Skincare tips for rosacea

While it’s true that there is no known cure for rosacea, thankfully, there are effective ways to keep it at bay. Dr Sajjad Rajpar explores treatments that can help keep your symptoms under control.

Many people mistake it for sunburn or hot flushes, but over time, it’s likely to worsen as visible blood vessels or acne-type bumps appear.

During those early stages, you’ll probably find you can pass off or camouflage the tell-tale signs with makeup. However, once it develops and becomes more obvious, masking it with a bit of foundation is no longer an option and further treatment is needed.

Top skincare tips for rosacea and product recommendations

There are a few basics to remember when it comes to skincare. First, it’s important only to use gentle formulations and avoid anything that may irritate the skin because the bottom line is that rosacea-prone skin is super sensitive.

Recent studies have explained this. Science has shown that the skin barrier in rosacea does not function properly. The skin barrier is the first line of defence of the skin and keeps the outside out and water in. A poor skin barrier leads to:

• Dehydration from increased water loss
• Severe dryness
• Sensitivity
• Increased pH

Tests have shown that in rosacea, the skin barrier is as poor in function as in other skin barrier conditions like eczema. Sensitive skin means the skin needs to be treated really gently. So you should:

Choose a gentle cleanser

A non-foaming formula doesn’t strip the skin of its natural oils, so it is kinder to your complexion. Use ones that are fragrance-free and labelled as suitable for sensitive skin.

• Cetaphil Pro Facial Wash
• Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser
• Avène Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser for Sensitive Skin 200ml

Use a gentle product to remove makeup

Similarly, use a very gentle product to remove makeup and sunscreen without disturbing the skin barrier. After removing makeup, consider double cleansing with a light moisturiser and water.

• Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm
• Toleriane Dermo Cleanser
• La Roche Posay Micellar Water for Ultra-Sensitive Skin

Use a soothing moisturiser

Lightweight, non-comedogenic products (that won’t clog or block the pores) will help hydrate and soothe irritated skin. Use a moisturiser once or twice a day, depending on how dry your skin.

• Cerave Moisturising Lotion
• La Roche-Posay Rosaliac Anti-Redness Light Cream
• Avene Hydrance Aqua Gel

Stick to one or two actives.

Don’t over-complicate your routine; stick to one or two “hero” ingredients and keep it simple. If your rosacea is mild, start with a 10% Azelaic acid product you can buy without a prescription. Other actives are best recommended on prescription.

• The ordinary Azelaic acid suspension
• Inkey List Redness Relief Solution with 10% Azelaic acid

Dampen the red using green colour tinted products to correct skin tone

A lot of green-based tinted products can help mask redness. They can be used alone or under foundation.

• Dr Jart’s Cicapair Tiger Grass Correcting Treatment
• Clinique Redness Solutions Day Relief Cream
• Eucerin AntiRedness Soothing Care Cream

Protect your skin from the sun

Sun exposure worsens rosacea symptoms, so protect your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply it every day all year round, whatever the weather.

• La Roche Posay Ulta Light invisible fluid (Plain or tinted)
• Heliocare 360 Oil-Free Gel
• Avene Antirougeurs Anti-Redness Soothing DAY Emulsion SPF 30

Back away from the irritants

Certain skincare ingredients can exacerbate rosacea symptoms, so avoiding them is important. These include alcohol, fragrances and exfoliants. This means its a NO to exfoliating scrubs, pads or masks. At home, chemical peels and acid treatment are also best avoided.

When to consult a dermatologist

If you find your symptoms challenging to manage or they start to affect your quality of life, then I would say that is the time to book a consultation with a dermatologist. A dermatologist can:

• Establish the correct diagnosis
• Adjust your skincare regime
• Recommend prescription creams such as Metrodizole, Super strength Azeleic acid and Ivermectin. At Midland Skin, we work closely with a pharmacist to build these ingredients one by one into a bespoke blend, creating a personalised topical treatment plan.
• Recommend oral medications such as oral antibiotics, Isotretinoin, and antiandrogens to that help reduce and control inflammation.
• Advise you on vascular laser and Broadband Light treatments to reduce redness, flushing and control inflammation
• Advise you on other treatments for flushing

Additional information

You can find out more about rosacea and medical treatments that can help this condition.

We also review the other causes of a red face.