April is National Rosacea Awareness Month. So I will be taking you on a deep dive to help you understand rosacea, what it looks like, its common triggers, and how to treat rosacea.
Rosacea is sometimes confused with acne because it often shows on the skin as inflammation and redness on the nose, forehead, cheekbones, or chin. Rosacea appears red and blotchy because it is a vascular skin condition, meaning it involves the blood circulation in your skin.
Rosacea is a hereditary condition and is predominant in a person of light skin and western European descent.
There are 4 subtypes of rosacea:
#1 Erythema-Telangiectatic: is characterized by redness and flushing on the nose, cheeks, chin, or forehead.The skin might have a dry or rough texture. The redness may come and go
#2 Papulopustular: Has large acne-like papules and pustules with surrounding redness.
#3 Ocular: Effects the eyes and eyelids. Styes and thickening and reddening of the eyelid skin, and redness of the eyes are common.
#4 Phymatous: Caused by swelling in the nose and growth of cartilage in the nose.
Rosacea is sort of a mystery. No one knows what causes it, but there are some theories: genetics, circulation, digestive disorders, lymphatic system, bacteria attached to cells.
While the cause of rosacea is unknown there are several environmental factors that that can aggravate acne rosacea:
Indoor Heat
Alcohol
Sunlight or wind
Cosmetics
Extreme temperatures
Spicy Foods
Caffeine
Cigarettes
Exercise
Stress
Hot baths
Heated beverages
Now, I know that you need some of these triggers to live. I just want you to be mindful of these triggers and avoid them when you can.
The treatment:
Having rosacea can only be confirmed by a physician, preferably a dermatologist. However, as an esthetician, I can offer treatments to help soothe erythema-telangiectatic (subtype 1). I have a treatment and home care regimen for rosacea that works incredibly well for those with papulopustular rosacea (subtype 2).
The basics for caring for rosacea skin include:
1.Using a gentle, non-stripping cleanser such as Ultra Gentle Cleanser that contains soothing green tea.
2.Use a non-alcoholic toner such as Calming facial toner that contains ingredients with soothing, hydrating and moisturizing properties.
3.AHA and BHA exfoliates such as Salicylic Acid should be used with caution because they help rosacea as long as you're not having a flare-up.
4. Use an anti-red serum such as Hydrabalance because they help reduce redness and soothes rosacea flushing.
5. A hydrating moisturizer is critical, like clearderma.
6. Lastly, you can't forget your sunscreen. Using a sunscreen such as SPF 28 contains zinc oxide, which helps to bounce sun rays away from the skin, preventing extra heat in the skin. Your sunscreen should be fragrance-free, lightweight, and non-comedogenic.
At this time, there is no cure for rosacea, but the key is to keep your rosacea from progressing is to be proactive by treating it now and avoiding rosacea flare-ups.
Ready to breakup with acne rosacea? I'm here to help you discover your specific triggers and create a treatment plan for you to get your rosacea under control, often times with only 2 or 3 treatments within 4 to 6 weeks.
You will need to spend five minutes each morning and night, applying a few reasonably priced home care products to your face. This is a small price to pay when you consider the alternatives. If you have tried other remedies for rosacea without success, my rosacea treatment may be the answer for you. Get started HERE.