The Origin Of Acne Rosacea

The term "acne rosacea" first appeared in an English medical text by Dr. Thomas Bateman in 1812, who noted: "The perfect cure of acne rosacea is, in fact, never accomplished." Other 19th century references commonly listed rosacea among the different forms of acne.

Finally in 1891, Dr. Henri G. Piffard, a professor of dermatology in New York, called for distinctions among different forms of acne to more truly differentiate symptoms.

Today, dermatologists have learned that rosacea is a different disease from acne, and that therapy for acne can often make rosacea worse. Although the precise cause of rosacea is still unknown, most experts believe it is a vascular disorder that seems to be related to the flushing of rosacea.

Research has also dispelled the centuries-old myth that rosacea is caused by heavy consumption of alcohol. While alcohol may aggravate rosacea, the symptoms of rosacea can be just as severe in one who never consumes alcohol.

Reference : Wilkin, Jonathan K: Rosacea: Pathophysiology and Treatment. Archives of Dermatology. 1994;130:359-362. Rosacea research has resulted in better rosacea treatments.