Evidence-based update on rosacea comorbidities and their common physiologic pathways

Publication date: January 2018
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 78, Issue 1
Author(s): Anna D. Holmes, Julia Spoendlin, Anna L. Chien, Hilary Baldwin, Anne Lynn S. Chang
Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory disease affecting the facial skin whose etiology and pathophysiology are the subject of much investigation. Risk factors include genetic and environmental elements that may predispose individuals to localized inflammation and abnormal neurovascular responses to stimuli. Recent studies have introduced an array of systemic rosacea comorbidities, such as inflammatory bowel disease and neurologic conditions, that can be challenging to synthesize. We critically review the current data behind reported rosacea comorbidities and identify and highlight underrecognized physiologic mediators shared among rosacea and associated comorbidities. This information may be helpful in addressing patient questions about potential systemic implications of rosacea and can serve as a candidate platform for future research to understand rosacea and improve treatments.