How is rosacea diagnosed?

In general, rosacea can be diagnosed by clinical examination of a dermatologist. In certain cases, a skin biopsy may be required in order to differentiate rosacea from similar diseases like listed in the chapter “types of rosacea”. There are no consistently abnormal laboratory findings in rosacea, thus blood tests are normally not necessary for diagnosis. The pustules are usually sterile, therefore also bacterial cultures are mostly dispensable. If desquamation is present a fungal infection should be excluded by fungus preparation and culture. Eye involvement is common and requires an ophthalmological examination. The disease may sometimes begin in the eye without any lesions of the skin.