People with rosacea may be at higher risk for a variety of disorders and, if they are aware of this, it may help detect disease at an early stage so they can get early treatment, notes the Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada. Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by facial redness, pimples, and sometimes irritated eyes. It affects three million Canadians.
An analysis published earlier this year showed that people with rosacea had:
- four times the risk for cardiovascular disease and reflux
- almost three times the risk for Crohn’s disease
- 2.5 times the risk for type 2 diabetes
- and twice the risk for inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease
It appears that inflammation is the common thread between rosacea and a higher risk for several diseases.
Not everyone with rosacea will develop the other diseases, notes dermatologist and society president Dr. Jason Rivers. Several factors play a role including family history, personal history, age, gender, environment and lifestyle.