Rosacea can be challenging to say the least. If you have issues with it, you’re not alone. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are over 15 million Americans that are affected by rosacea every year! We’ve compiled our top 4 tips for dealing with this common skin condition.
#1 Avoid your triggers
Triggers for people suffering from rosacea can be anything from chocolate to wine to the sun. You will be the best judge as to what causes irritation and subsequent redness. For a lot of people, “dairy products and wine can make rosacea worse” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Amy Paul. “Try to avoid things that can trigger inflammation.” While we all love a glass of wine or an occasional dessert, if these things are your triggers, it’s best to avoid them as much as possible to avoid irritating your skin.
#2 Stay out of the sun
It’s nearly impossible to avoid sun exposure, but you can reduce how much of your skin is exposed to it. A great habit is to start using a broad-spectrum sunscreen everyday with an SPF of at least 30. We recommend using EltaMD’s UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 for morning application and Colorescience’s Sunforgettable (SPF 50) for re-application. You might not like to re-apply sunscreen, but if you suffer from rosacea, it’s a must.
#3 Visit a board-certified dermatologist
It’s really pretty easy to book an appointment to see a dermatologist. As a person that has a medical degree plus an additional 4+ years of residency, dermatologists are the go-to experts with skin conditions. The American Academy of Dermatology is a good resource to find a physician in your area. Any time you visit a physician, make sure they are board-certified. There are a lot of people that pass off trying to be something they are not. An easy way to do this is to visit the website certification matters and look up the physician you intend to see.
#4 Use anti-inflammatory based skincare
According to Dr. Amy Paul, “rosacea is caused by chronic inflammation,” so using skincare to help reduce inflammation is a no brainer. Medical grade skincare allows you to know what you are getting. It tends to be a bit more expensive, but you know what your are getting when you purchase these products. Besides, you are worth it : )
When using cleansers, make sure they calm your skin vs just cleansing. A light salicylic or glycolic based cleanser that is pH balanced is a good choice. Many over the counter soaps are harsh and dry out your skin. Avoiding them is a smart move.
The next step is to use a serum that matches the condition you are trying to treat. Many serums lack the required levels of anti-inflammatory substances to make a difference. Look to medical grade products as they have measurable levels (of anti-inflammatory substances) and proven efficacy of use. Moisturizers are next on the list and you will need something that is non-comedogenic and has substances like niacin, azelaic acid, or zinc (all of which will help soothe your skin).
As we mentioned above sunscreen is a must. Broad-spectrum sunscreens block most of the UVA & UVB rays, which are the ones that cause most of the damage. Not sure where to start looking for all of these products? A good place to start is to use our skin care quiz which will create a personalized skin care regimen just for you. Try it out! It’s free and takes 5 minutes.
To helping you with rosacea,
Team Reflect
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