News About Rosacea for Rosacea Awareness Month

Posted on: March 28th, 2019 by Shany Batbold

New Study Reports 415 Million Rosacea Sufferers Worldwide

Rosacea can make you feel self-conscious and alone – as if you were the only person with this challenging skin condition. But did you know that Princess Diana had it? And that comedian Amy Schumer, singer Sam Smith, former President Bill Clinton and dancer Dita Von Teese all have it too?

In fact, an estimated 415 million people around the world may be suffering from the facial reddening known as rosacea, according to a new study. This study is believed to be the first to ever attempt to quantify rosacea’s toll on a global scale.

Dr. Jacob Thyssen and his team at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark conducted a thorough review of all the published population-based studies on the incidence and prevalence of rosacea. They analyzed data collected from 32 studies around the world. Their findings, leading to their projected total of 415 million rosacea sufferers worldwide, were published in the British Journal of Dermatology and reported by the National Rosacea Society. Based on the study’s statistical model, the Society further estimates the number of Americans with rosacea to be 16 million.

Why is this important?

Rosacea at present has no cure; although it can be medically managed under a dermatologist’s supervision. More research is needed to find a drug that can cure rosacea. But for pharmaceutical companies to conduct the costly research and testing required to bring any new drug to market, they need to be convinced that there is a sizable enough patient population to make the effort worthwhile. So, if it can be proven that there are millions of rosacea sufferers, it betters the chance that the research will be forthcoming to find a cure.

Shocking Study Reveals Most Rosacea Untreated

Another major recent study, from Baylor College of Medicine, reported in the Dermatology Online Journal, finds that only about 18 percent of Americans with rosacea are under treatment for their condition.

But, rosacea will not go away on its own. If left untreated, it can slowly worsen over time. There could even be permanent skin and eye damage in the long term. “There are now more medical therapies available for rosacea’s signs and symptoms than ever before, even for mild cases,” comments Dr. John Wolf, Chairman of Dermatology at Baylor.

Think You Have Rosacea? See a Dermatologist to Find Out

Rosacea is a chronic disorder of the facial skin that is often characterized by flare-ups and remissions. It typically begins at any time after age 30 as a flushing or redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that may come and go. Over time, the redness tends to become ruddier and more persistent, and small blood vessels may appear. Without treatment, bumps and pimples often develop, and in severe cases the nose may become swollen from excess tissue. In around half of patients, the eyes are also affected, feeling irritated and appearing watery or bloodshot.

Do you think you might have rosacea? If so, make an appointment to get it checked by one of California Skin Institute’s board-certified dermatologists. “The earlier you start treatment the easier rosacea is to manage,” the American Academy of Dermatology states.

Before your appointment, keep a rosacea journal so you can track what may cause flareups. This is important information to share with your CSI dermatologist for a customized treatment plan.