Repost:: Cosmetic/Skincare Breakouts

[Guest guest]

I'll leave this anonymous, but the points raised are interesting:

>> is there an anatomic or physiologic feature of phototype I skin

>> (most common skin type in both skin sensitivity and rosacea, both

>> of which involve burning) that makes it especially suspectible to

>> neurosensory symptoms?

> The NRS is doing a fair amount of research that has lead them to

> believe there may be an important connection between sunlight and a

> VEGF response in the development of cea. I guess those with

> lighter skin color would be more sensitive to the sun which would

> maybe cause whatever weird reaction happens with the VEGF to happen

> even more? I don't know if this is even remotely close to what you

> were looking for, but if it is you can read more about it at the

> NRS's website.

The results from the study out of Boston U should be available soon.

I wouldn't be surprised if they find a relationship between VEGF

(vascular endothial growth factor) and sunburn, but I'm not certain

how they will ultimately relate this all to rosacea.

Here's what they said in their Spring 2002 newsletter: " Research

funded by the National cea Society is currently exploring whether

exposure to ultraviolet light, found in sunlight, leads to skin that

has increased receptors for vascular endothelial growth factor

(VEGF).

VEGF has a potent effect on blood vessels and may be associated with

rosacea by abnormally increasing facial blood supply. A previous

study funded by the Society found that in rosacea-prone individuals,

the effects of the sun on epidermal VEGF may lead to persistent

redness and the development of telangiectasia, the visible dilated

blood vessels that are a common sign of rosacea. "

Here's information on their Boston U funded study, which may or may

be the one referred to above (from their Fall 2001 newsletter): " Dr.

Marita Kosmadaki, a research fellow in the Department of Dermatology,

Boston University, reported interim results of the study, " The role

of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rosacea development, "

now in its second year of funding by the Society. Based on study

results the first year, Dr. Kosmadaki and colleagues concluded that

the effects of the sun on VEGF, a natural substance in the body that

has a potent effect on blood vessels, may lead to persistent redness

and the development of telangiectasia (visible blood vessels).

This year, the researchers noted that TNF alpha, a substance that

makes the skin more receptive to VEGF, was stimulated by the sun, and

they are now studying whether blocking TNF alpha may inhibit rosacea

development. "

[TNF alpha is an immune-mediated cytokine]

>> -?increased incidence of other skin disorders, esp acne vulgaris,

>> seborrheic dermatitis, eczema and irritant contact dermatitis ---

> Also in one of their reviews they had conducted survey and a very

> large percentage of people reported having at least one other skin

> disorder. I think it was much higher than normal.

The NRS surveys are interesting but they are not scientific surveys,

in that the 1000+ respondants are not randomly selected from among

the 14 million+ rosacea sufferers -- they are self-selected among

those who read the paper or electronic version of their newsletter,

and decided to fill out the form. We can no better generalize the

results for the rosacean population than we can, say, the results of

an MSNBC Web site poll. A scientific survey, like the ones conducted

by Gallop, uses statistics to select a representative sample of a

population, and contacts them for participation.

So I think we should keep the question mark there, until we find a

survey whose results are valid and reliable.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD