Quiz – Not So Rosy

You show up to work red-faced, maybe with some pimples or a bulbous nose, and you’re sure that you’re the object of stares. Don’t be embarrassed—use this chance to let others know about rosacea, a chronic skin disorder with no clear cause that can result in redness and blemishes on the face. Rosacea’s effect on a person’s appearance may negatively impact their self-esteem, but it’s actually a condition that’s shared among millions of people and its symptoms are manageable. Take our quiz to learn more:

1. Rosacea affects just a few million people in the United States.
 
A. True
B.  False


2.  A common symptom of rosacea is:

A. Easy blushing and flushing of the facial skin
B. Redness around the nose that later extends to the rest of the face
C. Formation of pimples and enlarged blood vessels
D. An enlarged, bulbous red nose
E.  All of the above

 
3. Vascular rosacea, the swelling of blood vessels under the facial skin which makes it swollen and warm, is common in women.
 
A. True
B. False

 
4. All of the following foods may trigger rosacea EXCEPT:

A. Alcohol
B. Caffeinated beverages
C. Leafy greens
D. Spicy foods

 
5. There is no cure for rosacea, but there are several options for managing symptoms.
 
A. True
B.  False

Answers:

1. B. False. Rosacea actually affects more than 14 million people in the U.S.  The condition tends to begin after middle age, most commonly in fair-skinned people and women in menopause.

2. E. All of the above.  Rosacea has a variety of possible symptoms, and a physician will classify its type based on which symptom a person is experiencing. The four types are prerosacea, vascular, inflammatory, and rhinophyma.

3. A. True.  A type of rosacea called rhinophyma, in which enlarged oil glands cause a bulbous red nose, is common in men. 

4. C. Leafy greens.  Alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods can dilate the blood vessels in the skin, triggering symptoms. However, these foods don’t affect all people equally, so if eating them proves not to aggravate a person’s rosacea then that person doesn’t need to avoid them.

5. A. True. Symptoms can often be controlled or eliminated through a variety of means, including topical and oral antibiotics, skin creams, or in appropriate cases, procedures such as laser therapy. People with rosacea are also encouraged to keep a record of potential triggers such as the foods mentioned above, weather, or stress.

Source: The Health Library at www.sjchs.org/health-library