The Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada launched this month to offer hope and help to those experiencing acne & rosacea. This national, not for profit organization is led by dermatologists from across the county with the goals of raising awareness and providing education about these skin conditions. Dr. Rivers is President of the Society.
“Despite being common conditions, it is hard for Canadians to find accurate, relevant and up-to-date information on acne and rosacea,” according to Dr. Rivers. Since acne and rosacea appear mostly on the face and affect appearance, there can be significant emotional distress in addition to the visible physical signs. There may also be permanent skin damage such as scarring. There are safe and effective treatments for both acne and rosacea. The main barrier to getting improvement is knowledge and awareness. He adds,“Our role is to provide independent, reputable information to Canadians with acne and rosacea and to raise awareness with goal of improving lives.”
The society has created two separate awareness campaigns: Acne Action and Rosacea Help. The Acne Action program is the first to kickoff this month with new website. Notes Dr. Rivers, “There are young Canadians today, and some adults too, who are suffering the physical and emotional effects of acne. We urge you to forget decades-old misguided beliefs like ‘you just have to get through it’ or ‘nothing can be done about it’. Get the facts, take action and get acne under control.”
The Acne Action website provides users with extensive information about the symptoms and types of acne, consulting a doctor, along with skin care and treatments.