Rosacea is a common long-term skin condition which mostly affects people on the face.  It can be a very frustrating condition to live with as it’s not easily controlled and there’s no cure for it.  There are ways that it can be managed, mostly through trial and error.

How Do You Know That You Have Rosacea?

Rosacea is a condition that’s always best diagnosed by a physician. The most common symptom you’ll get to begin with is flushing, where your skin turns red for a short time.  This doesn’t always mean you have rosacea, but it’s often the first sign that it’s developing.

Following Flushing Episodes, You Could Experience:

·      A burning or stinging sensation.

·      Redness to the skin that doesn’t go away spots.

·      Noticeable blood vessels becoming visible in the skin.

Ask for medical advice if you think you might be getting any of these symptoms.

Managing Your Rosacea

There’s no cure for the condition, but there are certainly ways to keep the symptoms under control.  If you decide to go along the road of med spa treatments; you might want to give laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments a try.  These types of treatments can be very effective; sessions involve having beams of light being aimed at visible blood vessels in the skin to shrink them.  Although this doesn’t cure the underlying condition, it can help to reduce the visible signs, which can be upsetting.

You might find that keeping a record of the things that trigger your rosacea helps you to manage flare ups. Alcohol and caffeine are well known triggers for many people, and other culprits include strong sunlight, cold weather, spicy foods, and stress.

Caring for Your Skin with Rosacea

Skin with rosacea needs gentle, but persistent care.  Getting into a regular routine will really help you to manage the condition, and using the right products will help you to avoid flare ups or deterioration.

Make sure that you use a gentle cleanser every morning and evening.  A soap-free cleanser with a neutral pH is best – steer clear of scented products and alcohol based cleansers and toners. Use skin care products that are designed for sensitive skin.  Mild, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (pore blocking) products will help to boost your skin health and won’t dry it out or irritate it.

Rinse with lukewarm water (not hot) and pat your skin dry. Wait for your skin to dry completely, before you put on any makeup. Try not to use oil based or waterproof makeup that needs to be removed with a solvent makeup remover as these products (and their removers) can irritate your skin. Opt for water based cosmetics that are kinder to your skin and easier to remove.

Don’t use harsh toners, astringents, or products that contain fragrances, alcohol, menthol, witch hazel, eucalyptus oil, camphor, clove oil, peppermint, sodium lauryl sulphate, or lanolin.

There are some therapeutic facial products and treatments specially formulated to help treat the symptoms of rosacea.  I would be happy to give you professional advice about products and treatments that will help you – so don’t be afraid to ask!