Galderma, Nestlé Skin Health’s medical solutions business, has launched a social media campaign to show the hidden impact of rosacea, a common inflammatory skin disease.
The campaign, #RosaceaNoFilter, aims to highlight the burden of the disease, encouraging patients to share their personal experiences of living with Rosacea in the form of selfies.
Rosacea normally presents varied clinical characteristics, of which the most common are flushing, permanent erythema and inflammatory lesions.
It affects both men and women, with the cheeks, nose and eyes areas most commonly affected.
The Galderma-backed campaign builds on the 2018 report Rosacea: Beyond the Visible, which highlights the true extent of the psychosocial burden of rosacea globally.
The findings show that those with rosacea may not be reconsulting with a healthcare professional after previous failure with medications.
Insights from the research, involving more than 130 rosacea patients and their spouses in four countries, suggested that these patients are adopting a short-term approach to treatment, opting to self-treat with over-the-counter skincare products on an episodical basis, rather than visiting an HCP for prescription treatment advice.
Approximately 82% of those surveyed felt their rosacea is not fully controlled, and over half of those (55%) in active employment said that the disease impacted their work.
Experts in the field are calling for HCPs to reassure patients and help encourage them back into the healthcare system.
“Patients are increasingly turning to alternative treatments due to their lack of faith in treatments prescribed by clinicians,” says Dr James Del Rosso, DO of JDR Dermatology Research/Thomas Dermatology.
“In order to support patients and encourage them to seek guidance and appropriate treatment from their dermatologist, it is important that we as professionals first understand the burden they are experiencing with this life-altering skin condition and adapt our approach.”
The disease affects approximately 415 million people worldwide, and is most common in those aged 30 and above.
Galderma hopes to help with this by partnering with top rosacea influencers to raise awareness.
“As a leader in rosacea, Galderma is committed to gathering patient insights that enable us to tailor our approach to better support patient needs and help improve clinical outcomes in this often under- prioritised disease area,” said Kamel Chaouche, Head of Global Medical Affairs Rx SIG, Galderma Nestlé Skin Health.
“Rosacea Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to build on the momentum of our Rosacea: Beyond the Visible campaign and encourage even more patients to find their voice and share their experiences.”
The campaign will run across the whole of April to mark Rosacea Awareness Month.