Molly Row might be every physician’s dream patient.  The 52-year-old from northern California followed her doctor’s instructions to the letter following her rosacea diagnosis in 2004.

However, while her flare-ups decreased dramatically in number and severity with medical therapy, she discovered within weeks that many skin-care and cosmetic products continued to cause her to break out.

“I got frustrated,” Molly said.  “Even products that were labeled for sensitive skin or hypoallergenic caused a reaction.”

New information about the causes of eye irritation in rosacea and proper skin care were among the rosacea-related topics presented to dermatologists attending the recent 71st annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) in Miami Beach.

Sun exposure is a leading rosacea trigger, so here are some tips to help you to safely survive the spring and summer sun:

•  Find the right sunscreen formula.  There are two types of damaging rays: In general, UVA rays age skin; UVB rays burn it.  Not all sunscreens protect against both types, so look for non-chemical sunscreens that contain zinc or titanium dioxide and an SPF of 15 or higher.

While physical exercise may be a common rosacea trigger, the right changes in routines can reduce the likelihood of a flare-up, according to results of a new patient survey by the National Rosacea Society.

More than 80 percent of the survey’s 563 respondents said exercise aggravates their rosacea signs and symptoms.  Aerobic exercise in general (also known as cardio) was cited as the most aggravating, mentioned by nearly 55 percent of the patients.  This type of exercise increases the demand for oxygen, resulting in higher respiration and heart rates.

Q.  What do you advise for rosacea patients who are considering permanent (tattoo) makeup rather than tolerating the reactions of regular makeup?

A.  The ink in tattoos may be irritating to the sensitive skin of rosacea patients, and because tattoo makeup is permanent, any irritation caused by the ink may be present as long as the ink is present.  While tattoos may be removed, the process may be difficult and unsuccessful, and is costly and time-consuming as well.

New medical research into the process of facial flushing and redness has found that individuals with rosacea produce greater nerve, blood flow and sweating responses than people without the disorder when exposed to increased heat or stress.  Results of the National Rosacea Society-funded study also uncovered a role for the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the “fight or flight” response and other key involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, breathing and perspiration.

For many individuals with rosacea, every social occasion can feel like a minefield no matter how mild their condition, according to a new survey by the National Rosacea Society (NRS).  April was designated as Rosacea Awareness Month by the NRS to alert the public to the early warning signs of this chronic and conspicuous facial disorder now estimated to affect more than 16 million Americans.