You may have gotten your eyebrows from your great uncle, your sense of humor from your grandma, and your rosacea from your parents, according to a recent National Rosacea Society survey.

More than half (51 percent) of the 610 patients who took part in the survey said they had at least one family member with rosacea. Of those, surprisingly more said their father had rosacea (44 percent) than their mother (37 percent). Thirty-six percent said a sibling also had the disorder, and 21 percent had a child who developed the condition. 

Among extended family, 44 percent of survey respondents said one of their grandparents had rosacea, and 44 percent had an aunt or uncle with the disorder. Many rosacea patients answered that they have nieces and nephews, cousins and even grandchildren with rosacea as well. Eighty-five percent of patients with family members who have rosacea said their signs and symptoms were similar to those of their relatives.

Though scientists are still working to discover all the factors that cause rosacea, research has suggested that about half of the disease may be linked to genetics, while the other half is environmental.

Photo courtesy of Rolands Lakis.