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Rosacea or Something Else? Key Clinical Signs for Accurate Diagnosis
Your Weekly Prompt to the Science of Skin and Success.
DFPC Team
March 27, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
Welcome back, DERM Community!
Last week, we explored Cellulitis. If you missed it, be sure to check out that edition for a solid review of this common bacterial skin infection.
This week, we’re shifting gears to discuss Rosacea: a chronic, inflammatory skin condition sometimes mistaken for acne, lupus, or seborrheic dermatitis. Its relapsing nature and facial involvement can significantly impact quality of life, making early recognition and management essential.
Picture this: A 35-year-old woman walks into your clinic frustrated by persistent redness and breakouts on her cheeks and nose. She’s tried acne treatments without success, and now her skin burns and stings when she applies her moisturizer.
Could this be rosacea? How do we distinguish it from other facial dermatoses? More importantly, what triggers are exacerbating her flares and how do we intervene?
Featured on This Week’s Chapter:
Learning Opportunities: Rosacea 101
Meet Dr. Elena, a family physician whose first patient of the day is Mark, a 40-year-old man who complains of facial redness that worsens after sun exposure and spicy meals.
Mark’s Complaint:
"Every time I eat hot wings or spend time outside, my face turns red and blotchy. Lately, I’ve noticed some bumps and visible veins around my nose. My skin feels like it’s burning. Is this just bad skin, or is something wrong?"
Dr. Elena recognizes the classic signs: erythema, telangiectasias, and papulopustular lesions, and suspects rosacea.
Let’s Discuss Rosacea:
There are four types of rosacea: curious to learn more? Check out the infographic we made for you! 🤓 Scroll down to see it.
It is Rosacea, now what?
General Rosacea Treatment:
Personal Care: Sunscreen and sunblock use is crucial.
Systemic Treatment: Low-dose doxycycline or tetracycline may improve Erythematelangiectatic Rosacea in some patients.
Ocular Rosacea: Ocular rosacea with meibomian gland involvement requires antibiotics for improvement and control (tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, or Septra DS).
Phymatous Rosacea (Rhinophyma): Requires surgical intervention (cold steel, electrosurgery, or CO2 laser) by an experienced dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
For further information on treatment, you can access our course on Rosacea, where we discuss clinical cases, in-depth treatment and more!
To help you better recognize and manage this common skin infection, we’ve created a FREE Rosacea Infographic designed for quick reference during clinical assessments.
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This resource walks you through the key clinical signs, symptoms, and physical findings of Rosacea, so you can confidently evaluate severity, identify potential complications, and educate your patients on the disease!
Opportunities for Dermatologists: Grow Your Career
👋🏻 See you next Thursday, DERM community!
Thanks for joining us in this week’s edition of Beneath the Surface.
Together, we’re sharpening our skills in recognizing, diagnosing, and managing conditions like Rosacea—helping patients find relief and avoid misdiagnosis.
💡If you found this helpful, feel free to share it with colleagues who might appreciate a quick clinical refresher.
Got a skin condition you’d like us to cover next? Drop us a comment: we’re here to create content that supports your practice and your patients.
Stay sharp, stay compassionate, and let’s keep pushing dermatology forward
— The Derm for Primary Care Team
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