Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System in Rosacea

Rosacea is a common skin disorder which causes facial redness and inflammation in about 16 million Americans, from an unknown cause. Many triggers of rosacea symptoms are stressors that affect the sympathetic ("fight or flight") portion of the nervous system, and a recent pilot study suggests there is sympathetic dysfunction in rosacea. This project will benefit patients, clinicians, and basic scientists by increasing our understanding of sympathetic nervous system involvement in rosacea symptoms in order to develop improved treatments for patients with rosacea.

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Key information

Conditions

Rosacea Skin Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Age range

18 year–45 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Otherwise healthy males and non-pregnant/non-lactating females with mild to moderate erythematotelangiectactic rosacea, as well as age-sex matched healthy control subjects.

Exclusion criteria

Neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, muscular, or other dermatological disorders
Current history of alcohol and/or drug abuse
Known allergies or hypersensitivities to medications/drugs that are used in the protocol
Current smoking or regular smoking within the last 2 years
Body mass index > 35 kg/m2
Medications or supplements which are known to affect neural, cardiovascular, or muscular responses

Treatment and study plan

systemic and local stressors

Other

Protocol 1: skin sympathetic nerve activity will be measured during mental math and handgrip exercise. Protocol 2: skin end organ responses will be measured at baseline and in response to systemic stressors and end-organ receptor stimulation. Protocol 3: skin end organ responses will be measured at baseline and during local heating.

Primary outcomes

Skin blood flow

Time frame: Immediate (during the single-day study). This study consists of a one-day protocol, during which this outcome is measured.

laser Doppler flowmetry
Skin sympathetic nerve activity

Time frame: Immediate (during the single-day study). This study consists of a one-day protocol, during which this outcome is measured.

microneurography

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kristen Metzler-Wilson

Other

Collaborators

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2019
Primary completion: 2020
Study completion: 2020
First posted: Jun 18, 2019
Registry last updated: Sep 23, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed