A poster presented at a recent meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology by Dr. Ronald Marks, professor emeritus at the University of Wales, raised the question of whether subtype 1 (erythematotelangiectatic) rosacea can be distinguished from sun-damaged skin.

Dr. Marks observed that patients with sun-damaged skin often exhibit facial redness and visible blood vessels, which are also symptomatic of subtype 1 rosacea.

"In order to differentiate whether it is rosacea or simply sun damage, it is essential to obtain a patient history," said Dr. Jonathan Wilkin, chairman of the National Rosacea Society Expert Committee on the Classification and Staging of Rosacea. "In cases where the patient spends a substantial amount of time outdoors over many years, such as a landscaper or mail carrier, the facial redness and visible blood vessels may potentially be due to sun damage alone. However, if the patient is indoors much of the day or has a history of repeated flushing, the proper diagnosis is likely to be rosacea."