They say, "Soothe the blush of rosacea with gentle skincare." And we couldn't agree more! Here is a comprehensive guide for rosacea. This guide will explore the symptoms, triggers, and causes of rosacea, along with various skincare routines, spa treatments, lifestyle changes, and natural remedies to help manage the condition.
1. What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a long-term skin condition that affects your face. It causes the skin across your nose, cheeks, forehead, neck and chest to appear red (similar to blushing). It can also create a burning or stinging sensation when you use water or skincare products. These are the most common symptoms. Some people can get small pink or red bumps or tiny broken blood vessels to appear on your cheeks. Over time the redness can appear more frequently and for longer periods till it is red all the time.
Other symptoms include:
Dry skin
Swelling around the eyes
Yellow-orange patches on the skin
Over a long period of time rosacea can cause the skin around the nose to be thicker
The cause of rosacea remains unknown however it is believed that certain triggers can make rosacea symptoms worse.
Common triggers include:
Alcohol
Spicy foods
Hot drinks
Sunlight
Hot or cold temperatures
Aerobic exercise, such as running
Stress
Rosacea is not contagious and although the cause is unknown, there are things that you can do in your daily life to help improve symptoms. Speak to your GP to discuss your options if you think you do have rosacea. The guide below will take you through some helpful tips for managing symptoms and identifying triggers.
2. How Daily Skincare Can Help
Everyone needs skincare but with Rosacea it can be difficult to know which products to use and which to avoid.
To keep your skin looking its very best use gentle cleansers to keep your skin fresh and hydrated. Use a gentle circular motion to apply the product around your face, removing dirt and dry skin. Then rise your face with cool water and pat dry.
Try a BHA exfoliant to exfoliate your skin in a gentle manner. If you’re new to chemical exfoliators its best to use it slowly, perhaps once a week or fortnight and slowly increase regularity to allow your skin to adjust over time.
The next part of your skincare routine after cleansing should be moisturising. By adding a moisturiser into your daily routine, you can help keep your skin hydrated and healthy. By locking in moisture your skin will feel soft and smooth post exfoliation!
The final step in your daily skincare routine is of course SPF!
Apply two fingers worth of SPF to your face every morning before leaving the house to protect your skin from sun damage. Everybody should wear SPF every day, even in winter (and no, the SPF in your foundation is not enough). It helps to protect against UV damage which ages your skin. If you suffer with rosacea, then try to use an SPF with a protection rating of at least SPF 30. The higher the rating the better the level of protection. Don’t forget to re-apply your SPF throughout the day too!
3. Spa Treatments for Rosacea
One way to help treat rosacea is treating yourself to regular spa treatments, but this doesn’t have to an expensive experience. At Wowcher we have a wide variety of spa deals and skin care products at various price points for you to explore!
Why not visit Dior's Beauty Company and expose your skin to laser and light therapy to help reduce inflammation of your skin. These therapies target the dilated blood vessels and reduce inflammation, resulting in a clearer complexion. Laser therapy, such as pulsed dye laser (PDL) and intense pulsed light (IPL), emits targeted beams that coagulate blood vessels, diminishing redness and flushing. Light therapy, including blue and red-light treatments, combats the bacteria and reduces inflammation.
Another option to help relieve rosacea symptoms could be to try a Hydrotherapy facial. This therapy involves the use of water-based techniques and products to deeply cleanse, hydrate, and soothe the skin. The facials often include hydrating serums, and calming masks that help to moisturise while gently exfoliating the skin. Hydrotherapy facials help reduce inflammation, decrease redness, and improve skin texture without causing irritation. This type of treatment is ideal for rosacea-prone skin due to being non-invasive. Perfect for providing a calming and refreshing treatment that promotes a more radiant complexion.
Why not try an Oxygen Therapy Facial to help reduce inflammation? This therapy involves using a specialized machine to infuse oxygen and nutrient-rich serums directly into the skin, promoting healing and rejuvenation. The increased oxygen levels enhance cellular repair, boost collagen production, and improve blood circulation, which helps calm the skin and reduce rosacea symptoms. Oxygen therapy is gentle and non-invasive, making it suitable for sensitive skin.
4. Lifestyle and Dietary Adjustments to Help
Living with rosacea can be uncomfortable and often effects people’s self-esteem when experiencing a bad flare up. But identifying and avoiding triggers can help to make this happen more infrequently. Why not try keeping a symptom diary to help pinpoint specific triggers by tracking diet, activities, and skincare routines. You can keep a log off how your skin reacts to different products and foods. Once you know what triggers your skin to flare up with rosacea it is much easier to then avoid!
One well known trigger for rosacea is of course stress. Managing your stress levels through meditation or regular gentle exercise can help to reduce stress and leave you feeling more in control. By reducing your stress, you can better control your symptoms and maintain healthier skin. Other factors such as reducing your alcohol consumption and avoiding spicy food can also help!
5. Home Remedies and Natural Treatments
Trying at home treatments can help to manage your daily symptoms for when a spa day just isn’t possible. Look for skincare products that include aloe vera. This natural ingredient is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties, making it the ideal skincare product to help relieve symptoms caused by rosacea.
Another fan favourite is of course green tea extract. This wonderful ingredient works as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that also offers UV-protection. It’s truly up there as one of our favourite ingredients to see listed in skincare products.
Our final home remedy for treating rosacea is a gentle honey mask. It truly is the bee's knees as honey helps your skin to lock in moisture. Apply a honey mask at home directly on to your skin and sit back and relax, letting the honey do all the hard work!
6. Final Tips and Tricks
It goes without saying that at Wowcher we are not doctor’s, just passionate about good deals saving you money (not lives) . So please book an appointment with your doctor if you are concerned about rosacea and how it affects you. Your GP can assist you with treatments and advice around rosacea and, if necessary, refer you to a dermatologist. If you have more questions about rosacea check out the NHS website.