Rosacea is a common skin condition whose cause is as yet known. It basically involves a redness on the cheeks, nose and chin that can arrive at any time. If you don’t get it treated, you can also get bumps and pimples, and your nose can even get swollen with excess tissue: the comedian W.C. Fields had this, and Googling images of him will clearly show you this is NOT a good look to have.

According to estimates, as many as 16 million Americans suffer from it—and nearly half a million people have it around the world. While it comes and comes, it rarely heals itself on its own. One of the first steps in dealing with it is having a dermatologist examine you. They are usually experts in diagnosing this condition and having them check you out is crucial because other conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, eczema and season allergies, among others, can produce similar symptoms.

A number of different medical treatments can help manage—but not cure—rosacea. These include pulsed light or lasers to remove visible blood vessels, beta-blockers, azelaic acid and metronidazole to control bumps and swelling, along with lower-dose antibiotics like Oracea.

While it’s best to work directly with your dermatologist to handle rosacea, you may want to pay attention to foods and lifestyle issues that can trigger it, including spicy foods and stress. In addition, daily use of sunscreen seems to help with controlling outbreaks, since sunlight can often trigger rosacea. Studies also suggest that moisturizers with kinetin (a plant-derived cytokinin or substance that promotes cell division in plants) may also help people with minor rosacea.