WAIKOLOA, HAWAII – Rosacea is generally thought of as a common adult disorder with onset typically at age 30-50 years. But recent evidence indicates it can occur during early childhood, too.
Idiopathic facial aseptic granuloma – an uncommon condition sometimes mistaken for unusually early acne – is actually often an expression of childhood rosacea.
Dr. Lawrence F. Eichenfield
"If you see these atypical skin lesions that look like acne cysts in young children who also have facial flushing, erythema, and perhaps pustules without comedones, be sure to look carefully at the eyes. Many times, they will have ocular rosacea with recurrent chalazions, conjunctival hyperemia, or keratitis. And if you think it’s ocular rosacea, you may want to make a referral to ophthalmology for assistance with ocular rosacea management," Dr. Lawrence F. Eichenfield said at the Hawaii Dermatology Seminar sponsored by Global Academy for Medical Education/Skin Disease Education Foundation.
"I find that many times oral antibiotics are highly useful in this subset," added Dr. Eichenfield, chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Rady Children’s Hospital and professor of clinical pediatrics and medicine at the University of California, San Diego.
The pathogenesis of idiopathic facial aseptic granuloma (IFAG) is poorly understood. French dermatologists were first to identify the link between IFAG and rosacea. In a multicenter study involving 20 girls and 18 boys with IFAG, the investigators determined that 16 of the children, or 42%, met two or more criteria for rosacea (Pediatr. Dermatol. 2013;30:429-32).
Median age at diagnosis of IFAG was 43 months, and the children were subsequently followed for a median of 3.9 years before their evaluation for possible rosacea. Eleven of the 32 (34%) children with a single IFAG lesion met criteria for childhood rosacea, as did 5 of the 6 (83%) children with multiple skin lesions.
"So be aware: Although rosacea is very uncommon in our preteens and teens, it can occur," Dr. Eichenfield observed.
He reported having served as a clinical investigator and/or consultant to Allergan, Galderma, GSK-Stiefel, and Medicis/Valeant.
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