During Rosacea Awareness Month this past April, the National Rosacea Society (NRS) highlighted how protective face masks can hide and exacerbate the signs and symptoms of rosacea. However, for the 16 million Americans who have the disorder, the rise in access to treatment options and sophisticated medical care can help keep flares under control.
In their latest press release,1 the NRS spoke to Dr Linda Stein Gold, director of dermatology clinical research at the Henry Ford Health System, to delve deeper into these topics.
According to Dr Stein Gold, “The heat and abrasion from prolonged use of face masks often leads to irritation of facial skin and a worsening of rosacea signs and symptoms, calling for more intense medical treatment and special care because of rosacea’s conspicuous impact on facial appearance, these aftereffects may become increasingly apparent as mask mandates are eased when COVID-19 is brought under control.”
Furthermore, she stated that even during rosacea flares, it is important to follow public health directives and wear masks whenever necessary to stop the spread of COVID-19.
A recent study on mask-related rosacea symptoms found that after wearing masks for 6 weeks, the average severity score for flushing increased 58% in patients with persistent facial redness and 52% in patients with bumps and pimples.2 Moreover, scores for persistent facial redness increased 56% in patients with bumps and pimples and 44% in those with facial redness alone. Simultaneously, quality of life scores declined 69% in patients with facial redness and 45% in those with bumps and pimples.
New Therapies Offer New Opportunities
There are, however, a number of new therapies that can help patients achieve substantially improved outcomes with individualized approaches. A recent NRS survey of more than 800 respondents with rosacea found 83% of those who had achieved clear or almost clear skin said their psychological well-being had improved. Another 73% said it had also improved their social lives, and 63% saw improvement in their occupational well-being.3
Despite this, patients may be using older treatments and have not seen great improvements in their severity. “Through habit or lack of knowledge, however, many patients may unknowingly continue with therapy that is not as effective as it could be. In these cases, there may be newer medications that produce more successful results as well as therapy combinations that offer excellent synergistic effects,” said Dr Stein Gold.
Older patients with rosacea are especially more likely to use older treatments.4 In response to another NRS survey of 1714 patients, 54% of respondents aged 60 years and older reported continued use of metronidazole, the first prescription therapy ever developed and approved for rosacea, vs 41% of respondents younger than 60 years. The 60 years and older group were more likely than the younger cohort to have never changed their treatment regimen as well.
“As dermatologists, we want patients to be healthy and happy in their skin,” said Dr Stein Gold. “If a therapy is not doing its job, it may be time to try a different approach.” An individualized treatment plan, which may use more than one targeted therapy, can address the patient’s particular presentation. This targeted approach improves the chances at achieving the best overall outcomes, both in terms of clear skin and quality of life.
“As scientific and medical knowledge of rosacea continues to increase, the good news is that it is now possible to tailor a personal treatment plan to address the individual signs and symptoms of each patient to substantially improve the quality of their lives.”
While Rosacea Awareness Month is only during the month of April, dermatologists and patients alike should keep the disorder in mind throughout the year. The NRS offers several comprehensive guides and educational materials for both clinicians and consumers to increase awareness. To access these materials, contact the NRS for more information or visit rosacea.org. n
References
1. Erhard M, Huff A. Rosacea awareness month: masks matter in fight against disorder now affecting 16 million Americans. National Rosacea Society. Published April 1, 2021. Accessed April 8, 2021. https://www.rosacea.org/press/2021/april/rosacea-awareness-month-masks-matter-in-fight-against-disorder-now-affecting-16-million-americans
2. Damiani G, Gironi LC, Grada A, et al. COVID-19 related masks increase severity of both acne (maskne) and rosacea (mask rosacea): multi-center, real-life, telemedical, observational prospective study. Dermatol Ther. 2021;34(2):e14848. doi:10.1111/dth.14848
3. National Rosacea Society. Rosacea awareness month highlights new treatment options. Rosacea Review. Published spring 2020. Accessed April 8, 2021. https://www.rosacea.org/rosacea-review/2020/spring/rosacea-awareness-month-highlights-new-treatment-options
4. National Rosacea Society. Survey shows most patients are satisfied with therapy, but more awareness of treatment options is needed. Rosacea Review. Published fall 2020. Accessed April 8, 2021. https://www.rosacea.org/rosacea-review/2020/fall/survey-shows-most-rosacea-patients-are-satisfied-with-therapy
