You may have gotten your eyebrows from your great uncle, your sense of humor from your grandma, and your rosacea from your parents, according to a recent National Rosacea Society (NRS) survey.

More than half (51 percent) of the 610 patients who took part in the survey said they had at least one family member with rosacea. Of those, surprisingly more said their father had rosacea (44 percent) than their mother (37 percent). Thirty-six percent said a sibling also had the disorder, and 21 percent had a child who developed the condition. 

A recent study analyzing the genetic data of thousands of rosacea patients has pinpointed seven genomic regions potentially associated with rosacea symptom severity.¹ This builds off information gathered in a similar study funded by the NRS, which identified two genetic loci, or specific regions on chromosomes, linked to rosacea.² These are some of the first genome-wide association studies on rosacea, an exciting area of research which could lead to the identification of potential new pathways for treatment.

A researcher in Germany has proposed a novel unifying theory that may explain the molecular origin of rosacea in terms of climate adaptation. He contends that the new concept may not only explain why the disorder’s known triggers can cause flare-ups, but is also consistent with known therapeutic activity against rosacea’s signs and symptoms.

Genetics have long been thought to play a role in rosacea, but researchers have yet to isolate their influence. In one of the first studies of rosacea to measure and define genetic and environmental contributions, Dr. Daniel Popkin, assistant professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University, and colleagues have found that genetics and environmental factors may contribute equally to the disorder.

While it has long been observed that rosacea may tend to run in families, the first genome-wide association study of rosacea may have discovered the genetic variants that are linked to this chronic skin disorder – as well as potential connections between rosacea and certain autoimmune disorders.¹

Q. This is my second round of rosacea, but this time it came with a tightening, burning, hot feeling. It is also very itchy. Is itching normal?

A. Yes, itching is a common secondary symptom of rosacea.

The National Rosacea Society announced that five new studies have been awarded funding as part of its research grants program to advance scientific knowledge of this widespread but poorly understood disorder that affects an estimated 14 million Americans.

Medical scientists from around the world reported on their progress in studies funded by the National Rosacea Society (NRS) to uncover potential causes and other key aspects of the disorder during the fifth annual rosacea research workshop, held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. The NRS conducts the workshop to promote interest in studying rosacea and to share new information from ongoing studies.