If your skin flashes easily after a glass of wine or after stepping outside during a cold winter day, the chances are that you may have Rosacea. The good news is that Rosacea can be treated and controlled, although it is a chronic skin condition that requires 'regular maintenance'.

The cause of Rosacea is unknown, but it could be due to an overactive immune system, genetics, environmental factors, pathologies of the endocrine system or a combination of these. Rosacea affects 1 in 5 people aged 30 and older, particularly very fair-skin individuals. It starts with irregular facial flushing, a bit like sunburn, and it can become more regular over time, with tiny capillaries visible that will not disappear.

A good tinted moisturizer can hide quite effectively skin redness and flare-ups. Still, once you learn what triggers Rosacea and which ingredients are a good match with your skin, you can quickly build a winning Rosacea control skincare routine that includes even products targeting ageing skin to make yourself look and feel better.

In this article, we will focus on:

1. The basics of Rosacea  (Papulopustular Rosacea type)
2. What triggers Rosacea
3. How to care for Rosacea and how to build a Rosacea Skincare Routine
4. When to see a dermatologist for severe Rosacea

WHAT IS ROSACEA

Rosacea is not a skin type but a skin condition. Rosacea skin is normally dry and sensitive, but it could also be normal, oily or even combination.  

There are four types of Rosacea. In this article, we will focus on Papulopustular Rosacea, the most common type. It is a skin condition characterized by visible blood vessels and redness, usually across the middle of the face. It can be associated with spots (pustules) and acne-like red bumps, but it's not acne due to the lack of clogged pores.

A Rosacea flare-up can take days to calm and get back to normal.

Rosacea skin is:

• very fair and thin
• inflamed, burning and stinging
• sensitive because its barrier function tends to be weakened
• very prone to dryness
• it reacts quickly to some common skincare ingredients
• has often enlarged pores, but it is not necessarily oily
• very temperamental!

THINGS YOU SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF IF YOU HAVE ROSACEA

Managing Rosacea requires a holistic approach and a lot of trial and error. However, the first step to prevent nasty skin irritations and actions that can aggravate your Rosacea, is to know the triggers and how to avoid them. 

Follow these 12 Tips to prevent your Rosacea and redness-prone skin flare-up:

•  Avoid extreme temperature fluctuations: air-con directly on your face or sitting too close to a lit fireplace, wind, high humidity, hot or very cold water directly on the face can flare up Rosacea immediately.

• Don't forget to apply sunscreen regularly: Rosacea skin is very sensitive and dehydrated, and direct sun exposure without applying a mineral sunscreen will weaken it further, on top of UV damage.

• Pick the proper physical exercise: a few minutes in a sauna, or hot bath, or hot yoga will immediately trigger your Rosacea

• Be careful of what you eat and drink: very spicy food, too much alcohol, especially red wine are big no-no's

• Avoid anything that could micro-tear the skin: physical exfoliants and high concentration of AHA's, especially glycolic acid, micro dermal abrasion, micro-needling.

• Products that can dry the skin will weaken the skin barrier: harsh foaming cleansers (SLS), BHA's (they will dry the skin even more), alcohol-based toners, astringents like Witch Hazel extract.

• Stay away from potent skincare: from acne clearing products (like Salicylic acid) to Retinoids, any skincare products with a high concentration of active ingredients will trigger even more inflammation.

• Be careful with fragrance and essential oils: never use essential oils like Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Camphor, Clove (it's ok to use antibacterial essential oils but in very low dilution). Any synthetic fragrance can trigger Rosacea.

• Acne Rosacea is not the same as Acne: there is no need to double cleanse or use products for blackheads and whiteheads.

• Over-the-counter Retinols may not be for you: in some cases, a low concentration of gentle Retinols (Bakuchiol, Retinyl-palmitate, Retinol) can benefit Rosacea Acne, but we recommend talking to a dermatologist or at least to patch test.

• Change face mask often: prolonged face-mask usage leads to heating of the skin, causing additional irritation and worsening of Rosacea.

• Take it easy! Emotional stress has a direct effect on your immune and cardio-vascular systems and it can trigger Rosacea. 

HOW TO CARE FOR ROSACEA SKIN

Rosacea sufferers know that the only skincare routine they can tolerate is simple, targeted, and free from allergens.  You can build your Rosacea Skincare Routine with natural products keeping in mind five steps:

 COOL down overheated skin with Cucumber extract, Rose water, plant-based mists (no fragrance), mineral water.

 SOOTHE  inflamed skin with very gentle ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Chamomile extract, Bisabolol, Zinc oxide, Sulfur.

 PURIFY skin with Azelaic acid, Niacinamide, gentle anti-bacterial essential oils in VERY low concentration such as Fragonia, Manuka, Kanuka.

 HYDRATE very dry skin and retain moisture with Hyaluronic acid (low and high molecular weight), Glycerin, Ectoin.

 PROTECT   and strengthen the skin barrier weakened by inflammation and dryness with Squalane, non comedogenic Lipids, Peptides, Probiotics, Ceramides.

WHEN TO SEE A DERMATOLOGIST FOR YOUR ROSACEA

If your Rosacea is not easy to control, or gets worse over time or the skin is irritated for more than a week, seeing a dermatologist would be the best thing to do. Severe Rosacea should be treated systematically by a dermatologist with prescription-only topical and oral medications (antibiotics such as Metronidazole, Clindamycin, Tetracycline or Brimonidine and controlled Retinoids such as Tretinoin, Adapalene). 

PRODUCTS THAT CALM ROSACEA AND BOOST THE SKIN'S HEALTH 

Our best-seller set serum-moisturiser MOISTURISE + PROTECT SET IS formulated for sensitive and Rosacea skin. The set includes:

• ÏIS, an intense hydration booster with double weight molecular weight hyaluronic acid and Ectoin for very dry and irritated skin. Free from essential oils. 30 ml  - fully recyclable packaging. 

• HAE, an advanced prebiotic moisturiser enhanced by soothing Aloe Vera to keep the skin supple and moisturised for up to 12 hours. Free from Essential oils. 30 ml - fully recyclable packaging. 

Shop Moisturise + Protect Set