Editor’s note: It’s important to note that these findings only suggest a potential association. To determine any cause and effect relationship, further study is required.

A recent Chinese study evaluating the potential relationship between rosacea and diet found that frequent consumption of fatty foods and tea may be associated with the development of rosacea symptoms, while frequent dairy consumption appeared to be negatively correlated with the disorder. The findings may be useful in developing dietary guidelines for rosacea sufferers, the researchers said. 

Many recent studies that have found associations between rosacea and increased risk for cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal dis- ease, autoimmune diseases and certain cancers, among a growing number of systemic diseases.

A recent study in Denmark found rosacea patients had an increased risk of hepatic cancer (liver cancer), nonmelanoma skin cancer and breast cancer, but a decreased risk of lung cancer. The study published in Cancer Epidemiology was conducted by Dr. Alexander Egeberg and a research team from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.¹ They are responsible for similar recent comorbidity studies connecting rosacea to glioma and gastrointestinal diseases, among other diseases and conditions.

Is your face trying to tell you something? Although new medical research has discovered the red-faced appearance of rosacea may serve as a potential signal for serious but less visible illnesses, only a small fraction of those suffering from this widespread, often embarrassing disorder are currently being treated. The National Rosacea Society (NRS) has designated April as Rosacea Awareness Month to alert the public to the early warning signs of this chronic and conspicuous facial condition now estimated to affect more than 16 million Americans. 

Editor’s note: It’s important to note that these findings only suggest a potential association. To determine any cause and effect relationship, further study is required.

Researchers in Denmark have reported a potential link between rosacea and migraine headaches, finding an association between the two conditions particularly in women over the age of 50. A relationship between the two conditions has been hypothesized for the past 30 years, but only a handful of studies, mostly with limited sample sizes, have investigated the potential connection.

A recent study in the European Journal of Dermatology investigated the possible connection between rosacea and insulin resistance.

Researchers conducting a nationwide study in Denmark found that rosacea may be associated with increased risk of certain gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, but whether there is a cause-and-effect relationship is unknown.

The surge of scientific studies linking rosacea and a wide variety of other medical disorders, called comorbidities, may have been inspired by similar findings about another skin disorder, according to Dr. Sewon Kang, chairman of dermatology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a member of the NRS Medical Advisory Board.

Editor’s note: This issue contains reports of interesting new findings on rosacea and other diseases. It’s important to note that these findings only suggest a potential association. To determine any cause and effect relationship, further study is required.

New studies have now shown potential links between rosacea and increased risk of the nervous system disorders Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, in addition to a growing number of other medical conditions.^1,2

Although rosacea's connection to the cardiovascular system has been widely suggested ­– flushing and the potential development of visible blood vessels are two of the skin disorder's primary symptoms – recent studies point toward a potential broader connection between rosacea and cardiovascular disease.