The Do's & Don'ts of Rosacea
If you read my recent Rosacea 101 blog, you know that rosacea is a prevalent, yet often misunderstood, skin condition that affects so many. As someone who experiences it herself, I know how frustrating it can be to understand how to manage rosacea. My main hope with this blog is to provide a bit of a cheat sheet for you to better understand the factors that generally help keep rosacea at bay, and what factors typically trigger flare.
Before we get going, I want to preface that this is NOT medical advice, but general education. Rosacea is not a one size fits all condition (which is the primary reason it has taken me this long to post a blog about it, it’s SO NUANCED, and a single blog just can’t explain all there is to know), but I would say these are the tips that typically help one greater understand how to manage it.
A Brief Background On Rosacea
I am not going to go into too much detail here, since I gave a pretty thorough deep dive in the basics of rosacea in my recent blog. With that being said, as a quick summary, rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition primarily manifesting as redness, visible blood vessels, and sometimes acne-like bumps on the face. The exact cause is not fully understood, but factors such as genetics, environmental triggers, and vascular irregularities play critical roles.
Do's for Managing Rosacea
DO Consult a Dermatology Provider: I know I already mentioned this, but I just can’t emphasize it enough! One of the very first recommendations for anyone who suspects they might have rosacea is to consult a derm provider. Given that rosacea is highly individualized, a derm is crucial for conducting a thorough assessment. They determine if your symptoms indeed suggest rosacea (other conditions can look similar), identify which of the various subtypes you might be dealing with, and develop a tailored treatment plan. This might include topical agents, oral medications, or even laser therapy, depending on your specific condition's severity and nature.
DO Identify & Avoid Triggers: Give yourself time (and patience) to greater understand and avoid your personal rosacea triggers. I even suggest keeping a detailed journal of your daily activities, foods, and environmental exposures, so you can pinpoint what aggravates your rosacea.
DO Use Gentle Skincare: The cornerstone of rosacea care is gentle skincare. Products formulated for sensitive skin that are free from alcohol, camphor, fragrance, and other irritants are less likely to provoke rosacea symptoms. For example, I love using a gentle cleanser and a moisturizer rich in ingredients like ceramides, to help maintain the skin's barrier function and reduce irritation. When you are starting from an intact skin barrier, many conditions including rosacea are easier to manage.
DO Use Sun Protection: Daily application of broad-spectrum sunscreen is essential for anyone (but especially if you have rosacea). I suggest opting for mineral-based sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which offer broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Tint is also helpful as it helps to protect from Visible Light specifically. Make sure to reapply sunscreen throughout the day and add a hat or visor when you can!
Do Find Ways To Manage Stress: Believe it or not, stress can significantly impact rosacea, potentially leading to exacerbation of symptoms. This is one of the many reasons I started incorporating self-care practices like meditation and journaling into my daily routine. It’s a bit harder to reduce acute stressful events but when I start to get that anxious feeling, I try my best to breathe through it, but this is one of my personal triggers! See photos of my skin below after particularly stressful events.
Do Keep a Skincare Journal: Similar to tracking what diet and lifestyle choices, I love keeping track of the skincare products/ingredients that work for your skin (and the ones that don’t). I will attach some of my favorite rosacea friendly products below:
Don'ts for Managing Rosacea
Don’t Use Harsh Skincare/Skin Techniques: Full disclosure, I am not a fan of scrubbing or using abrasive exfoliants for anybody, but especially if you have rosacea. This can disrupt the skin’s barrier, leading to increased sensitivity and flare-ups. Focus on gentle cleansing techniques that do not compromise the skin's integrity, preserving its natural protective barrier.
Don’t Overdo it With Alcohol, Caffeine, & Spicy Foods: For many individuals with rosacea, alcohol, coffee and spicy foods are known to induce rosacea symptoms by causing blood vessels to dilate and the skin to flush. Again, the amount your body can tolerate will be different from person to person, but I highly suggest approaching these mindfully.
Don’t Stay In Overheated Environments: Heat is a known rosacea trigger. Saunas, heated workouts, or even sitting in a hot car would cause a flare up. Heat can exacerbate rosacea by increasing blood flow to the skin's surface. This also includes washing your face with hot water (opt for lukewarm instead),steamy showers, a beach day. Basically, I am always trying to keep my skin on the cooler end. I love to keep a cool water bottle or ice roller on me to help cool the skin down!
I hope this makes you realize that there are absolutely steps that can be taken (and avoided ) to get a handle on Rosacea! I am hoping to put together some more blogs and videos covering your rosacea questions. Please DM me any rosacea topics and questions you want me to cover!
Hungry for more? Check out my Comprehensive Skincare Guide in the Skinthusiast Shop!
**Disclaimer: This post does not constitute medical advice. Please speak to your Dermatology provider before adding any at home procedures or products into your routine!
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