Rosacea is a seemingly harmless ailment that causes the sufferer’s skin to turn red and inflamed. However, in reality, it does much more than that; it damages the way the sufferer looks at her/himself. Even research studies that have been conducted all over the world draw the link between rosacea and lowered self-esteem.
What rosacea is all about
Rosacea doesn’t trigger any life-threatening conditions, but it is the cause of a vicious cycle. John E. Wolf, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, notes that rosacea may make you more upset than you already are, and this in turn, worsens rosacea symptoms. Dr. Wolf explains that stress is the primary trigger of this ailment. Individuals, who recognize the occurrence of these symptoms earlier, are able to reduce its severity. Rosacea develops mostly those in the age range of 30 and 60, and with each outbreak, they get ruddier and continue longer, till visible blood vessels surface on the skin.
How it impacts the mind
Since your face is one of the first things an individual would notice about you, the redness and inflammation caused by rosacea hampers a person’s self-esteem considerably. Most individuals who suffer from rosacea run away from social functions and other events, which they would have otherwise attended under normal circumstances. Rosacea often impacts an individual’s self-esteem to such an extent that it disrupts their professional and social growth.
Rosacea affects millions of Americans
The National Rosacea Society (NRS) carried out research studies that reveal the emotional damage triggered by rosacea differs from individual to individual. They also noted that rosacea is an extremely common ailment that has plagued over 16 million Americans. The latest surveys carried out by the NRS show that a majority of rosacea patients have been emotionally disturbed, regardless of the severity of their condition.
Sufferers often live in rustic seclusion
According to a survey conducted on 1675 rosacea sufferers, it was revealed that 90 percent of them were victims of lowered self-esteem, while 88 percent had experienced embarrassment on several occasions, owing to the presence of this condition. The study also showed that rosacea sufferers experienced depression, anger, isolation, frustration, anxiety, and helplessness. The study threw light on the fact that fifty-two percent of these participants avoided face-to-face interaction, due to rosacea. The NRS previously carried out a research study that 61 percent of sufferers with subtype 1 symptoms reported that rosacea put a stop on their social life, soon after which, the numbers grew to 72 percent.
Ways to overcome low self-esteem due to rosacea
While there’s nothing too much you could do, to completely eradicate the symptoms of rosacea, you could definitely improve your self-esteem. Though the advice provided by your physician may help you to cope with rosacea, research about rosacea yourself. You should also understand the food or drinks that trigger rosacea symptoms, as they often differ from person to person. If you find it extremely difficult to overcome the negative emotions on self-esteem, triggered by rosacea, consulting a psychotherapist should help you deal with the situation more effectively.