Q. I have had rosacea for three years now. Are there any statistics that indicate how long the condition will last?

A. There are no statistics documenting how long patients suffer from rosacea. It is a chronic disorder, rather than a temporary ailment, and as such it requires long-term therapy. While at present there is no cure for rosacea, its symptoms can usually be controlled with medical therapy and lifestyle modifications. Moreover, studies have shown that rosacea patients who continue therapy for the long term are less likely to experience a recurrence of symptoms.

Q. When I'm at the computer for long periods of time, I start feeling flushed and my face becomes red. Is this a possible rosacea tripwire and what should I do?

A. In the medical literature there have been isolated reports of patients who believed their skin problems, including rosacea, may be caused by working at their visual display terminals, but no evidence has been found that this in itself is an aggravating factor. If working at the computer for long periods seems to be associated with a flare-up of your condition, perhaps this may relate to flushing from stress or overexertion. Try taking periodic breaks, using stress management techniques, chewing on ice chips or drinking cold fluids to reduce your chances of flushing.