Most clinical practice guidelines for rosacea identify the primary objective as clearing the visible signs of rosacea, while unseen symptoms such as burning and stinging are not always addressed even though they add to patients’ burden of disease and lower quality of life, according to a review of studies on burning and/or stinging in individuals with rosacea recently published in the European journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica.¹

Q. This is my second round of rosacea, but this time it came with a tightening, burning, hot feeling. It is also very itchy. Is itching normal?

A. Yes, itching is a common secondary symptom of rosacea.

While the effects of rosacea on facial appearance are widely known, the majority of patients also experience physical discomfort, according to a recent survey by the National Rosacea Society.

In the survey of 605 rosacea patients, 93 percent said they experienced at least some physical discomfort due to their rosacea. Among those who experienced discomfort, the most common complaints were burning (72 percent), itching (61 percent), stinging (52 percent) and swelling (41 percent).

Beyond the effects of rosacea on facial appearance, the disorder is also frequently associated with facial discomfort, according to a new survey by the National Rosacea Society.