Although rosacea may often run in the family, the mechanism of this is poorly understood, with specific information often incomplete and limited to relatives from only a few generations, according to researchers in a recent study in Italy published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. In a search through six generations, they uncovered cases that went unrecognized, and suggested that having a family member with rosacea may be an opportunity for many to avoid rosacea’s worst effects by seeking early diagnosis and management, if needed.

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.

Q. Is there a link between chronic nasal blockage and rosacea?

A. Chronic nasal obstruction has many potential causes, and there is no evidence linking this condition to rosacea. Even patients with rhinophyma usually can breathe well through their noses. A typical stuffy nose is commonly associated with inflammation of the mucous membranes from various causes, often allergies or viruses.

A recent study in Estonia of 348 randomly selected workers over 30 years of age found that 22 percent had one or more primary features of rosacea,¹ as identified in the standard classification system developed by the National Rosacea Society consensus committee and review panel of rosacea experts. The Slavic nation is located off the eastern Baltic Sea.

Reference

1. Abrams K, Silm H, Oona M. Prevalence of rosacea in an Estonian working population using a standard classification. Acta Derm Venereol 2010;90:269-273.

Both a blistering sunburn and a family history of rosacea were associated with the presence of rosacea, according to study results presented by Dr. Alexa Boer Kimball, associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School, at the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.¹

Rosacea tends to run in families and appears to be especially prevalent among those of northern European descent, according to results of a recent survey of 600 rosacea sufferers conducted by the National Rosacea Society. Nearly 52 percent of those responding to the survey said someone else in their family has or did have rosacea, and 42 percent indicated they were of Irish, German or English ancestry.

Q. Not only do I have rosacea on my face, but I also have symptoms on my scalp. Is this common and how should it be treated?

A. While rosacea is primarily a disorder of the facial skin, it may also appear in other areas. In a survey of rosacea patients, signs and symptoms were reported by 15 percent of the respondents on the neck, 6 percent on the chest, 5 percent on the scalp and 4 percent on the ears.

Some individuals may be genetically predisposed to develop rosacea, according to results of a study to determine whether rosacea patients had a family history of the disorder and whether they came from a particular ancestral community of origin. The results were reported in a poster presentation by Dr. Wayne Guliver, chairman of dermatology, and other researchers at Memorial University of Newfoundland during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. ¹

Having children follow in their footsteps can be the ultimate satisfaction for many parents, but not in the case of rosacea. Evidence suggests that heredity may indeed play a role in the development of this disorder, and that the children and other relatives of rosacea sufferers would be wise to be on the lookout for early signs as they grow older in order to seek diagnosis and treatment before the condition reaches more advanced stages.

Q. I have had rosacea for several years and now I've noticed that one of my cousins looks as though she has symptoms of the disease. How do you tell someone you think they have rosacea?