Rosacea tends to occur on particular areas of the face, from the cheeks, to around the mouth and even up to the eyes. Here we take a closer look on rosacea on the nose.

The mysterious and frustrating truth about rosacea, anywhere on the face, is that it’s not yet totally understood what causes it.

There are many theories, and it certainly does seem to involve genetics, as rosacea runs in families. Another observation is that people suffering with rosacea are generally prone to problems with the blood vessels on their faces, which could have been damaged by the sun.

Other things that contribute towards rosacea include environmental and bacterial factors, but as yet no single cause or combination of contributory factors can be definitively identified as being at the heart of the problem.

Despite the root cause of rosacea confounding science to some extent, rosacea is a very common skin condition, which according to the NHS affects an estimated 1 in 10 people in the UK, and around 16 million Americans. Following the collation of data from studies around the world, in 2018 it was revealed by the National Rosacea Society that an approximate 415 million people have rosacea globally – so, yes, it’s extremely common. Anyone can get it, including well-known figures such as Prince William, Bill Clinton, and Cameron Diaz, all of whom live with the condition.

The initial symptoms of rosacea include reddening on the cheeks, chin, forehead and nose, which can come and go over a period of weeks, sometimes months, and can be triggered by many things. If you feel you may be developing rosacea, it’s advisable to seek medical advice from a dermatologist or doctor right away, so that you can put in place an effective management plan.

Who's likely to get rosacea?

• Women are more likely than men to get rosacea.
• People with fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes are prone to rosacea.
• People between the ages of 30 and 50 are more vulnerable to contracting rosacea.
• People who have suffered with bad acne in the past are also vulnerable to it.

Phymatous rosacea

Phymatous rosacea is the type of rosacea that affects the nose. Fortunately, it’s relatively rare and is the end stage of progressive rosacea that may not have been well-managed, for whatever reason. It’s more common in men than women, despite women accounting for the bulk of rosacea cases.

If rosacea is left it untreated or managed, its effects can first persist, and then become permanent. This manifests in thickening the skin and visible broken blood vessels, and at its most severe, disfiguring the nose. As one of four variants of rosacea, it can cause rhinophyma, when the nose looks bulbous, swollen, and bumpy, because the skin and oil-producing glands on and around it has thickened and scarred.

The best way to avoid rosacea on the nose becoming permanent is to get guidance from your dermatologist, using prescribed treatments, avoiding triggers as afar as possible, and keeping very good care of the skin of your face.

For more information about managing rosacea, see our article How Do You Clear Up Rosacea?

Recommended products for rosacea-prone skin:

Balmonds have four different emollients that are particularly suitable for rosacea and which you can use in combination to keep your face well-nourished and well-hydrated, plus a non-irritant natural shampoo and body wash.

Balmonds Intensive Facial Oil
with rosehip, calendula, lavender & chamomile

Balmonds Daily Moisturising Cream
with shea butter and calendula

Balmonds Cooling Cream
with shea, menthol, aloe vera & lavender

Balmonds Skin Salvation
with hemp and beeswax

Balmonds Natural Shampoo & Body Wash
with calendula & chamomile