Homai Baria of India felt quite alone when she was diagnosed with rosacea.

"In India, I have still not heard much about the term rosacea," Baria said. As a result, many people in her country don't understand her condition.

"My family, friends and colleagues at work would sometimes make unkind comments about what was happening to me," she said, referring to her red face and rosacea flareups. "I went to the point of avoiding going to parties and social gatherings. I would often cry when I was alone."

Baria's rosacea started out inconspicuously. "I observed two to three pimple-like eruptions on my cheek," she said.

But when the signs and symptoms worsened instead of disappearing, she went to see a specialist. She was prescribed medication and did her best to discover her rosacea triggers.

"Hot and humid climate, typically a major factor here in Mumbai, triggers my rosacea," she said. "If I leave the office between 3:30 to 4 p.m., my face gets flushed and appears the color of tomatoes," Baria said.

"Nowadays, I avoid as far as possible going in the sun."

Through such precautions, medication and careful skin care, Baria feels she now has her rosacea under control. She regularly visits the National Rosacea Society Web site to stay up to date on information about her condition.

"I don't have any friends or colleagues here who have this condition," she said. "But I know there are many people worldwide with rosacea.

"I try to have a positive attitude about my rosacea," Baria said. "Mentally, I keep saying that it is improving, and it does work."