Rosacea and Seborrhea. Atopic dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis may often occur at the same time as rosacea, said Dr. Guy Webster, clinical professor of dermatology at Jefferson Medical College, speaking on “What’s new in rosacea?” during the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Atopic dermatitis is a long-term (chronic) skin disorder that involves scaly and itchy rashes, and seborrheic dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin condition that causes flaky, white to yellowish scales to form on oily areas such as the scalp or inside the ear.

“Rosacea can be very resistant to therapy unless the other dermatitis is treated as well,” he noted.

Rosacea often involves a defective barrier in the facial skin as well as greater than normal transepidermal water loss (TEWL), both of which contribute to the skin’s irritability and susceptibility to inflammation, he said. Dermatologists may advise that moisturizers can help soothe irritation and help restore the skin’s proper functioning, he said.

Rosacea in Skin of Color. Rosacea in skin of color is uncommon, but not rare, according to Dr. Andrew Alexis, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University, speaking on “Treating acne and rosacea in skin of color" at the recent annual meeting of the AAD.

“The features of rosacea — transient redness that becomes more permanent — may be subtle and difficult to detect, especially on an individual with very dark skin,” he said. But there may be a sensation of warmth and intolerance of products used on the facial skin, he noted.

“The key is to look carefully,” he said.