Q I am a housewife in my 40s. My cheeks are always red, and even one drink or going to a hot place turns my face bright red. Is this rosacea?
A Rosacea (酒齄) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in which facial blood vessels become abnormally reactive, dilating easily in response to stimuli such as heat, alcohol, and UV rays, and remaining persistently red. It is centred on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin with persistent erythema, telangiectasia, and papules; avoiding aggravating factors is the first-line management.
Detailed Answer
Rosacea is caused by a complex interplay of facial skin vascular hyperreactivity, neurovascular dysregulation, Demodex mite overgrowth, and skin barrier damage. Unlike simple flushing, it is accompanied by persistent erythema, telangiectasia, papules, and pustules; in advanced cases it can progress to sebaceous gland hypertrophy around the nose (rhinophyma). Sun exposure, high temperatures, alcohol, and hot spicy food are the main triggers.
Korean Medicine Perspective
In Korean medicine, facial flushing is understood to result from Spleen-Stomach Damp-Heat or Lung-channel Wind-Heat rising to the upper burner, while excessive alcohol consumption and rich fatty foods accumulate Heat in the Liver and Stomach, making the blood turbid. At Dongjedang, we use Galgeun-haegi-tang and Cheongsang-bangpung-tang to clear upper-burner Heat, and combine external treatment (Ku Shen–Huang Bai wash) for Demodex overgrowth.
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