Rosacea: helpful tips!
These skincare tips and tricks will help keep your Rosacea at bay, especially during the summer months!
Everyone has skin concerns that they have either asked their GP about or have consulted on the Internet. The answers you come across can be hard to understand. Skin concerns like acne, hyperpigmentation, fine line and wrinkles can be treated both professionally and at home with the correct advice and ingredients.
Rosacea is a skin concern that affects a lot of people from a young age and can worsen when left untreated over time. It is the flushed look of the skin, most common on the face, where the blood vessels are visible. It is not contagious and can sometimes give a stinging sensation when using water or skincare products.
Now, more than ever, GPs will prescribe a variety of treatments to help the issue, but like everything, sometimes it doesn't work. So we've looked into a few at-home tips and tricks to help tackle this skin concern so you can skip the trial and error period.
Gentle cleansers
Cleansing the face is a fundamental step in any skincare routine as it cleans the skin from bacteria from the outside world or any leftover products that haven't sunken into the skin. It is important to use a gentle, non-comedogenic cleanser that won't further irritate your skin or the rosacea. 3 gentle cleansers that I have tried and tested are:
- Cetaphil Skin Cleanser - This product has no soap or fragrance in it so it is perfect for sensitive skin.
- CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser - perfect for repairing the skin barrier whilst being very mild and gentle on the skin.
- Simple Pure Soap Bar - specifically made for sensitive skin, this product enables you to wash away all the bad stuff without stripping the skin of its natural skin barrier.
SPF 30 or ABOVE!
Protecting your skin from harmful UV rays which would only further irritate your skin and cause redness, is a very important habit to get into if you suffer from Rosacea. Even if your moisturiser has SPF in it, adding more SPF on top can only add an extra layer of protection - year-round! I would suggest an SPF of 30 or higher ensure you're giving your skin the best protection!
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid (HA) should be a staple product in your skincare routine as it provides hydration and draws in moisture to keep the skin supple and youthful. Although it's in the name, it's not considered an 'acid' as the product itself is classed as a carbohydrate and doesn't irritate the skin. It can help increase skin hydration by drawing moisture from other products you add on top and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It's important to apply HA correctly to see its benefits. To do so, make sure your skin is damp before applying, so it has a lubricant to draw the moisture from, and then apply moisturisers on top to lock in the hydrating goodness and give an extra layer of moisture to draw from.
Less is more
If you suffer from Rosacea there's a good chance that your skin is always on high alert, so it's best to also actively avoid products that contain ingredients that will irritate sensitive skin. Ingredients like:
● alcohol
● menthol
● witch hazel
● exfoliating agents
If you've watched many skincare routines and seen the 5, 6, and 7 products they use - it doesn't mean you have to have that many steps too. Less really is more when it comes to protecting your skin barrier and preventing any harmful products from further irritating sensitive skin.
Although it hasn't been determined if there is a cure for Rosacea, there are ways in which you can control any flare-ups, further irritation or redness caused. Rosacea can affect everyone differently and it can take time and effort to find ways to keep it at bay, but hopefully, these four tips can help when it comes to looking for skincare products during your next shopping trip.