Leading rosacea experts join forces for first ever Global Rosacea Awareness Month
Efforts to drive awareness and extend support for the 40 million people affected by rosacea
TORONTO, April 1, 2015 /CNW/ - Today the world's first Global Rosacea Coalition supported by many leading rosacea experts, called for greater access to accurate information to help the many millions of people with rosacea find solutions for their symptoms. The announcement marks the first Global Rosacea Awareness Month in April, connecting the many dedicated organizations and individuals committed to improving rosacea awareness. Their specific aim is to highlight the personal impact of the condition, including the psychological aspects of living with rosacea, and encourage sufferers to better recognize the symptoms and seek professional help.
For almost half of the estimated 40 million rosacea sufferers1 who remain unaware that they have a medical condition, finding accurate information and access to healthcare professionals are critical steps to understanding the disorder and finding the right solutions.
Speaking about the initiative, actress and Coalition spokesperson Cynthia Nixon said, "I'm excited to support the Global Rosacea Coalition. With a dedicated Global Rosacea Awareness Month the Coalition aims to reach the millions of people around the world who may be suffering in silence with this condition without the support and help they deserve. Rosacea not only affects the skin but the confidence of sufferers and from my own personal experience I know how debilitating its effects can be. We want all sufferers to understand their symptoms better and know that there is help and professional support available."
Facial redness is a very common symptom for people with rosacea.2 Many people who suffer from rosacea may assume that they just blush easily and/or that they might be sun-sensitive. Sufferers usually have a characteristic pattern of persistent facial redness with intermittent flushing on the forehead, chin, cheeks or lower half of the nose, often started or exacerbated by particular triggers.3 Facial redness associated with rosacea is often mistaken for acne, eczema, excessive skin exposure to sun, or a skin allergy.
Global Rosacea Awareness Month activities, spearheaded by the Global Rosacea Coalition, culminate in the world's first ever Global Rosacea Tweetathon (#ChatRosacea) on Monday, April 27th. Coalition experts including doctors, sufferers and bloggers will take part in a Twitter discussion over multiple time zones covering core rosacea topics from diagnosis and the impact of living with rosacea to managing symptoms. The conversation begins in Europe and Australia before moving to Latin America and then to the U.S. and Canada.
Dr. Katie Beleznay, Clinical Instructor at the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia and Co-director of the Vancouver Acne & Rosacea clinic, commented, "It's an extremely visible condition and can create significant anxiety and potential embarrassment for sufferers. Global Rosacea Awareness Month is important to help people understand their options for living with the condition, and for getting help and support."
Global Rosacea Awareness Month and the Global Rosacea Coalition are supported by Galderma as part of their Act on Red rosacea awareness programme. For more information please visit www.actonred.com.
About Galderma
Galderma is a global company founded in 1981 committed to delivering innovative medical solutions to meet the dermatological needs of people throughout their lifetime, while serving healthcare professionals around the world. The company has 34 wholly-owned affiliates with a worldwide network of distributors and more than 5,500 employees. Galderma's extensive product portfolio is available in 80 countries and treats a range of dermatological conditions including: acne, rosacea, onychomycosis, psoriasis and steroid-responsive dermatoses, pigmentary disorders, skin cancer and medical solutions for skin senescence.
Galderma is the operating company of Nestlé Skin Health, a global leader focused on enhancing the quality of life by delivering science-based solutions for the health of skin, hair and nails. Five state-of-the-art R&D centers and six manufacturing sites are dedicated to providing a wide range of innovative medical solutions which meet the highest standards of safety and efficacy.
A number of the Coalition members will be participating in the first Global Rosacea Tweetathon (#ChatRosacea) on Monday 27th April.
For more information, please visit Galderma's website: www.galderma.com
References:
- Shanler S, Ondo A. Successful treatment of the erythema and flushing of rosacea using a topically applied selective a1 adrenergic receptor agonist, oxymetazoline [abstract taken from J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;58(2):AB9]. Presented at: American Academy of Dermatology 66th Annual Meeting; February 1-5, 2008; San Antonio, TX.
- National Rosacea Society: All About Rosacea. Available at: http://www.rosacea.org/patients/allaboutrosacea.php [Last accessed March 2015]
- Wilkin J, Dahl M, Detmar M, et al. Standard grading system for rosacea: report of the National Rosacea Society Expert Committee on the Classification and Staging of Rosacea. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;50:907-912
SOURCE Global Rosacea Coalition
Media: Ethan Pigott, [email protected], (416) 558-2783
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