The Rosacea Research Digest from the National Rosacea Society keeps you up to date on recently published basic and clinical research on rosacea, as well as news, reviews, and presentations. It goes out on the last weekday of each month.

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Research

Dermatological comorbidities accompanying rosacea and their relationship with clinical and demographic features, quality of life, and systemic comorbidities: a retrospective, case-controlled, multicenter survey.

Aksoy B, Yıldırım E, Aktaş E, et al. Skin Appendage Disord. 2025 Mar 20:1-7. doi:10.1159/000545295. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40330853; PMCID: PMC12052370.

Introduction: As rosacea patients are generally light-skinned and photosensitized some sun-related skin findings are likely to be observed. This study aimed to determine which dermatological comorbidities accompany rosacea and evaluate their relationship with clinical, demographic, quality-of-life, and systemic comorbidities. Methods: This case-control multicenter study was conducted by the Turkish Society of Dermatology Acne Study Group. Patient demographics, clinical findings, lifestyle data, medical history, and dermatological comorbidities were collected using a structured physician-administered questionnaire. All patients completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Results: The study included 922 rosacea patients and 799 controls without rosacea. Rosacea patients had higher dermatological comorbidities than controls. The prevalence of skin comorbidities increased as patient age and duration of rosacea increased. Additionally, these skin comorbidities negatively affected quality of life. Some dermatological comorbidities, especially civatte poikiloderma, had strongest predictive risk (odds ratio ⫺3) of significant systemic comorbidities. Conclusion: Based on the present findings, clinicians should also assess rosacea patients for cutaneous dermatological comorbidities. Presence of skin comorbidities increased as patient age and duration of rosacea increased and might be predictive of systemic comorbidities.

Screening Patients With Rosacea for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.

Duvall LA. Am Fam Physician. 2025 May;111(5):online. PMID: 40378313.

To the Editor: The review by Dr. Frazier and colleagues on the varied presentations of rosacea and the many treatments available is excellent. I would like to mention an additional treatment for rosacea that is safe, effective, and economical.

Comparison of topical 20% azelaic acid and 7.5% dapsone in the treatment of mild-to-moderate papulopustular rosacea.

Hasanbeyzade S. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025 May;24(5):e70212. doi:10.1111/jocd.70212. PMID: 40304282; PMCID: PMC12042643.

Background: Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, commonly affecting the central part of the face, characterized by erythema, flushing, telangiectasias, papules, and pustules. It may also involve sensations of burning, tingling, and occasionally fibrous changes. Aim: This study aims to compare the efficacy, side effect profiles, and patient satisfaction of topical 20% azelaic acid and 7.5% dapsone in the treatment of mild-to-moderate papulopustular rosacea (Stage 2). Methods: Ethics approval was obtained. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 76 patients, including 44 in the azelaic acid group and 32 in the dapsone group, all diagnosed with mild-to-moderate papulopustular rosacea. These patients were treated with either topical azelaic acid or dapsone at the dermatology outpatient clinic between August 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. Demographic characteristics, Investigator's Global Assessment scores, lesion counts, erythema scores, side effects, and patient satisfaction data were analyzed in the study. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between groups based on pretreatment IGA values, separate IGA scores (2-4), lesion counts, average erythema scores, or separate erythema scores (p > 0.05 for all). Within each group, comparisons of pre- and posttreatment IGA values, lesion counts, and erythema scores revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001 for all), indicating that both treatments were effective. When comparing the groups based on posttreatment IGA values, separate IGA scores (0-3), improvement percentages in IGA values, lesion counts, improvement percentages in lesion counts, average erythema scores, separate erythema scores (0-2), and improvement percentages in erythema scores, no significant differences were observed (p > 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Topical dapsone is as effective as azelaic acid in treating mild-to-moderate papulopustular rosacea and is associated with fewer side effects, making it a safer option.