No link between rosacea and Propionibacterium acnes

Rosacea is a common skin disease in adults affecting mainly the facial skin. Although inflammation appears to play a pathogenic role in rosacea, initiating factors are largely unknown. Microbial involvement in the development of rosacea has been suggested previously. We aimed to visualize P ropionibacterium acnes in the skin compartments of rosacea patients. Facial skin biopsies from 82 rosacea patients and 25 controls were stained with a P . acnes ‐specific monoclonal antibody ( QUBPa3 ). Seven of 82 patients (8.5%) tested positive for P . acnes which was present either as a biofilm (57% of positive) or a microcolony (43%) in colonized patients. Our results suggest that P . acnes does not play a major role in the pathogenesis of rosacea.