How to Calm Rosacea and Prevent Flare-ups: Expert Advice
Discover effective ways to calm rosacea and prevent flare-ups. Get expert tips on managing triggers, maintaining a skincare routine, and finding relief from rosacea symptoms.
Understanding Rosacea: Causes and Triggers
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by redness, flushing, and visible blood vessels on the face. While the exact cause of rosacea is not fully understood, it is believed to be the result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Common triggers that can exacerbate rosacea symptoms and lead to flare-ups include sun exposure, stress, spicy foods, hot beverages, and changes in temperature or humidity. Understanding these triggers is the first step in managing rosacea effectively.
Developing a Gentle Skincare Routine
Individuals with rosacea need to be particularly mindful of their skincare routine. Using gentle, fragrance-free products and avoiding harsh cleansers, scrubs, and exfoliants is crucial. Look for products labeled as “non-comedogenic” and “sensitive skin-friendly” to minimize irritation.
Cleanse the skin gently, using lukewarm water and a soft, clean cloth. Avoid hot water, as it can further aggravate the skin. Moisturize regularly with a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer to help maintain the skin’s barrier and prevent dryness.
Managing Sun Exposure and Rosacea Flare-ups
Sun exposure is one of the most common triggers for rosacea flare-ups. To protect the skin, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and seek shade whenever possible. Opt for a mineral-based sunscreen, as they tend to be less irritating.
If you do experience a flare-up, try to stay indoors and avoid activities that can further aggravate the skin, such as exercise or exposure to heat. Apply a cold compress to the affected area to help reduce redness and inflammation.
Adjusting Diet and Lifestyle Factors
Certain dietary and lifestyle factors can also contribute to rosacea flare-ups. Spicy foods, hot beverages, alcohol, and stress are common culprits. Try to identify and avoid your personal triggers by keeping a food and activity journal.
Incorporate anti-inflammatory foods into your diet, such as omega-3-rich fish, leafy greens, and berries. Engaging in stress-reducing activities, such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises, can also help manage rosacea symptoms.
Seeking Medical Treatment for Severe Rosacea
In some cases, rosacea may require medical intervention. Dermatologists can prescribe topical creams, gels, or oral medications to help control inflammation, reduce redness, and prevent further flare-ups.
Newer treatments, such as JAK inhibitors, have shown promising results in managing certain types of rosacea. It’s important to work closely with your healthcare provider to develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific needs.
Embracing a Positive Outlook and Self-Care
Living with rosacea can be challenging, but maintaining a positive outlook and engaging in self-care practices can make a significant difference. Embrace your unique skin and focus on activities that bring you joy and comfort.
Remember, with the right approach and support, it is possible to effectively manage rosacea and minimize the impact of flare-ups on your daily life.
Insider Secrets for Calming Rosacea Flare-ups
Here are some insider secrets from dermatologists to help calm rosacea flare-ups:
- Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and avoid rubbing or scrubbing the skin.
- Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the affected area to reduce redness and inflammation.
- Incorporate soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredients like green tea, aloe vera, and chamomile into your skincare routine.
- Avoid harsh skincare products, hot showers, and other triggers that can exacerbate rosacea symptoms.
- Consider using a color-correcting green-tinted primer or foundation to help mask redness.
Remember, every individual’s rosacea experience is unique, so it’s important to work closely with your dermatologist to find the best management strategies for your specific needs.
How to prevent rosacea flare-ups
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Dermatologist’s Top Tips for Calming Rosacea Flare-Ups in the Winter
The winter season transforms the world into a glistening wonderland with softly falling snow and a festive feel that warms the soul. However, the winter season also brings along icy winds, chilly temperatures, and dry air that instigates skin flushing and triggers rosacea flare-ups.
Dealing with skin issues, like rosacea or eczema, in the winter can be a challenge. Not to mention, the constant redness and physical symptoms of rosacea can often be embarrassing and troublesome for those who have this chronic inflammatory condition.
Our experts at the Center for Surgical Dermatology have put together a few tips to help you better manage and calm rosacea flare-ups during the winter and chillier months.
Manage Stress Levels
Stress is a common trigger for not only rosacea but other skin conditions, like psoriasis and eczema. The colder months and holiday season can bring on a wave of stress, further inflaming rosacea symptoms.
It’s essential to find effective stress management techniques and relaxation strategies, such as meditation or reading a good book, to help keep stress levels low and rosacea flare-ups at bay.
Keep it Cool
Blazing indoor fires, hot drinks, steamy baths, shoveling the driveway, and even a hot kitchen after baking yummy cookies can overheat the body and aggravate rosacea symptoms.
Make sure to take breaks to cool down and give your steaming drinks a minute to cool off before diving in. Even a little surge of heat can be a trigger for people with rosacea!
Avoid Certain Foods to Reduce Rosacea Flare-Ups
Did you know several foods trigger rosacea flare-ups — especially in the winter when symptoms are already aggravated? Try to avoid the foods listed below to reduce the chances of a troublesome flare-up:
- Alcohol
- Spicy Foods
- Hot Beverages
- Dairy
- Chocolate
Add Moisture to the Air
Dry air — inside and outside — will often exacerbate rosacea symptoms and flare-ups. Make sure to keep the air inside your home and in your workspace moisturized with a humidifier. Not only does this help calm the skin, but moisturizing is also an essential skincare step to keeping your skin healthy, hydrated, and youthful!
Protect Your Skin
Keeping your skin shielded from the chilly temperatures and icy winds is crucial to reducing inflammation and redness. Bundle up in light layers that simultaneously allow your skin to breathe but also keep it protected.
Additionally, don’t forget to cover your face! Use a thick scarf or ski mask to prevent flushing and drying.
Know Your Triggers
It’s essential to know and respect your triggers! Finding out what sets off your rosacea flare-ups and avoiding those triggering factors can help keep your rosacea in check during the winter months.
If you aren’t sure what your rosacea triggers are, try keeping a journal where you can track what types of winter activities, foods, or factors seem to be related to your symptom flares.
Follow Your Doctor’s Recommendations
If you find your rosacea symptoms and flare-ups getting worse with every winter season, it may be time to visit a doctor for a professional treatment plan and recommendations. At the Center for Surgical Dermatology, our board-certified dermatologists are here to help you find an effective rosacea treatment plan to make sure to stay happy and comfortable during the winter!
Additionally, at our offices, we offer several prescription topical treatments to help mitigate symptoms of eczema! Take a look at our skincare brands here. For a more thorough evaluation, schedule an appointment today.
Center for Surgical Dermatology is ready to help you achieve healthy, beautiful skin! If you’d like to visit with a dermatologist to develop your perfect skincare routine or need help addressing eczema, call (614) 847-4100 to schedule an appointment.
how to relieve redness and soothe the skin
Choosing the right care for skin with rosacea can sometimes be a real challenge. Indeed, even during the period of remission, this disease can provoke a sharp skin reaction in the form of redness, inflammation or itching. Skin with rosacea instantly “flares up”, but this is not a death sentence. At such moments, it is important not to give up and remember that in addition to treatment, skin with rosacea also needs proper care: gentle cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection. Funds for each of these stages are in the collection Rosacellin LIBREDERM , designed specifically for skin with rosacea and couperose.
STEP 1. Cleansing
The skin should be cleansed twice a day: morning and evening. The cleanser should be gentle and not irritate your skin, but at the same time clean it well from sebum, makeup and impurities. Opt for cleansers for sensitive and reactive skin. Gentle Rosacellin LIBREDERM facial wash for skin with rosacea is based on a cleansing bio-complex of plant origin. It gently removes impurities and make-up from the skin without overdrying. Clinically proven active ingredients provide a moisturizing and soothing effect. Does not contain soap and sulfates, does not irritate the eyes.
ROSACELLIN GENTLE FOAM WASH 160 ML
add to cart
STEP 2. care
Toning care
Restore pH the skin after washing and prepare it for the application of care products will help the soothing tonic-gel Rosacellin LIBREDERM. Upon contact with the skin, the product changes texture, turning from a gel into a liquid tonic. The innovative technology at the heart of the formula allows you to dose the beneficial components into the skin for a long time, thereby achieving a prolonged effect. The composition of the product includes caffeine, which has a vasoconstrictive effect, and a prebiotic to maintain a healthy skin microflora.
Basic care. Day
Moisturize your skin whether you have dry or oily skin. Rosacellin LIBREDERM SPF30 Soothing Day Cream has a unique formula containing a vascular growth factor blocker. The cream formula is aimed at combating the expansion and formation of a new capillary network, has a calming and moisturizing effect. SPF30 provides complete skin protection from UVA and UVB rays of the sun throughout the day. Licorice root extract soothes, softens, moisturizes, relieves irritation, eliminates tightness, restores a healthy look to the skin. Blackcurrant oil – a natural source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids – has a protective and regenerating effect.
ROSACELLIN SOOTHING DAY CREAM SPF30 50 ML
Add to cart
Important! Sun protection for rosacea is essential all year round. The sun is one of the most common causes of rosacea flare-ups. To reduce sun-induced flare-ups, dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside. Even on cloudy days, be sure to use sunscreen, because. despite cloudiness, the UV index can be high.
Basic care. Night
Night normalizing cream-active fights persistent vasodilation, normalizes their tone: reduces the permeability, fragility and growth of the capillary network, reducing its visibility. All thanks to the innovative formula of the product. The composition includes 5% azelaic acid with a pronounced anti-inflammatory activity, prebiotic inulin, caffeine and licorice root extract, as well as dogwood extract.
Collection Rosacellin LIBREDERM are recommended by dermatologists in the complex therapy for the treatment and prevention of skin with rosacea and
rosacea.
* Study on patients with rosacea on the basis of the Central State Medical Academy of the Russian Federation, n=20, 2018.
**Research center Radiant Ltd, Republic of Korea.
Rosacea skin care: effective remedies, expert advice
Cosmetic bag
Reader F—F talks about skin care and an expert helps improve it
This text was written by a reader in the Community T—F. Carefully edited and formatted according to editorial standards.
Alexandra Soboleva
picked up rosacea skin care
Author profile
I’m 27. Three years ago I found out that my red cheeks are not just redness, but rosacea. This is a common vascular disease that tends to worsen.
I had an aggravation during a trip to Japan, when I had already bought a bunch of aggressive Asian foams, creams and cleansers, which, as it turned out, I couldn’t. The disease passed into the papular stage, and the cheeks went into small white pimples, and the skin around became very red and dry.
I never had problems with acne, so I was in a panic and started smearing my cheeks with everything. I tried to solve the problem with expensive brands of moisturizers, but this is complete nonsense. My advice: if something bothers you, immediately go to a dermatologist, which I eventually did.
See a doctor
The article contains expert advice written with love for evidence-based medicine. We refer to authoritative sources, but remember: the responsibility for the health of your skin lies with you. We don’t write prescriptions, we give recommendations. Relying on our point of view or not is up to you.
How I coped with the aggravation
Initially, I approached the choice of care, starting from the fact that I have combination skin, oily in the T-zone and with black dots in the enlarged pores of the nose. It seemed that if you attack with scrubs, cleansers for oily skin with green tea and drying lotions, the skin will stop shining. But it’s exactly the opposite.
On the advice of a dermatologist, I gave up all products and masks, leaving only La Roche-Posay Toleriane cleansing gel for washing and Cetaphil moisturizing pharmacy cream for normal and dry skin with a protective UV factor. Sun protection for my skin turned out to be important at any time of the year.
I gave up masks and scrubs for more than a year. My care shelf has never been so empty, but it worked. It turned out that an excess of care is worse than a lack, and multi-stage Korean procedures are more like marketing. And, of course, I had to follow the doctor’s instructions: give up hot baths, reduce the amount of spicy and fatty foods, adjust my diet and smear my cheeks with a healing ointment for a while.
My Makeup Bag: How I Found Care for Acne-Prone Rosacea
What I Use Now
A year after my rosacea treatment, I started adding new products to my routine. My approach to skincare has changed dramatically. No more washes to squeak and hard scrubs, masks ten times a week. All this washes away the protective barrier of the skin. If masks, then only nourishing for sensitive skin.
Here is my set:
- Enzyme foam for sensitive and problematic skin Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Enzyme Cleansing Foam. After washing La Roche-Posay Toleriane, I wanted something new, and this foam suited me. It washes out a little better, but does not cause redness and dryness. I wash my face in the morning and in the evening.
- Janssen Cosmetics Dry Skin Radiant Firming Toner.
It has become the second step of an obligatory routine. Alcohol-free, soft and perfectly evened out my skin. I have already translated three bottles and I do not want to change it. Thanks to a colleague for the recommendation. The tonic has one drawback, like all my cosmetics, perhaps – the price. But I’m not ready to give it up. Besides, it lasts for a long time.
- Shiseido Essential Energy Cream is the final step in skincare. Still, I believe that Japanese chemistry and cosmetics are one of the best in the world. The cream is quickly absorbed and does not feel on the skin. It is a pity that, due to an oversight, I bought a version of this cream without SPF protection, pay attention.
- Shiseido Essential Energy Eye Definer. It is pleasant, nourishes and moisturizes, but I think that the eye cream is just what you can save on for now. Next time I will pick up a cheaper Korean analogue, there is no wow effect.
- Dr. Recovery Serum Jart + Cicapair Serum. Sometimes I put it on at night instead of a moisturizer.
In the morning, the skin is nourished and moisturized.
Brand Dr. Jart+ is generally very pleased: the mask – alginate cocktail “Softness and Relaxation” produced an instant effect after application. This was the first time that the skin was evenly nourished, moisturized, not greasy after masks, but seemed to become matte. However, with the depreciation of the ruble, their alginate masks became too expensive for me even sometimes.
My cosmetic bag: how I take care of dry sensitive skin
I try their sheet masks, they are good if you blot a little bit of the remnants on the skin and go to bed like that. You can’t keep masks for longer than ten minutes either: they begin to dry on the skin and draw moisture out of it. Therefore, in terms of masks, I switched to reusable ones and settled on a nourishing mask with avocado from Kiehl’s. If you don’t smear it as thickly as in the advertisement, then it lasts for a long time.
How much do I spend on skin care products
Properly chosen care has qualitatively changed my skin for the better, but everything has its price. For example, the cheapest pharmacy cream Cetaphil costs 1000 R. But all the means, except for masks, are enough for a long time. I bought the washbasin seven months ago, and it still lasts for a month of everyday use. Similarly with tonic and creams. The two that I already have will probably last a year.
I noticed that cheap products run out faster, and the sensations are worse. But you can save on hand creams, especially since the skin sits on them.
Expert Tip: Which products can irritate sensitive skin
Asya Popova
Science Journalist
Author profile
Skin with rosacea is highly sensitive, so the American Dermatology Society recommends that people with rosacea avoid products with fragrances, dyes, alcohols, camphor , glycolic and lactic acids, menthol, urea and SLS. If you suddenly notice that irritation occurs on the skin – itching, burning or redness – the following products in your care may be the cause.
Janssen Cosmetics Dry Skin Radiant Firming Toner.