Evaluation of gastrointestinal diseases in rosacea patients

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that can cause persistent centrofacial erythema, papulopustular eruption, telangiectatic vessels, facial dryness, edema and ocular involvement in addition to phymatous changes in different parts of the face. Rosacea has been associated with many systemic diseases, including the gastrointestinal system. It is thought that the gastrointestinal system affects skin homeostasis and allostasis through its effects on the immune system, metabolic and nervous system, and that the intestinal microbiome is effective in the balance of the immune system and inflammation formation not only in the intestinal mucosa but also in the whole body. In our study, we aimed to determine the relationship between microbiota and rosacea and the coexistence of gastrointestinal system diseases in patients diagnosed with rosacea who applied to our clinic. Clinical features of rosacea according to the 2019 ROSCO and 2002 NRS classification, gastrointestinal symptoms, ROMA-IV criteria results for irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis, gastrointestinal system disease prevalences, the presence of "Helicobacter pylori" and Demodex were evaluated in 151 patients diagnosed with rosacea. As a result of our study, facial burning and stinging sensation, papulopustular eruption were associated with some of the gastrointestinal symptoms. The presence of "Helicobacter pylori" and Demodex was found to be unrelated to gastrointestinal symptoms. Ocular involvement and facial dryness were more common in patients with demodicosis. The rates of bloating/gas, pain and burning in the epigastric region, and regurgitation reported in the patients in our study were found to be higher than the prevalences reported in nationwide studies in our country. 7 (4.6%) patients were diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. Our study supports the literature showing the coexistence of gastrointestinal diseases and rosacea. Revealing rosacea-related comorbidities may be informative in understanding the pathogenesis of rosacea and developing new treatments.