The Best Rosacea Treatment: Products & Skincare Routine
“Nature’s own blusher” as it sometimes gets called, rosacea is something many of us have – particularly as we get older. If you’re looking for a dermatologist-approved rosacea treatment that can help treat your redness and bumps, then you’re in the right place.
Clarins consulted with two leading experts, Dr
What is rosacea?
Does your skin get red when you step out of the shower or feel tight when you’re exposed to hot and freezing weather? Does it react after applying certain skincare products or eating spicy foods – and do you blush strongly when you feel emotional?
If you have constantly rosy cheeks, chances are you have rosacea. People with rosacea are prone to persistent blushing or flushing in the face. The chronic skin condition
“Rosacea is most commonly characterised by background inflammation (affecting the forehead, nose, cheeks, chin), some patients also experience spots or bumps in the centre portion of the face,” Dr Ahmed explains. “Ongoing inflammation can lead to facial oedema (facial swelling) and a feeling of dryness,” she adds. “Burning, stinging, and flushing are also reported by people with rosacea.”
The
“Rosacea can be difficult to diagnose in the skin of colour or deeply pigmented skin. The reason for this is the widely recognised symptoms of ‘flushing’ or ‘redness’ look different in pigmented skin,” explains Dr Ahmed.
For those of us with melanin-rich skin, rosacea will not look ‘red’ or ‘flushed’, but is more likely to look dusky or have a violet tone in deeply pigmented skin or appear to have yellow or brown bumps.
“Discolouration may develop in areas of inflammation,” notes Dr Ahmed. “If rosacea is diagnosed later or with more severe symptoms, there is a higher chance that there will be added issues like hyperpigmentation or changes to skin texture.”
What are the symptoms of rosacea?
Signs and symptoms of rosacea include:
1. Sensitive skin (i.e., sensitive or reacts easily to skincare products)
2. Feelings of burning, stinging or hot/warm skin
3. Feelings of dryness or oiliness in the skin
4. Pus-filled spots/pimples (acne-like breakouts)
5. Skin can feel ‘swollen’ or ‘thick’ and it may differ in texture from unaffected areas
6. Persistent facial redness
7. Small blood vessels in the skin become visible.
Dr Ahmed adds, “One of the more severe presentations of rosacea is where the skin around the nose thickens and can cause changes to its shape. While ocular rosacea can present with symptoms of itching, a burning or sore feeling, excessive tearing, or dry eyes, feeling of grit in the eyes, sensitivity to light and ulceration in severe cases.”
What causes rosacea?
The root causes of rosacea are not fully understood, but they can include immune dysregulation, neurovascular changes, microbial imbalance, and genetics (rosacea often runs in families).
“Rosacea is a female predominant condition; this may be due to female hormone imbalances acting as triggers. Triggers for rosacea are implicated in the pathophysiology (e.g., microbes, UV radiation, extremes of temperature, epidermal disruption, stress, and hormones),” says Dr Ahmed.
A study by the National Rosacea Society identified the following triggers: UV exposure (81%), emotional stress (79%), hot weather (75%), wind (57%), intense physical exercise (56%), alcohol consumption (52%), hot baths (51%). Other, less common triggers include chilly weather (46%), spicy foods (45%), humidity (44%), skincare products (41%), hot drinks (36%), cosmetics (27%), medicines (15%), and medical conditions (15%).
You can’t prevent yourself from suffering from rosacea but acting upon your triggers can make all the difference.
Rosacea skincare routine
There are a plethora of rosacea treatments to help ease its symptoms. While the best rosacea treatment is often considered medical treatment, a good rosacea skincare routine will also help you get rid of this problem. The best rosacea skincare regimen should do two things: calm and camouflage inflamed skin.
The routine typically includes gentle cleansers to wash the face, mineral sunscreen, and light moisturisers.
1. Cleanser for Rosacea
Charlotte McHale, Clarins Training Manager, recommends starting your beauty routine with a
“It is tailored for people with weakened and compromised skin like rosacea.
You can use the corrective gel in the morning, as this can soothe inflamed skin and be used as an excellent primer thanks to the greenish gel that counteracts the crimson on the skin.
2.Serum for Rosacea
Having rosacea can make skin feel dry, which leads some people to over-moisturise and aggravate inflammation. Dr Ahmed advises people with rosacea to pick fragrance-free and non-comedogenic formulas. Supporting the skin barrier is important too – look for serums and light creams with hydrating qualities.
Dr Ahmed says: “Consider adding in Vitamin C and Azelaic acid to your skincare regime. Skin with rosacea can be sensitive or irritated easily, therefore introduces products slowly over time. Avoid highly fragranced products as they can cause skin reactions and aggravate rosacea.” Clarins
She adds, “I see many patients with rosacea, their treatment is usually on a spectrum ranging from no treatment to skincare only, to skincare + medical treatment, to medical treatment only. The type of rosacea and associated symptoms will typically dictate the treatment options.”
3. Moisturiser for Rosacea
Clarins recommends the fragrance-free and non-greasy
The key plant active ingredient in the range is clary sage extract, which Clarins Laboratories, in collaboration with research institutes, has clinically proven to reduce skin sensitivity to irritants. In addition, vegetable squalene reinforces and protects the skin. Both soothe, repair, and hydrate sensitive skin, increasing its tolerance.
Overall, similar to a serum, moisturiser products for rosacea should also be lightweight, considering the skin-repairing ingredients.
4. Sun protection for Rosacea
Use of moisturisers and UV protection showed beneficial effects for rosacea. So, make sure to never skip applying
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