Researchers reported on continuing progress in the study of potential causes and other key aspects of rosacea during the National Rosacea Society's fourth annual research workshop, held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology.

Matthew Trumble of England was just 28 years old when his first signs of rosacea developed -- three large, hard spots on his face. A confident young man, Trumble assumed the problem would just sort itself out, so he left it alone.

However, the condition began to spread across his face. "It became harrowing," he said.

"When my rosacea was at its worst, I got very depressed and didn't even want to go outside or speak to anyone," Trumble said. "Even worse, I got very little attention from the ladies."

The National Rosacea Society was recently presented with a Gold Triangle award from the American Academy of Dermatology recognizing the Society's new expanded Web site, www.rosacea.org, for excellence in public education on dermatology issues. The annual awards honor efforts to further understanding, raise awareness and encourage healthy behaviors in the care of skin, hair and nails.

The National Rosacea Society updated its Web site last year.

Don't fall behind in your rosacea care this season. The cooler weather, hectic holidays and stress of the season are all reasons not to fall down when it comes to taking care of your rosacea. Here are some tips for minimizing flare-ups.

A traffic stoplight may just be the visual reminder people with rosacea keep in mind when visiting the cosmetic counter, as green-tone and yellow-based makeup often help stop the redness of rosacea from showing through, according to a new survey by the National Rosacea Society.

Q. Will I eventually get all four subtypes of rosacea?

A. The four subtypes of rosacea, designated by the new standard classification system, identify common patterns of signs and symptoms. Individual patients may have all of the signs of a certain subtype, or just some of them. Others may have characteristics of more than one subtype at the same time.

At some point, many rosacea patients may be confronted with tactless queries or unspoken suspicions about their facial appearance. Whether it is a blunt question such as "What's wrong with your face?" or simply a puzzled stare, rosacea sufferers can handle these situations constructively without undermining their self-confidence or self-esteem by using them as opportunities to educate others about the disorder.