The Low Down on Rosacea

If you suffer from rosacea, you will have been told upon diagnosis that there is no cure for this skin condition. Unfortunately, this is very much the case; HOWEVER, that doesn’t mean it cannot be managed. Like most long term skin conditions, management requires strict lifestyle changes to be put in place and adhered to along with a well suited skincare and skin treatment plan.

What are these strict lifestyle changes?

Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition, so one of the most important changes that needs to be made is to cut all highly inflammatory foods, drinks and activities out of your daily routine.

Well known inflammatory foods/drinks:

• Spicy food
• Cinnamaldehyde containing foods such as:
• Tomatoes
• Citrus fruits
• Chocolate
• Histamine-rich foods such as:
• Aged cheese
• Processed meats
• Wine (especially red)
• Hot drinks
• Alcohol

Well known inflammatory activities:

• Intensive exercise (that causes heat and flushing in the face)
• Exposure to UV (even with SPF on)
• Exposure to extreme temperatures (hot and cold)
• Saunas
• Spas
• Hot showers

Other inflammatory lifestyle factors:

• Stress!

How would your skincare and treatment plan change to manage rosacea?

When managing rosacea, we are not only looking to manage inflammation. With inflammation comes an increase in demodex mites on the skin. We all have them, however rosacea skins are associated with a 200% increase of the demodex mite population than those without rosacea. Demodex mites aren’t the cause of rosacea however they do exacerbate it - the more mites, the more inflammation. The more inflammation.. well, the more mites!

There are a few ingredients in skincare that mites LOVE, so here’s what to stay away from:

• Shea Butter
• Oil based products
• High levels of niacinamide (10%+)

It is also advised to stay away from products that can exacerbate inflammation, such as:

• Acidic cleansers
• Cleansers containing SLS/SLES
• Acids in general

With all this in mind, it is advised that any in clinic treatments are focused on strengthening the skin and reducing inflammation. Peels, microdermabrasions, facial massage (with oils/balms) should all be avoided.

So what would your skincare routine look like?

• Gentle gel based cleanser - Our favourite is Cosmedix Gentle Clean
• A hyaluronic acid, ceremide and vitamin rich serum to reduce inflammation and deeply hydrate - Our favourite is PCA Hyaluronic acid boosting serum
• A gentle, slow release retinol formulation - Our favourite is PCA Retinol for sensitive skin
• A light-medium weight moisturiser formulated without shea butter or high oil content - Our favourite is Cosmedix Skin Thirst or Cosmedix Harmonize
• A physical zinc based sunscreen for daily use - We love the PCA Sheer Tint 45

Managing rosacea is a life-long commitment and requires attention to detail when it comes to ensuring that you are keeping all inflammatory habits to a minimum.

If you are needing guidance with managing your rosacea, get in touch!