April is Rosacea Awareness month in the UK, 2021. It affects 1 in 10 people in the UK, and can be painful, irritating and can lower someone’s self-esteem.
Rosacea is much more than just a rosy glow on your cheeks. Symptoms of it range from recurrent heavy blushing, to permanent redness with broken veins, to acne-like eruptions of pustules and lumps on the skin. Symptoms can be triggered by things such as food, stress, sunlight, weather conditions and certain drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. Unfortunately there is no known cause for Rosacea, and it is more about managing it than curing it. It is important that anyone suffering with these attempts to find their own personal triggers, to help minimise flare-ups, and possibly contact your GP if it is interfering with your day-to-day life.
Rosacea is more likely to affect women, but men can also experience it, and men also sometimes get more severe symptoms along with it. A common one is skin thickening around the nose area and going a deep red or purple colour. It can sometimes leave the nose looking larger and even, in the worst cases, deformed. This skin thickening can also occur on the cheeks, forehead and chin.
So what can we do about it?
Well, as I said, there is currently no cure, but it can be, somewhat, managed through diet etc, but skincare products also help when you find a good one that works for you. A gentle, minimalistic approach is often best.
Azelic Acid is one of the top ingredients to look for in Rosacea specific skincare. It is a naturally occur acid that helps to soothe the skin, therefore reducing redness, and also helps to treat whiteheads and other blemishes. This is especially good if you suffer with Acne Rosacea. It can be found in many skincare products, but stronger versions can be prescribed by Dermatologists.
Peptides and Ceramides are also great for applying directly to those areas of bad, active Rosacea. Evolve Organic Beauty Multi Peptide 360 Moisture Cream is packed with superfoods to lock in that moisture, and calm the skin.
Using active ingredients such as Retinols and Vitamin C is often hard with Rosacea, as they can easily irritate. So you many want to consider only applying them to where it is less active, maybe the forehead or chin? Where it is more irritated, just use a gentle cleanser and moisturiser.
Some sufferers also find that their skin many change throughout the day, and in certain situations, such as in the shower. If this is the case, a good tip is to apply a thick moisturiser before you get in the shower. This layer of protection will lock in any moisture, and help to protect the skin from the heat and steam a little better.
As always SPF is a must in any skincare routine, and people that suffer with Rosacea should not skip out on this either. As they are more vulnerable to environmental triggers such as Sunlight, it can heighten the risk of illness and disease associated with it much more, as their skin responds more aggressively to it. REN’s Clean Screen Mineral SPF30 is a pure SPF, as in not mixed into make-up or other skincare. This is the best form to SPF to be in.
Overall, this skin condition can be annoying, and hard to get under control at first. Seeing a Doctor or professional Dermatologist can help shed some light onto the condition, but listening to your body and noting down symptoms and triggers can also help to map out the bigger picture.