Rosacea is a pesky skin condition that many people struggle to get under control. Flare-ups lead to skin irritations, and there are all sorts of reasons your skin will break out. The big problem is that there are few products that will help to calm down the flare-ups, so you can find yourself having to wait out the issue; allowing the skin to calm down on its own.
You want to look your best. You want to get rid of the constant itching and rashes forming. It’s time to find the best ways to look after your skin and avoid the flare-ups that can happen. Be proactive and preventative, instead of dealing with it after the fact.
Here are 12 Tips to Handle Rosacea
Know Your Triggers
Everyone has a different set of triggers. For some, there are certain ingredients in moisturizers that cause flare-ups, while others will find a certain type of makeup is the issue.
One of the problems with this tip is that it involves some trial and error. You need to take time to figure out what is making your flare-ups worse, and this can mean suffering from bouts as you work your way through your list.
Start by taking all the skin care products and any ingredients that potentially cause your rosacea to get worse out of your daily routine. Just stop using it all and give your skin chance to heal. Once your skin has healed, you’re ready to start adding products back in. Only add them in one at a time and give your skin a few days of normal use. If there are no flare-ups, then you’ll likely find the product is good for the long-term. If there are flare-ups, you know it’s a product on your banned list.
If all your usual products are a problem, you may need to find others that work instead. This will involve checking out the ingredients and finding common problems. Look out for those common problem ingredients in other skin care products and avoid them in the future.
When trying a new product, only ever use it on a small part of the skin. This will help to avoid the breakout. If there is any stinging or redness, even without full flare-ups, it’s a product that is irritating, and you should avoid.
Remember that your triggers may not be skincare product related. Some people with rosacea will suffer from food flare-ups or lifestyle causing issues.
Keep a journal of all foods you eat and the way you feel. Make a note of hormonal imbalances, medication changes, and any products you use on the skin and hair. While you can’t possibly identify every single trigger, you can get to the bottom of most them.
Avoid Anything that Dries Out the Skin
There are high chances that your skin is already dry. If you make it any drier, it will become more irritated. Flare-ups are more likely, even if you don’t use products that make it worse!
It’s time to look at products that dry out the skin so that you can avoid them. Watch out for anything that contains alcohol, ethanol, or anything else that ends in “now.” There are also some essential oils that you’ll want to use, including peppermint.
Switch out the witch hazel and eucalyptus oil for something that is more healing to dry skin. Yes, even natural products can cause problems for your skin.
Try adding more moisturizers to your skin. Look out for deeply conditioning oils like olive or almond to help add extra hydration to your skin. While you may not completely overcome your irritated skin, you can at least prevent flakiness and avoid the skin completely drying out.
Avoid Fragrances Completely
Fragrance or parfum is commonly added to the list of ingredients. You need to avoid them. You should avoid them anyway for the health of your skin, but those with rosacea are more at risk of issues.
Fragrances and perfumes are full of ingredients that you don’t know about. Companies get away with adding hundreds of chemicals and toxins without having to tell you because they’re part of a “secret recipe.” Yes, it’s completely legal, and it’s totally annoying for those looking out for specific ingredients. There are chances that ingredients in the fragrances or parfums are making your flare-ups worse.
It’s much easier to just avoid anything with either of these two “ingredients.” You’ll avoid chemicals and toxins that dry out, burn, or poison the skin. Formaldehyde is something added to these ingredients, and you know that’s bad for you!
Make Sure You Use Sunscreen Daily
Sunscreen is your best friend. It’s everyone’s best friend, but it’s yours.
Sun is a trigger for many people with rosacea. Of course, you can’t avoid the sun, and you don’t want to. The sun offers a range of health benefits, including for the mental health, which is often affected by skin irritations and conditions. So, you want to find something that will protect your sun from the harmful rays, so you get all the benefits.
That means using sunscreen. It is the best protection, and the right type of sunscreen will not block your pores! Look out for those that are oil-free if you’re very worried about pore blocking and acne-producing bacteria.
Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are certainly the best options for your skin’s health. They’re not chemical, which means no nasty toxins being added to the skin. Although some chemical-based sunscreens can be good, many will irritate the skin further. It will depend on your triggers and flare-ups. This is something to test during the first tip!
Don’t quickly apply your sunscreen. Being rough on your skin, even with a good product, has the problem of further irritating your skin. You cause micro tears, which can become infected and problematic.
Whatever type of sunscreen you choose to use, make sure it doesn’t include the ingredient “fragrance” and avoid “parfum.” It’s also worth looking out for sunscreens that are labeled “hypoallergenic.” They are much softer on the skin, so are less likely to cause irritation and flare-ups.
Make sure you put on the sunscreen every day, even if you think you’re only going out for a few minutes. Apply it 20 minutes before you go out in the sun and reapply it throughout the day.
Find a Moisturiser that Deeply Hydrates Your Skin
While avoiding products that dry out the skin, you also want to find those that deeply hydration your skin. Moisturising is the best way to avoid rosacea flare-ups.
However, you can’t just use any moisturizing cream you find. Look out for those that offer some barrier or help to repair the skin. Creams with ceramides are often the best. Ceramides are created naturally in your skin. They’re proteins within the fatty layers that help to prevent the skin losing moisture. Adding more to your skin will help you prevent further moisture loss throughout the day.
Make sure you avoid lotions as much as possible. They tend to include chemicals that dry out the skin, rather than hydrate it!
You can also make your moisturising cream. Natural ingredients can help to avoid toxins, but make sure they’re not foods that cause a flare up in your diet.
Whatever type of moisturizing cream you use, try to keep the ingredients simple. The lesser, the better. There’s less chance of the ingredients working together to cause flare-ups of your skin condition. Also look out for hypoallergenic, fragrance-free creams.
Use your moisturizing cream on a night to deeply nourish during the period that your skin repairs. You should also use it on a morning after cleansing your face and before doing your makeup.
Keep Water Warm Not Hot
Cold water is better for your skin, but there are chances that you don’t want to shower in it! Do try to turn down the heat though.
Hot showers may feel relaxing, but they are a common trigger for those with rosacea. The heat of the water will cause the body temperature to rise. This leads to people suffering from dehydrated skin, as it sweats to get the body temperature back down.
Opt for warm water instead. This will help to relax your muscles but will offer some nourishment and help for your skin. Use the warm water for all washing, including when washing your face or soaking your feet!
Avoid Scrubbing Your Skin
The gentle touch is the best touch. Avoid any rubbing away at your skin, as they will cause tears that lead to irritation. You’ll also find that you make flare-ups worse.
It’s not just about rubbing hard with your hands. You want to avoid exfoliating products, including loafers and bath scrubs. Use soft washcloths but do listen to your skin. Sometimes they can be too much for your sensitive skin.
Sticking with your hands is often the best option. You can control just how much pressure you put on and avoid any scratchy, irritating materials.
When it comes to drying yourself, always pat your skin dry. Use a soft towel and avoid rubbing it.
Using creams, medication, and makeup can be problematic. Don’t do it in a rush, as you’re more likely to apply with force. Also, use plenty of the creams, so you’re not trying to spread little moisture around the whole body. You want to allow your hands to glide effortlessly over your skin.
Opt for a Mineral-Based Makeup
Makeup is one of the biggest problems for those with rosacea. While it can hide the signs, there are chemicals that leave the skin irritated and dry. You’ll need to find a way to get the best of both worlds.
The best way to do this is using mineral-based makeup. Look out for foundations that have silicone. The makeup will remain moist and create a barrier over your skin. It’s harder for the daily impurities to get into your pores. Always use a primer or base before applying foundation to help avoid it getting into your pores.
The color of your makeup can also affect the irritation. Yellow and green based makeup tend to be better for hiding the redness. They work against the natural red within your skin!
Avoid liquids where possible. Liquid foundations are more likely to get into the pores and clog them. You want a powdered option that you can gently apply to your face.
Use a soft application brush to put it on your face. A harsh applicator will cause the same problem as scrubs when you’re washing your skin!
Don’t Forget the Rest of Your Skin
It’s common to pay attention to your face. This is the part of the body that most people will see. It’s the part of the body that makes the first impression. But your rosacea is going to affect more than just your face. You need to remember about the sensitive skin around the rest of your body. Leaving the rest of your body will cause flare-ups, imbalanced hormones, and then create problems for your face!
Follow all the tips above that you would for your face for the rest of your body too! It’s an easy skin care tip to overlook, especially when it comes to your back or butt.
Avoid Acne Treatment Cleaners
Rosacea can often appear as acne. You may decide to use an acne treatment first, especially when it comes to cleansers. You want to get rid of the rash and irritation as soon as possible. However, you’ll find that it gets worse. That’s because while it looks like acne, it’s not.
Acne medication is full of chemicals that will dry out the skin. They also include ingredients like salicylic acid and retinoids that can irritate the skin further.
You want to look out for fragrance-free, mineral-based cleansers that are suitable for sensitive skin. Look out for those labeled hypoallergenic, like you would with other skin care products on the list.
Avoid scrubs and use a cotton wool pad with your cleanser to get rid of the grime.
Don’t be afraid to try products. Just use them on a small area first and see how your skin reacts.
Keep the Routine as Simple as Possible
Don’t add too many products to your skincare routine. While there are 12-step programs to cleanse and nourish your face, you want to put as little on your sensitive skin as possible.
If you are thinking about adding a new product to your skin care routine, consider whether it’s really necessary. What are you replacing with it? Is there something that you’ve recently taken out that you want to add back in?
You know you need a cleanser and a moisturizer, but do you need the toner and the exfoliating scrub? The chances are that you don’t, and the additional products are just going to cause a flare-up.
It’s also worth trying to cut back on the amount you use some of your products. Have a makeup-free day now and then and cleanse your pores completely. Allow your skin to go chemical free for a full day, especially if you’re going through a flare-up.
Avoid the Facials
While facials are considered good for your skin care routine, you want to avoid them as much as possible. Most facials will involve micro-dermabrasion and chemical peels. They’re the type of treatments that pull away layers of the skin or cause some irritation. Your skin will be left feeling worse than it started.
The only type of facials you want to use are those that hydrate and nourish. Even then you want to look at the ingredients and consider the necessities of them. Even natural facials can lead to flare-ups of your condition.
If you’re not too sure about a type of treatment, talk to your dermatologist. They will be able to offer the best types of facials actually to improve the health of your skin.
It’s Time to Combat Rosacea
Rosacea is annoying. It’s one of those pesky conditions that looks just as bad as it feels. You can end up embarrassed by the redness or may find yourself feeling trapped inside to avoid people staring. It’s time to combat your skin condition completely.
The above tips will help to reduce the flare-ups and protect your skin. There are also options to help cover up your flare-ups while you wait for the problem to disappear.
While following them, don’t forget to talk to your dermatologist. Get to the bottom of your flare-ups and find out more about the type of products you’re using. As you figure out why you have it, you can take steps to avoid it completely!
