Rosacea (rose-AY-shuh) is a chronic skin disorder that may cause redness, acne-like blemishes, and red lines due to enlarged blood vessels. In severe cases, the nose may become red, lumpy, and enlarged, though this is usually seen only in men.

One way to cope with rosacea (rose-AY-shuh) is to determine what factors may trigger your outbreaks, and then avoid them. The cause of flare-ups may be different in each patient, but common triggers include sunlight exposure, alcohol, hot beverages, cold wind, or extreme temperatures.

Though a number of explanations have been advanced regarding rosacea (rose-AY-shah), doctors still haven't found a single, definite cause. One common theory is that it's a disorder of the vascular system, in which the blood vessels swell in reaction to some trigger.