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

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Survey Shows Patient Compliance Critical to Controlling Symptoms

A recent patient survey by the National Rosacea Society has documented the importance of compliance with medical therapy, as 88 percent of the respondents said their symptoms reappear or increase in severity if they fail to use their medication as directed.

In the new survey, 74 percent of 658 respondents said they take their rosacea medications as prescribed by their physician. Another 17 percent said they sometimes use their medications as prescribed, and only 9 percent reported they do not follow their doctor's orders.

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.

Essential Steps Help Keep Rosacea at Bay

Though rosacea's signs and symptoms may often be unpredictable and frustrating, three basic practices - adherence to medical therapy, avoiding triggers and gentle skin care - can help bring it under control on a long-term basis.

"Patients must first make a strong commitment to long-term medical therapy," said Dr. Boni Elewski, vice chair of dermatology at the University of Alabama - Birmingham.

Rosacea Patients Cite Summer as Season for Most Aggravations

While people often consider the warm weather and endless sun of summer true delights, new survey results suggest that many rosacea patients are likely to describe the season in much less glowing terms.

Nearly 85 percent of the 1,190 respondents to a recent National Rosacea Society (NRS) survey said their condition is affected by the change in seasons, and almost half said their symptoms are at their worst when the warm weather arrives. Forty-six percent also said they have to make the most lifestyle adjustments during this time to reduce the likelihood of a flare-up.

Many Specialists Provide Care

While rosacea is usually treated by a dermatologist, a new survey by the National Rosacea Society suggests that other health specialists are often the first to notice a patient might have the disorder.

In the survey of 1,584 rosacea patients, 38 percent said a non-dermatologist first noticed their condition and 26 percent were referred to a specialist. Nearly 73 percent of the latter were referred to a dermatologist, and 12 percent were referred to an eye doctor for treatment of ocular rosacea.

Flare-Ups Strike Often, Survey Says

Rosacea has commonly been characterized as a disease of flare-ups and remissions, and data from a recent National Rosacea Society survey of 954 patients confirm that pattern.

More than 55 percent of the respondents said they experience an outbreak or increased intensity of symptoms at least once a month, including 24 percent who noted they have a flare-up every few days, 15 percent who said once a week, and the remainder who said once a month. Another 25 percent said they have a flare-up every few months.

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