People are powerfully baring their rosacea flare-ups for the important #RosaceaNoFilter campaign to end stigma surrounding the skin condition

"The very visible nature of rosacea means that we often feel self-conscious and are aware of the judgements of others, which can feel very isolating. This is why we need to bring people together, and Rosacea Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to connect the rosacea community and use our unified voice to raise awareness, break the stigma, and educate people about the hidden realities of this disease."

The skin-positive campaign has since swept across social media, encouraging scores of rosacea sufferers to upload unfiltered, make-up free selfies to Instagram to remove stigma, normalise its appearance and raise awareness of the condition.

Taking to Instagram, one woman posting under the username @spotsandthe spoke candidly about the struggles of suffering with rosacea, which had led her to spend her morning commute hiding in the train toilet.

"My usual morning routine - hiding away in the toilet before getting the train into work. I work in the city and commute into London everyday, the hardest part of my day is the commute.

"Yes my skin's uncomfortable and it's despairing not having any relief from it but the worst feeling is leaving the house and facing the stares from strangers.

"It's normal to look when there's something that's out of the ordinary but there's always people who just love to stare.

"Having the courage to not look down but look up and stare straight back is super difficult.

"Most days I can do it but on my bad days I hide in toilets before getting my train or keep my head down whilst on a packed tube and have a discrete cry while I make my way to my next connection."

Another woman explained the lengths she'd go in her beauty regime to hide her rosacea. "I've only recently become comfortable posting pictures of my face with no foundation. 99% of the time, I don't leave my house without it.

"Not because I'm embarrassed, but because I get tired of answering questions or explaining that - yes I am wearing sunscreen and no it's not a sun burn or acne.

"The bad days are awful - bright red cheeks and nose, little sore bumps everywhere that drain fluid. It's miserable and painful."

Inspired by activists like Lex Gillies, the campaign is continuing to grow online, with thousands of women sharing powerful photos and testimonies of their rosacea.

The skin disease currently affects an estimated 415 million people worldwide, so what exactly is it?

Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin disease that presents variable clinical characteristics, of which the most common are flushing, permanent erythema, and inflammatory lesions. It mainly affects the central areas of the face, such as the cheeks and nose. The disease can affect both
adult men and women, usually after the age of 30. Additionally, symptoms such as stinging, burning and increased sensitivity of the skin are common. The eyes are often affected, and might present as red, dry or itchy.

Although the cause of the disease is still under debate, various trigger factors are recognised, including spicy foods, alcohol, emotional stress, sun/UV-exposure, hot baths and beverages.

Whilst rosacea is a relapsing condition, meaning there may be some periods when symptoms are particularly bad, but less severe at others, the NHS advises that rosacea can be "controlled to some degree with long-term treatment."

Here at GLAMOUR, we are all for celebrating every part of your body in all its glory and raising awareness of the skin condition is super important. Read our ultimate guide to rosacea here and scroll down for some of our go-to rosacea treatments...