Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology (Mar 2018)
Psychosocial aspects of rosacea with a focus on anxiety and depression
Abstract
Monika Heisig,1 Adam Reich2 1Department of Cosmetology, The College of Physiotherapy in Wroclaw, Wroclaw, 2Department of Dermatology, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszów, Poland Background: Rosacea is a common, chronic skin condition characterized by facial redness and inflammatory lesions. The disease can lead to social stigmatization and may significantly reduce the quality of life of patients. Psychosocial impact of rosacea can be severe and debilitating; however, it is still underestimated. Objective: This paper provides a literature review focused on depression and anxiety in patients with rosacea. Conclusion: Rosacea patients have an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety and tend to avoid social situations. However, there are still limited data on this condition. Effective treatment of clinical symptoms brings significant improvement in psychological symptoms. Further studies should be conducted to investigate in more detail the psychological impact of rosacea. In addition, improvement of the efficacy of rosacea treatment is still needed. Keywords: rosacea, depression, anxiety, quality of life, psychosocial distress