While medications have long been used to keep the inflammation -- the bumps (papules), pimples (pustules) and some of the related redness -- of rosacea at bay, many dermatologists have found certain types of lasers and light sources offer important options for addressing components of the disorder that are more difficult to treat.

Looking back, Susan Boyce remembers blushing easily as a child and not having any acne problems until well into her 20s, when she was diagnosed with "adult acne" and prescribed oral antibiotics to control it. "After seven years on the antibiotics, I became worried about long-term use and discontinued them," she said.

Preliminary data from a study funded by the National Rosacea Society have found that the tears of rosacea patients contain different proteins than the tears of people without rosacea. The results point to the potential for a screening test for ocular rosacea in the future.

The study, "Tear Proteins in Patients with Rosacea," is being conducted by a team led by Dr. Mark J. Mannis, chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of California - Davis.

As summer heats up, more people are firing up the grill or pulling out the picnic basket. Here are some tips on ways to keep rosacea flare-ups under control while still enjoying an outdoor meal.

• Watch out for hot or spicy foods, which may cause flare-ups in many rosacea sufferers. Choose mild or fruit salsas, mild sausages instead of hot and watch the seasoning spices. Opt for seasoning with fresh herbs instead of anything in the pepper family.

While even mild cases of rosacea can be a nuisance, this widespread disorder increasingly interferes with patients' social lives when it becomes more severe, according to a new survey by the National Rosacea Society.

In the survey of 660 rosacea patients, 86 percent of those with severe rosacea said the condition had inhibited their social lives and 67 percent of those with moderate rosacea were also affected, compared with 38 percent of mild cases.

Q.Is it safe for someone with ocular rosacea to wear contact lenses?

A. Anyone with ocular rosacea should consult their physician about the safety of wearing contact lenses in their particular case. Depending on the individual, the symptoms of ocular rosacea may make wearing contact lenses problematic.

While many are aware that protection from sunlight is important to prevent skin cancer, rosacea patients have even further reason to minimize their exposure. In fact, beyond being the top trigger for rosacea flare-ups named by 81 percent of patients in a National Rosacea Society survey, researchers have found that sun exposure may be linked to the visible blood vessels (telangiectasia) often associated with rosacea.