Skincare is one of those things in life that is hard to get right, but when you do, the effort pays off. The right products and routine can help keep skin clear and healthy, and nothing boosts your confidence like clear skin.
For those of us with rosacea, it can feel like an uphill battle. If you’re experiencing red dry patches and irritated skin, it can seem like nothing out there can help. But, with the right products and lifestyle changes, rosacea can not only be managed, but you could even greatly improve the look and feel of your skin.
How do you know if you’ve got rosacea? Here are the most common symptoms:
- Red patches across the nose and cheeks
- A hot, burning or stinging sensation
- Broken blood vessels
- Dry patches
- Redness that comes and goes or redness that’s permanent
Here at Face Dr, our experts have helped hundreds of clients find the right products and routines to build the perfect skincare routine for them. While in-clinic treatments are great for fast results, the perfect skincare routine can help to manage rosacea long-term and ensure daily comfort and redness-free complexion. Here are our top tips for doing just that.
Tip 1: Figure out your triggers
If your rosacea comes and goes, there’s probably a few triggers out there that cause a flare up. And if you have permanent redness, you may find some things make it much worse. Invest some time in figuring out these triggers. Most of the time, it’s something you could easily avoid with some lifestyle changes. The best way to do this is by keeping a diary and making a note of days when your rosacea feels or looks worse and what you did differently that day in your diet or everyday routine.
The most common triggers for rosacea are:
- Certain foods
You should also pay attention to how your skin reacts after spicy food, dairy, gluten and anything else you may have an intolerance to.
- Certain drinks
Unfortunately our habitual morning coffee and evening glass of wine may be the culprit in triggering rosacea as caffeine and alcohol are common triggers. Try cutting them out and see if you notice a difference in the look and feel of your skin.
- Harsh skincare products
Did you know that skincare products themselves could be a trigger for rosacea? If you’re trying a new product, especially something with new or strong ingredients, be sure to do a patch test first and check for irritation before applying to your face and areas of rosacea.
- Heat
Hot temperatures can also be a trigger. In your skincare routine, be sure to avoid using hot water, when washing your face or in the shower, for example. Instead, turn the temperature down to warm. If you find heat is a trigger for you, you should avoid saunas and steam rooms that could make rosacea worse, too.
Tip 2: Choose the right everyday skincare products
As the products you use could be a trigger for rosacea, it’s more important than ever to choose high-quality and gentle products that won’t aggravate the skin. Opt for a cream cleanser—never soap—and a cream moisturiser. Everything should be hypoallergenic and fragrance free, too.
Be wary of ingredients like witch hazel and eucalyptus oil, which could dry out the skin, and avoid ingredients that could irritate already inflamed skin, like retinoids and alcohols.
Tip 3: Be gentle on your skin
This not only applies to the products you chose, but how you use them. Make sure you’re applying products in a gentle way. Use warm water instead of hot water, and wash and dry your skin with a soft washcloth and towel. Try to avoid rubbing the skin and instead gently pat your face dry.
Avoid harsh products too, not only harsh ingredients. Toners, chemical peels and exfoliators can irritate rosacea-prone skin, so you should either skip these steps entirely or speak with a skincare professional who can advise you on whether to include them in your skincare routine or not. Some people can tolerate them, it all depends on your skin and severity of rosacea.
Tip 4: Invest in high-quality serums to treat rosacea
As well as your everyday skincare routine of cleansing and moisturising, you can look into products specifically designed to treat rosacea and as an added step. Serums are a great place to start.
Many serums include powerful ingredients that can help reduce the look of redness, calm inflammation and soothe hot and burning skin. Simply add a few drops to your morning and evening.
Products to try:
ZO Skin Health Rozatrol: a serum designed specifically to treat rosacea with natural extracts that soothe the skin and reduce the look of redness. Get in touch at hello@myfacedr.com for information on pricing.
iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum: a serum designed to activate your skin’s natural healing process with vitamins and antioxidants. £72
Tip 5: Use sunscreen everyday
This tip will most likely appear on every article about skincare advice, but that’s because it’s an important one that many of us skip. Be sure to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least a SPF of 30 all year round, even on overcast days.
Look for a sunscreen that uses a physical blocker, instead of chemical blockers, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. As with skincare products, fragrances are not your friend.
The sun can trigger a rosacea flare up for some people, so it’s even more important to watch how long you’re spending in direct sunlight and seek shade or cover up if you can.
Products to try:
iS Clinical Extreme Protect SPF 30: a soothing sunscreen with vitamin E and aloe as well as sun protection. £66.
ZO Skin Health Broad Spectrum SPF 50: a lightweight sunscreen that protects your skin from UVA, UVB, infrared rays and high-energy visible light. Get in touch at hello@myfacedr.com for information on pricing.
Need more skincare advice?
Skincare is tricky to get right, so why not get an expert opinion on it. Our skin experts have years of experience helping clients find the right skincare products for them. You can book a free online skincare consultation to get personalised skincare tips and product recommendations from our team.
We only ever recommend high-grade products that give real results, so you can be confident in what you’re putting on your skin. We can also help you build an entire skincare routine dedicated to tackling rosacea, as well as any other skincare concerns you might have.