Rosacea: Why haven't I heard of it?

After two years of terrible acne I have finally been diagnosed and treated for rosacea. I am 36, and the acne appeared for no obvious reason. I tried all sorts of creams, none of which worked. I eventually saw a dermatologist, who immediately told me that I had rosacea - a form of "adult acne". I was started on a course of antibiotics and within a couple of weeks the problem began to disappear. I now take antibiotics once a day, and it seems to be cured. Why isn't there more publicity about this condition?

Dr Fred Kavalier answers your health question:

Rosacea (pronounced ro-zay-shea) looks like acne, but it is not the same as teenage acne. The main symptoms are redness and a pimply rash on the cheeks, the nose, the chin and the centre of the forehead. It can also affect the eyes. Rosacea comes and goes, even without any treatment. It affects men and women, and it usually starts in the thirties or forties, unlike acne, which mostly affects people under 20. With good treatment, it can usually be kept under control, although even with treatment it has a tendency to flare up in response to certain trigger factors. The best treatment for an attack of rosacea is a prolonged course of antibiotic tablets, such as oxytetracycline. Once it is under control, it may be possible to keep it calm with skin lotions that contain antibiotics. The underlying cause is unknown. Trigger factors include alcohol, stress and certain foods. An American website, www.rosacea.org, will tell you more.

Please mail your questions for Dr Fred to health@independent.co.uk. He regrets that he is unable to respond personally to questions.