Weblog

Research Grants Awarded

Thursday, April 22, 2010

The National Rosacea Society (NRS) has awarded funding to three new studies and continues to fund three ongoing studies as part of its research grants program to advance scientific knowledge of the potential causes and other key aspects of this potentially life-disruptive disorder.

"Our understanding of rosacea has continued to expand as researchers pursue important new leads in the search for rosacea’s causes," said Dr. Michael Detmar, professor of pharmacogenomics at the Federal Institute of Technology in Switzerland and a member of the NRS medical advisory board, which selects grant applications for funding. "We are grateful for the support of the many thousands of patients whose donations for rosacea research are leading toward important advances in its treatment and potential prevention or cure."

Dr. Jamison Feramisco, molecular medicine fellow in dermatology, and Dr. Martin Steinhoff, professor of dermatology, University of California-San Francisco, were awarded $25,000 for their study, "Cellular and molecular analysis of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels and neurovascular regulation in rosacea patients."

The researchers hypothesize that, based on earlier studies, the flushing, bumps and pimples of rosacea may be the result of a dysfunctional regulation in the neurovascular system, with subsequent vascular and chronic inflammatory reactions.

Their study has four aims, they noted: to establish a relationship between certain sensory nerves and immune cells in different subtypes of rosacea; to genetically characterize crucial components of the neurovascular network with regard to disease stage, gender, age and the presence or absence of Demodex mites; to investigate the role of specific temperature and irritant receptors as neurovascular regulators in mice; and to identify families suffering rom rosacea with prominent trigger factor-induced flushing/redness and isolate their DNA for analysis.

Dr. Thad Wilson, associate professor of physiology and medicine; Dr. Kumika Toma, postdoctoral fellow; Dr. Michael Tomc, associate professor of otorhinolaryngology; and Dr. Dawn Sammons, assistant professor of dermatology, Ohio University, were awarded $25,000 for their study, "Role of skin sympathetic nerve activity in rosacea."

The researchers noted that events triggering flare-ups such as emotional stress and hot or cold weather are associated with fight-or-flight stressors that increase nervous activity to the skin, including skin blood flow regulation and skin gland secretions. The researchers plan to compare this nerve activity in the facial skin of rosacea patients with control areas such as leg skin.

Using microneurography, they will quantify the nerve activity during three trigger events, including mental stress, physical stress and thermal stress. If facial nerve activity is found to be higher in individuals with rosacea, therapies may then be developed to decrease symptoms and possibly prevent disease progression.

Dr. Noreen Lacey, postdoctoral researcher, and Dr. Siona Ni Raghallaigh, research fellow, University College Dublin Clinical Research Centre and Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, were awarded $25,000 to undertake their study, "Evaluation of the effect antibiotics used in the management of rosacea have on the immortalized human sebocyte cell line (SZ95) -- in vitro studies."

The researchers noted that although the effectiveness of oral antibiotics is believed to be due to their anti-inflammatory properties rather than from destroying bacteria, more powerful anti-inflammatory drugs are ineffective and may even make the condition worse.

Because patients with dry, sensitive skin often report less irritation and dryness after antibiotic treatment, the investigators analyzed the oil on the skin surface before and after treatment with antibiotics and found that abnormalities of the sebum had been altered after treatment. In the new study, the researchers will determine the effect of antibiotics on the production of lipids, as well as properties that may affect rosacea.

The NRS is also continuing to fund additional studies, including the work of Dr. Richard Gallo and colleagues at the University of California-San Diego, on the potential role of cathelicidins and the innate immune system in rosacea; Dr. Curdin Conrad and colleagues at MD Anderson Cancer Center on the role of interferon in rosacea; and Dr. Joseph Rothnagel and colleagues at The University of Queensland, Australia, on kallikreins and rosacea.

To support the NRS research grants program, visit How to Donate. Detailed information on this program can be found in the Research Grants section, including How to Apply and reports on Awarded Grants and Research Results.

Rosacea Incidence on Rise

Thursday, April 1, 2010

The National Rosacea Society (NRS) announced today that the estimated number of Americans now suffering from rosacea has increased to 16 million, while untold millions more may be in temporary remission. April is designated as Rosacea Awareness Month by the NRS to alert the public to the warning signs of this red-faced, acne-like and often life-disruptive disorder, and the importance of seeking early diagnosis and treatment.

"Many people assume that rosacea is simply a sunburn or complexion problem that will eventually go away, and fail to realize they have a chronic condition that may get worse without medical treatment and lifestyle modifications," said Dr. Jonathan Wilkin, chairman of the NRS medical advisory board. He noted that the steady growth and aging of the population over the past decade have significantly raised the incidence of this widespread but poorly understood disorder, and its effects are now in full force among the massive numbers in the baby boom generation.

The NRS had previously estimated the number of rosacea sufferers in the United States at 14 million, and recent epidemiological studies have also found the incidence may be much higher. Despite its prevalence, however, most Americans are unaware of its signs and symptoms, and medical data suggest that only a small percentage of rosacea sufferers are being treated.

"It's especially important for people to know about rosacea, not only because of its potential for the development of other skin and serious eye effects, but its negative impact on personal appearance can be even more devastating to their emotional, social and professional lives," Dr. Wilkin said.

In NRS surveys of more than 1,200 rosacea patients, more than 76 percent said their condition had lowered their self-confidence and self-esteem, and 41 percent said it caused them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements. Among those with severe symptoms, nearly 70 percent said it had adversely affected their professional lives, and nearly 30 percent said they even missed work because of its effect on their personal appearance.

Adding to the embarrassment is a common myth that rosacea sufferers, who often have a red face and nose, are heavy drinkers. In fact, while alcohol may aggravate the condition, the symptoms can be just as severe in a teetotaler. Another common misconception is that rosacea is caused by poor hygiene, while in reality it is unrelated to personal cleanliness.

Rosacea typically begins between the ages of 30 and 60 as a redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that comes and goes. Over time, the redness tends to become ruddier and more persistent, and visible blood vessels may appear. Left untreated, bumps and pimples often develop, and in severe cases -- especially in men -- the nose may become swollen and bumpy from excess tissue. This is the condition, called phymatous rosacea, that gave the comedian W.C. Fields his trademark red bulbous nose.

In many rosacea sufferers, the eyes are also affected, feeling irritated and appearing watery or bloodshot. Severe cases of this condition -- known as ocular rosacea -- can lead to corneal damage and reduced vision.

In a recent study, Dr. Maeve McAleer and colleagues at the School of Public Health and Population Science, University College, Dublin, found that 14.4 percent of 1,000 subjects examined in Ireland had rosacea. Moreover, in a 1989 study of 800 office workers in Sweden, the prevalence of rosacea was 10 percent -- including 14 percent in women and 6 percent in men.

"While these incidence rates are very high, rosacea is more commonly seen in fair-skinned individuals, and an assessment of rosacea in the U.S. must take into account the diversity of its population," Dr. Wilkin said.

In a study of photos of 2,933 random women volunteers in the U.S., presented by Dr. Alexa Boer Kimball of Harvard Medical School at an NRS research workshop, the rosacea prevalence rate in all of the women regardless of ethnic background was 9.6 percent. At the same time, the prevalence rate in the Caucasian women alone was 16 percent -- comparable to the rates found in the studies in Ireland and Sweden.

"In actuality, all of these studies may understate the true incidence of rosacea because they examined only the presence of signs and symptoms at the time of the study, while rosacea is often a chronic underlying condition whose outward signs and symptoms are characterized by relapses and remissions," Dr. Wilkin said. "Thus, at any given time, millions of additional rosacea sufferers may simply be in temporary remission."

While the cause of rosacea is unknown, a vast array of lifestyle and environmental factors can trigger flare-ups in various rosacea sufferers. Common rosacea triggers include sun exposure, emotional stress, hot or cold weather, wind, heavy exercise, alcohol, spicy foods, heated beverages, humidity, certain skin-care products and many others.

"The good news is that although the incidence of rosacea has increased in the United States, medical therapy is available to bring many aspects of rosacea under control," Dr. Wilkin said. Individuals with any of the following warning signs of rosacea are urged to see a dermatologist for diagnosis and appropriate medical treatment:
o Redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead
o Small visible blood vessels on the face
o Bumps or pimples on the face
o Watery or irritated eyes