If your face seems unusually flushed and the redness doesn't go away, you may have rosacea. Don't put off seeing a dermatologist — untreated, rosacea can leave your face with a permanent redness, acne-like bumps and possibly even a thickening of the skin on your nose. Use the Rosacea Checklist below and talk to your doctor.

Step 1

Examine your face for any of the following:

A persistent redness and flushing Visible broken blood vessels under the surface of your skin that look like tiny, spidery red lines Red bumps or pimples concentrated around your nose, cheeks or forehead Red, raised patches of skin

Step 2

Answer the following questions:

Do you often experience a sensation of burning or stinging on your face? Do you have any itching around your nose, cheeks, chin or forehead? Do you notice excessive flushing when you consume certain foods such as spicy food, hot beverages like coffee and tea, and alcohol? Do you notice a lingering flush when your skin is exposed to hot or cold temperatures, or strong winds?

Step 3

Do you notice any of these secondary symptoms?

Swelling around your cheeks and nose Areas of thickened skin on and around your nose Red, burning, tearing and irritated eyes

If you answered "yes" to many of these questions, talk to your doctor or a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in skin conditions. Only a physician will be able to determine exactly what is troubling your skin and prescribe the proper treatment. If you don't have a dermatologist, use the DermFinder to find one near you.