often appear between the ages of 30 and 50), but it can also occur in young adults and, in rare cases, in children.

Rosacea symptoms, redness on the cheeks and nose

Rosacea is contagious

 

FALSE. It cannot be transmitted by physical contact, through the air, or by any other means. It is a skin disease that results from internal and external factors specific to each individual.

Menopause triggers rosacea flare-ups

 

FALSE. Menopause is not a trigger, and the two phenomena are not related. On the other hand, during menopause, oestrogen levels fall, causing the famous “hot flushes”, a very common symptom that can be confused with the “flushing” seen in rosacea. If there is any doubt, a simple clinical examination is all that is needed to distinguish between them.

 

 

 

 

Alcohol is responsible for rosacea flare-ups

 

TRUE & FALSE. Rosacea sufferers are often subject to this persistent stigma. They receive unflattering comments linked to possible alcoholism, because of their highly visible facial redness. Rosacea is a chronic multifactorial & genetic disease, and alcohol is not "responsible" for its flare-ups.

However, it is true that alcohol consumption, just like other stimuli linked to the person’s lifestyle (spicy foods, hot drinks, sport, sun exposure, etc.) can trigger rosacea flare-ups. It is therefore important to limit its consumption on a daily basis.

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