For years, Jane Parks-McKay noticed her face was getting redder and her pores were becoming larger. The 60-year-old writer from Santa Cruz, Calif., saw a number of different doctors, but none ever mentioned the possibility of rosacea.

It was only when she began seeing a dermatologist about five years ago that Jane learned of the condition and realized she probably had been unknowingly battling rosacea for a long time. The doctor prescribed topical therapy for her.

Your dermatologist can be your best defense in keeping your rosacea at bay. Here are some tips to maximize your office visits:

• Be prepared. If you have questions or concerns, write them down ahead of time so you don't forget to discuss any of them.

• "Out of sight" should not mean "out of mind." Alert your doctor about any signs or symptoms that cannot be seen, such as eye discomfort or skin that stings or burns.

According to a study funded by the National Rosacea Society, researchers have found a potential connection between the nervous system and the redness and stinging of subtype 1 (erythematotelangiectatic) rosacea.

Drs. Ferda Cevikbas and Martin Steinhoff, University of California-San Francisco, noted that the flushed face of rosacea is often accompanied by stinging and burning, signs of nerve activation. They theorized this may signal a dysfunction in communication between the nerves and the vascular system.

Most rosacea patients feel the negative social impact of their condition regardless of which rosacea subtype they may have, according to the results of a new National Rosacea Society survey.

A new technique for improving the eye symptoms of ocular rosacea, a possible biochemical clue to its diagnosis and a potential link between Demodex and the development of corneal ulcers are among the advances from National Rosacea Society-funded researchers to appear in recent medical journals.

The National Rosacea Society (NRS) has awarded funding for five new studies as part of its research grants program to increase knowledge and understanding of the potential causes and other key aspects of rosacea.