The roundtable discussion encompassed many topics-from seminal research by Ronald Marks to the latest National Rosacea Society-funded studies on the pathophysiology of rosacea. All participants commented on the value of the new National Rosacea Society classification system for subtypes of rosacea, designed to direct future research and help physicians better diagnose and manage these subtypes. A lively discussion centered on treatment options for the various subtypes of rosacea ensued.

In the pathogenesis of acne inflammation, Propionibacterium acnes seems to play an important initiating role by producing low-molecular-weight chemotactic factors , resulting in the accumulation of neutrophils at the site of acne comedones. The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by neutrophils has been shown in mediating tissue damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of ROS generated by neutrophils in mediating acne inflammation. We attempted to analyze the production of hydrogen peroxide by neutrophils from patients with comedonal type of acne, patients with papulopustular type of acne, and healthy controls , using a two-dimensional flow cytometric assay. Neutrophils from patients with papulopustular type of acne produced a statistically greater amount of hydrogen peroxide than those from patients with comedonal type of acne after stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus (p < 0.01 ). No statistical difference was observed between the comedonal type of acne and healthy controls. In addition, amount of hydrogen peroxide generated by neutrophils from patients with papulopustular type of acne was significantly decreased after the treatment with oral administration of standard doses of minocycline (p < 0.01 ). Our results seem to suggest that ROS generated by neutrophils contribute to the damage of follicular epithlium leading to the extrusion of follicular contents into the dermis, and subsequently resulting in a variety of inflammatory processes.