Rosacea patients are invited to participate in a medical research study designed to identify potential genetic factors relating to this common but poorly understood disorder. Patients must meet two criteria to be eligible to participate:

• They must experience facial flushing, burning, tingling or itching in response to alcohol, spicy foods, temperature change or other trigger factors.

• They must have a family member who is (or was) also affected by rosacea.

Selected volunteers will be asked to donate a small sample of blood. Researchers then will analyze the genes in the blood samples for comparison with those of control subjects who do not have rosacea in an effort to discover which genes may be involved in rosacea facial flushing and burning. The researchers hope their work will open new pathways for potential improvement in rosacea treatment and care.

Those interested in participating in the study should contact the researchers via email at rosacea2010@gmail.com. The email should include your name, city of residence, email address and which other family member is also affected by rosacea (mother, father, sister, brother, etc.).

Dr. Jamison Feramisco and Dr. Martin Steinhoff of the University of California – San Francisco were awarded a research grant by the National Rosacea Society earlier this year to undertake this genetic study as part of a broader investigation of the neurovascular system of rosacea patients.