Areas of rosacea research deemed most important by patients are the potential causes of the skin disorder, followed closely by research on eye symptoms and the progression of the condition, according to a survey conducted by the National Rosacea Society (NRS).

In the survey of 402 rosacea patients, respondents were asked to identify areas of research they were most interested in supporting. Finding causes of rosacea was named by 55 percent, while eye-symptom research was cited by 41 percent and 38 percent said they would support "whatever seems most promising." Thirty-four percent were interested in supporting research on the progression of rosacea, while 29 percent listed flushing and 29 percent cited inflammation. Respondents could cite more than one area.

When asked what potential causes of rosacea merited the most research, sun damage was chosen by 21 percent, while 20 percent included cathelicidins and 17 percent noted Demodex mites. Other choices included VEGF (9 percent) and ATP (6 percent), while 68 percent noted that research should be conducted on "whatever seems most promising."

"Basic research is now making significant headway in defining the inflammatory pathways of rosacea, which may identify targets for developing new therapies to treat papules (bumps) and pustules (pimples)," said Dr. Jonathan Wilkin, chairman of the NRS medical advisory board, which selects research proposals for funding as part of the NRS research grants program. "Hopefully, we will soon see similar progress in the ocular and vascular aspects of rosacea, including their progression."

The survey also asked which kinds of rosacea products patients thought were important to develop, and 60 percent said anti-redness products, while 56 percent said skin-care products, followed by 55 percent who cited anti-inflammatory products and 46 percent who cited eye medications. When asked to indicate which kinds of products need improvement, 54 percent named anti-redness products, while 42 percent cited skin-care products, followed by 40 percent naming anti-inflammatory products and 34 percent citing eye medications.