Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that affects millions of people worldwide – male, female, young, and well, not so young. But unlike other skin conditions that commonly hit specific skin types (three words, ‘oily skin’ and ‘acne'), rosacea doesn’t care whether your skin is oily, dry, or a combination. Its cause has never been fully understood, either. And when it comes to a cure? Well, the jury’s still out on that one.
If all this sounds like doom and gloom, don’t worry, because living with rosacea does not have to be the end of the world. Granted, rosacea can often feel like a lost cause because it’s so incredibly tricky to understand, but the good news is there are many ways to successfully manage it – pimples, itching, bumpy breakouts, dry eyes, and all.
But First, What Is Rosacea?
Rosacea manifests itself in a number of ways. The most common symptoms of rosacea include:
Persistent redness and flushing
Burning or stinging
Dryness
Papules (solid, raised red bumps)
Pustules (pus-filled bumps)
Itching
Visible blood capillaries
Skin thickening
Eye irritation
The frustrating thing is that rosacea varies significantly from patient to patient. It can be mild and short-lived. But it can also be severe and prolonged with anything from one, some, or even all of the above symptoms presenting themselves.
According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, rosacea is more common in patients between the ages of 30 and 50, but it can affect anyone, at any age. It also appears to be more prevalent in people with lighter skin types, although it’s frequently undiagnosed in darker skin because their facial redness is more difficult to spot.
The Difference Between Rosacea And Acne
Rosacea is frequently mistaken for acne due to the presence of facial redness and acne-like pimples. However, they are totally different conditions and require very different treatments.
Acne is primarily a disorder of the sebaceous glands and occurs when excess sebum combines with dead skin cells and consequently plugs up your hair follicles.
Rosacea has little, if anything at all, to do with the sebaceous glands. More on that in a minute.
So, how easy is it to tell the difference between rosacea and acne at home? Not very. In fact it’s much wiser to seek a professional diagnosis from a board-certified dermatologist as rosacea tends to worsen without treatment. A skin professional will be able to examine your skin thoroughly, review your (and your family’s) medical history, and rule out other conditions such as psoriasis and lupus (1) much more successfully.
Saying this, there are definitely a few signs you can look out for at home. For example, acne often includes the presence of blackheads and whiteheads as well as pimples; rosacea does not have blackheads. Facial redness in rosacea patients can appear all over the t-zone (forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin), whereas acne redness is more commonly targeted to the skin around the breakout (2).
Finally, rosacea can also cause irritation and itching, making the skin very sensitive to certain ingredients in skincare and makeup.
So Come On, What Causes Rosacea?
If only we had the definitive answer to that question. The truth is, the exact cause of rosacea is still a bit of an unknown. There are many solid theories, however. According to the National Rosacea Society, for example, studies point to it likely being down to neurovascular and immune system factors (3). It also tends to run in families, so it clearly has a strong link to your genes.
Another thought is that it could be caused by irregularities in the skin’s microbiome; specifically the over-presence of microscopic mites called Demodex folliculorum (4). These scary-sounding mites are a perfectly normal part of the skin’s microbiome and, in ‘regular’ skin they work alongside a whole ecosystem of microorganisms to maintain a healthy environment at the surface of your skin. Studies show, however, that pesky Demodex folliculorum are way more abundant in the microbiome of rosacea patients.
Lots of food for thought. We believe the bigger question, though, is what triggers rosacea? After all, these are the things you can actually do something about.
Rosacea flare-ups are most commonly triggered by:
Caffeine
Spicy food
Extremes of temperature
Emotional stress
Windy climates
Alcohol
Exercise
Certain medications
Sun exposure
**Sun exposure is such a common trigger that 81% of people with rosacea said it was the number one cause of their flare-ups, according to the National Rosacea Society (6).
How To Manage Rosacea
Sadly there isn’t a one fix for all but you can avoid the most common triggers – especially if you know which ones are specific to you. How are you supposed to know? Well, try keeping a diary of when your flare-ups happen, alongside where you were at the time or what you ate or drank beforehand. This should help pinpoint what’s prompting them.
There are also many options available at the doctor’s office, including topical prescription medications, oral antibiotics, professional laser procedures, or intense pulse light treatments. All of these are viable options for keeping flare-ups under control.
When it comes to at-home personal care, the key is to be super gentle with your skin. Stick with a basic skincare routine and avoid overloading your face with countless products that may cause irritation. Products rated SkinSAFE 100 are a great place to start as only products that have been reviewed and proven to avoid the top 11 most common skin allergens and irritants are awarded with this useful marker.
Experts advise avoiding highly active skincare ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and strong retinoids, and it’s wise to discontinue the use of abrasive exfoliants, especially during flare-ups. Other rosacea irritants that are best avoided include volatile alcohols like isopropyl alcohol and alcohol denat, witch hazel, fragrance, menthol, peppermint, and eucalyptus oil (5).
Our advice? First and foremost, listen to your skin – it’ll tell you pretty swiftly if it’s unhappy with what you’re putting on it. Then make fragrance your number one ingredient to avoid. Fragrance, in all its guises, causes more irritation than any other ingredient in personal care products. Finally, look out for ingredients like azelaic acid, green tea extract, and niacinamide which can help repair the skin’s barrier function and calm irritation.
Need a little help finding some great products to try? Then read on for a few of our SkinSAFE 100 favorites…
1. CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 50
Sunscreen is essential whatever your skin type, but if you have rosacea, it’s even more crucial than ever. In a study carried out by the National Rosacea Society, a whopping 81 percent of patients surveyed stated that sun exposure was the top trigger for their flare-ups (6).
You need to protect your skin with a gentle, broad-spectrum sunscreen all year round. No arguments.
Chemical sunscreens can be irritating for certain sensitive skin types, so we recommend sticking with mineral ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. And that’s exactly what this gorgeous skin protectant contains. It’s also oil-free and loaded with niacinamide and ceramides. Your skin should love that.
2. RoC Barrier Renew Gel to Foam Cleanser
This derm-approved face wash not only provides your skin with a thorough, deep cleanse but it also contains barrier-essential building blocks to strengthen and fortify the surface of the skin. And keeping your skin’s barrier function healthy and strong is half the battle here.
Don’t Forget! Always cleanse your skin with lukewarm, rather than hot or cold water as extreme temperatures are very triggering for rosacea.
3. L’Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier Anti-Redness BB Cream
For temporary relief from surface redness, we love this multi-tasking BB cream that hydrates, evens, perfects, and corrects. Its slightly green tone counteracts redness instantly, while glycerin and vitamin E help to hydrate and soothe angry skin. It also adjusts to suit your skin tone, leaving you with a lovely, lightweight finish you can wear alone or under makeup.
4. Cetaphil Redness Relieving Night Moisturizer
Keeping your skin moisturized overnight is extremely important and we can’t recommend this non-pore-clogging lotion enough. It harnesses the powers of allantoin, panthenol, vitamin E, and caffeine to provide awesome smoothing, soothing, and redness-reducing benefits as you sleep, while licorice extract helps to brighten an uneven skin tone. Call it the smart choice for defending against the five most common signs of skin sensitivities – dryness, irritation, roughness, tightness, and a weakened skin barrier.
5. iT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare
With a gentle formula and weightless, fluid texture, this foundation helps to minimize redness without leaving your skin feeling caked in makeup. In fact, you will seriously fall in love with the natural, radiant coverage it provides. How does it achieve such makeup sorcery? With an ingredient list of some true skin greats, that’s how. Think hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and pro vitamins E and B5. What’s more, it comes in a whopping 40 shades, offering numerous choices for all skin tones.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rosacea/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353820
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/really-acne/acne-rosacea
https://www.rosacea.org/patients/skin-care/sunscreen-for-rosacea
