Q. Can rosacea be traced to lupus?

A. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation, pain, and damage to various areas of the body including skin, joints and internal organs. Rosacea and lupus have some symptoms in common, such as facial redness and rash, and sensitivity to light. However, lupus affects many different parts of the body, including internal organs, while rosacea typically affects the facial skin and eyes. 

Could it be lupus – or could it be rosacea?

Lupus erythematosus – long known as an autoimmune disorder – and rosacea share several signs and symptoms: facial redness, sensitivity to sunlight and a tendency to affect women more than men. In fact, physicians have sometimes turned to blood tests to tell them apart. Now, researchers have discovered that those tests may not be as indicative as once thought.

Q. Is oily skin usually a precursor to rosacea?

A. There is no evidence that oily skin leads to rosacea. Many rosacea patients experience dry skin, while others may have normal or oily skin, or both. The key is to use skin-care products and procedures that are suitable for your individual case.

Q. Has rosacea been linked to other diseases, particularly those relating to the immune system?

While the facial effects of rosacea and lupus may sometimes be confused, the presence of eye symptoms may point definitely to rosacea, as it almost never occurs in lupus flares.

"The presence of ocular involvement can be very helpful in differentiating active lupus from active rosacea," said Dr. Guy Webster, associate professor of dermatology at Jefferson Medical College.

While a host of conditions can cause symptoms that may superficially resemble rosacea, dermatologists are increasingly able to pinpoint this widespread disorder and any concurrent conditions in order to tailor appropriate therapy for the individual patient. Proper diagnosis of rosacea can be especially important, since treatments for similar-appearing conditions can often make rosacea worse.