The enigma of rosacea.

This short paper reviews the nature of rosacea emphasizing the possibility of a solar cause. The sites of involvement and the physical signs of rosacea including the flushing, the erythema and the telangiectasia as well as the intermittent episodes of inflammation with swelling and papules may all be explained by UVR induced damage to dermal connective tissue. The dermal damage permits vaso-dilation and vascular pooling.