Medical scientists at Dokuz Eyful University in Turkey recently published the first study to demonstrate that providing more information to rosacea patients not only improves their understanding of the disorder but also enhances their quality of life and adherence to sun protection.1
While previous studies have established a link between rosacea severity and quality of life, the researchers said, there has been limited knowledge of how patient understanding of their disease can affect quality of life, too. It is well known that sun exposure is a leading trigger for rosacea symptoms and may play a key role in the development of the disorder, they noted. The new study was therefore designed to assess the relationship between disease severity, patient understanding, quality of life and sun protection.
From December 2021 to May 2023, they assessed 120 rosacea patients and 120 matched controls in these four areas through questionnaires, interviews and clinical examinations. Demographically, 88.3% of the rosacea patients were women, averaging 46 years in age. The most common rosacea phenotype was persistent facial redness (58.3%), followed by bumps and pimples (33.3%) and excess tissue (8.3%). Clinical severity varied from 51.7% mild to 38.3% moderate and 10% severe.
Regarding sun protection, the researchers found that 87.5% of the rosacea patients sought shade, 54.1% frequently used sunscreen and 16.6% wore protective hats. They noted 85% believed sun exposure caused their rosacea.
The researchers documented that higher clinical severity was linked to worse quality of life, while better understanding of the illness and effective sun protection were each associated with higher quality of life scores.
“In summary, we have demonstrated the impact of rosacea patient perceptions of illness and beliefs on the quality of life and adherence to sun protection behaviors for the first time,” they concluded. “Providing more information to rosacea patients can improve their disease perception and quality of life, increasing adherence to sun protection behaviors.”
They added that the care of rosacea patients should also “involve expert psychological support to manage the negative beliefs and emotions surrounding the condition, alongside the dermatological treatment of clinical symptoms and signs.”
Reference:
1. Akin G, Akarsu S, Avcı C. How does illness perception affect the quality of life and sun protection behaviors of rosacea patients? Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2024 Sep;40(5):e12998. doi: 10.1111/phpp.12998. PMID: 39208246.