Can rosacea exacerbate hormonal disorders?

Rosacea is a dermatosis initially triggered by a significant dilation of the facial blood vessels (telangiectasias), which makes them more visible, especially on lighter skin tones. A diffuse redness on the face accompanies these manifestations, along with skin hypersensitivity, burning sensations, and sometimes hot flushes. It is important to know that rosacea is a chronic condition, meaning it operates in flare-ups. Symptoms may thus regress, or even disappear, for several weeks, before returning. There are several forms of rosacea, each presenting different clinical signs:

• Vascular Rosacea: Also known as telangiectasia, it manifests as facial redness, which can be intermittent (erythema) or permanent (erythrosis). This often occurs on the cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin. Due to their dilation, the blood vessels on the skin's surface appear blue or red and are visible to the naked eye.

• Papulopustular Rosacea: In addition to the symptoms associated with rosacea, papulopustular rosacea, or acne-rosacea, manifests itself through pustules and red spots on the face. However, unlike acne, this form of rosacea does not result in blackheads. Papulopustular rosacea occurs following the invasion of the parasite Demodex in the sebaceous glands.

• Hypertrophic rosacea: a rare form of the disease, it is characterised by dilated pores, skin thickening or skin protrusions. Hypertrophic rosacea is a result of an increase in the volume of the sebaceous glands. The nose is particularly affected (rhinophyma) as this area contains a large proportion of the sebaceous glands in the face.

• Ocular Rosacea: Characterised by inflammation in the eyes, particularly the eyelids, followed by tearing, irritation, and dryness of the eyes, ocular rosacea is believed to be caused by a malfunction of the Meibomian glands, the sebaceous glands located in the epidermis of the eyelids.