Rosacea Review - Newsletter of the National Rosacea SocietyRosacea Review - Newsletter of the National Rosacea Society

awareness

Survey Shows Public Awareness of Rosacea Greatly Increasing

While public awareness of rosacea as a medical disorder has grown significantly in the past two decades, knowledge of its wide range of potential signs and symptoms continues to lag, according to a new patient survey conducted by the National Rosacea Society (NRS). Only 47 percent of the 1,459 survey respondents said they had never heard of rosacea prior to receiving their diagnosis, compared to a 1997 Gallup poll that showed 78 percent of Americans had no knowledge of rosacea.

Rosacea Awareness Spotlights Social Impact, Warning Signs

For many individuals with rosacea, every social occasion can feel like a minefield no matter how mild their condition, according to a new survey by the National Rosacea Society (NRS).  April was designated as Rosacea Awareness Month by the NRS to alert the public to the early warning signs of this chronic and conspicuous facial disorder now estimated to affect more than 16 million Americans.

Surveys Show Need for More Education

New online surveys of the general population, developed with the National Rosacea Society, point to a need for greater education about this often life-disruptive disorder.

In a survey of 500 people who had not been diagnosed with rosacea, more than 30 percent did not know what rosacea was, and only 14 percent said they were familiar or very familiar with its symptoms. However, when asked how important the appearance of their skin was to them, 87 percent said it was important or very important.

Awareness Program Highlights Evidence of Rosacea's Impact and Prevalence

While rosacea has grown increasingly common as the baby boom generation enters the most susceptible ages, mounting evidence has shown that this conspicuous red-faced disorder may be more devastating and prevalent than widely believed. The National Rosacea Society (NRS) designated April as Rosacea Awareness Month to alert the public to this chronic and often embarrassing condition now estimated to affect well over 14 million Americans.

She Finds Rosacea Widely Misunderstood in India

Homai Baria of India felt quite alone when she was diagnosed with rosacea.

"In India, I have still not heard much about the term rosacea," Baria said. As a result, many people in her country don't understand her condition.

"My family, friends and colleagues at work would sometimes make unkind comments about what was happening to me," she said, referring to her red face and rosacea flareups. "I went to the point of avoiding going to parties and social gatherings. I would often cry when I was alone."

Turn Burning Questions into Positive Education

At some point, many rosacea patients may be confronted with tactless queries or unspoken suspicions about their facial appearance. Whether it is a blunt question such as "What's wrong with your face?" or simply a puzzled stare, rosacea sufferers can handle these situations constructively without undermining their self-confidence or self-esteem by using them as opportunities to educate others about the disorder.

Subscribe to awareness