Rosacea Review

Rosacea Review

Winter 2007


Other Skin Disorders Also Afflict Patients Diagnosed with Rosacea

Many patients must deal with other skin conditions in addition to rosacea, according to a recent survey by the National Rosacea Society.

"Especially as people grow older, it is very common for more than one skin condition to occur at the same time," said Dr. Joseph Bikowski, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Ohio State University. "Although the potential signs and symptoms of rosacea are themselves quite varied, additional skin disorders may need to be addressed as well."

In the survey of 1,099 rosacea patients, 56 percent said they had been diagnosed with another skin disorder in addition to rosacea. Of those reporting other skin conditions, seborrheic dermatitis (a red, scaly, itchy rash often on the face) was the most common, affecting 25 percent, followed by acne (pimples and blackheads) at 20 percent, actinic keratosis (precancerous rough spots from sun damage) at 16 percent, contact dermatitis (skin rash from allergies or irritants) at 14 percent and psoriasis (red scaly patches), also at 14 percent.

A significant number of respondents also reported they had experienced skin cancer, often caused by sun exposure, a common trigger for rosacea. "There is no evidence that rosacea is related to skin cancer," Dr. Bikowski said. "However, further research in photobiology may increase scientific understanding of the potential relationship between sun exposure and rosacea, just as it has for skin cancer."

Less frequently reported conditions included atopic dermatitis (dry rough skin) at 7 percent, folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles) at 3 percent, lupus erythematosus (butterfly-shaped facial rash due to autoimmune disorder) at 2 percent, and perioral dermatitis (tiny bumps and redness around the mouth) at 2 percent.

The good news is that a co-existing skin disorder usually does not seem to exacerbate rosacea. Only 18 percent of the respondents said their rosacea flares up when another skin disorder is present, and 63 percent said treatment for a second skin condition did not aggravate their rosacea.

Despite dealing with more than one skin disorder, 88 percent of the survey respondents said their rosacea was at least somewhat under control, and 53 percent reported that their other skin disorder was under control.