While rosacea is usually treated by a dermatologist, a new survey by the National Rosacea Society suggests that other health specialists are often the first to notice a patient might have the disorder.

In the survey of 1,584 rosacea patients, 38 percent said a non-dermatologist first noticed their condition and 26 percent were referred to a specialist. Nearly 73 percent of the latter were referred to a dermatologist, and 12 percent were referred to an eye doctor for treatment of ocular rosacea.

About 77 percent of the respondents said a dermatologist provides ongoing care for their rosacea, and 19 percent said their general practitioner treats their condition. Fourteen percent reported they also receive care from their eye doctor, 2 percent see a laser specialist, and slightly more than 1 percent are under the care of an allergist.

Of the non-dermatologists who first noticed the respondent's rosacea, 38 percent were general practitioners, 17 percent were eye doctors, 9 percent were internists, 3 percent were nurses, 2 percent were allergists and 2 percent were gynecologists.

A number of rosacea sufferers reported that they have also sought help from a non-medical professional in an effort to conceal or diminish the appearance of their rosacea. Eleven percent said they received services from a skin care consultant, while nearly 7 percent visited a cosmetologist and more than 5 percent had seen an aesthetician.

The vast majority of those surveyed -- 84 percent -- said medical therapy has improved or somewhat improved their rosacea. More than 62 percent said that they have been receiving treatment for six or more years.