Standard grading system for rosacea: report of the National Rosacea Society Expert Committee on the classification and staging of rosacea

A standard classification system for rosacea was published in the April 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.1 Developed by the National Rosacea Society Expert Committee on the Classification and Staging of Rosacea and reviewed by rosacea experts worldwide, it describes primary and secondary features of rosacea and recognizes 4 patterns of signs and symptoms, designated as subtypes. To enhance the utility of the system for both clinicians and researchers, the committee has devised a standard method for assessing gradations of the severity of rosacea. In addition to the classification system, a standard grading system is often essential to perform research, analyze results, and compare data from different sources, and in turn provides a common reference for diagnosis, treatment, and assessment of results in clinical practice.2,3 Standard parameters and terminology also