There are numerous factors as to what causes rosacea, but bottom line is, it is essentially an inflammatory skin condition, and symptoms can include flushing and redness, acne-like bumps, patches of dry, irritated skin, and swelling. These symptoms can be triggered by environmental pollutants, sunlight, heat, stress, and various foods and drinks, and might flare up for a few weeks at a time or longer.
Here are eight essential skincare tips to soothe existing symptoms and minimize the chance of flare ups:
1. Use a Topical Probiotic Mask
Researches have discovered that many people with rosacea are missing the good bacteria on their skin that help prevent inflammation, and have an overgrowth of various bad bacteria. By using a probiotic mask, these microorganisms improve and strengthen the skin’s natural protective mechanisms and maintain an equilibrium of good bacteria on the skin’s surface.
They work by secreting anti-bacterial, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory substances that penetrate bad bacteria and kill them before they trigger an inflammation, whilst providing a protective shield to keep bad bacteria from reaching skin cells, as well as calming parts of the skin cells that want to react to the bad bacteria, thus stopping them from sending an “attack” message to the skin’s immune system that leads to redness, swelling, patchy skin, or acne-like bumps.
What To Do: Use a probiotic mask with as many strains of live bacteria culture as possible, and prebiotic, to balance the skin's natural microbiome and soothe inflammations.
MARIE REYNOLDS LONDON
Restore <- Click to shop
In addition to the only 8-strain probiotic live culture technology on the market, the formula is also fortified with 2 kinds of prebiotic, vitamin D-rich Alfalfa, antioxidant superfood Açaí Berry, soothing and anti-inflammatory Hemp Protein, vitamin C-rich Acerola Berry, as well as detoxifying Chlorella, Dandelion and Spirulina, to effectively relieve and improve inflammation, balance skin, promote skin cell repair and regeneration, and restore skin health. Especially suitable for various skin inflammation problems such as rosacea, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, sensitivity and acne.
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2. Build Up Your Skin Barrier
Rosacea skin typically has a weakened lipid barrier, thus it is absolutely crucial to protect, maintain and strengthen it, as not only does it help lock in moisture, it also keeps bacteria, irritants and allergens out, thus reducing inflammation, redness and acne-like bumps.
What To Do: As the skin barrier is made up of lipids, it is crucial to replenish it with lipids, aka oils, so that the barrier can stay intact, strong and healthy.
ANFISA
LILOU Radiant Hydra Balm <- Click to shop
Highly anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and soothing, the organic formula rich in organic Blue Tansy, Helichrysum, Hemp Seed oil, Carrot Seed Oil, Green Tea, White Tea and Matcha, etc., helps to relieve sensitivity, redness, dryness and swelling, promote skin regeneration, strengthen the skin lipid barrier, restore water-oil balance, soothe acne, while inhibiting elastin breakdown and slowing down the aging process. It is amazing for acne-prone skin too!
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3. Use an Anti-Pollution Product
While the concept of an anti-pollution skincare product may be hard to grasp, the truth is, rosacea skin is often triggered by environmental pollutants in the air. These free radicals attack healthy skin cells, and cause trauma that leads to redness, sensitivity, swelling and even worsened inflammation.
What To Do: Use an anti-pollution product that can fight and neutralize free radicals, whilst forming a breathable barrier on the skin surface to physically block out environmental pollutants.
KLUR
Symmetry Fluid <- Click to shop
Rich in rare ingredients Astaxanthin and Fulvic Acid, as well as resveratrol-rich Cranberry, Green Tea, White Tea Extract, Red Algae, Dandelion, Gotu Kola and Ginkgo, etc., Symmetry Fluid fights off inflammations and free radicals, detoxifies, removes heavy metals in the skin, brightens, reduces acne, promotes skin cell regeneration, strengthens and repairs the skin, and increases skin elasticity, whilst creating a breathable barrier on the skin surface.
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4. Use a Soothing Mask or Serum
With the right ingredients like honey, squalane, aloe vera, panthenol, gotu kola, chamomile, calendula, blue tansy, and lipid-rich oils such as avocado oil, a soothing mask or serum can provide instant calming effects to existing redness and dryness. However, the results may not be as long-lasting as you might wish, as the underlying cause must be addressed at the same time with treatments like probiotics and diet.
What To Do: Look for products with soothing ingredients like those listed above. For masks, try to avoid paper masks, which typically contains a lot of preservatives, and use wash-off masks instead.
LA BELLA FIGURA
Healing Manuka Mask <- Click to shop
Besides therapeutic grade UMF16 Mānuka honey from New Zealand, the mask also features organic Aronia berry, which is rich in resveratrol, as well as Barbary Fig Seed Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil, Vanilla Seeds, Jasmine Oil, Calendula and Turmeric Oil etc., to instantly moisturize, hydrate, calm and restore suppleness and vitality to dehydrated and irritated skin.
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5. Avoid Harsh Cleansers
By stripping the skin of its natural oil with harsh and drying ingredients, such as a foaming cleanser, not only will the skin struggle to balance its water/oil protective structure, and as a result, produce excess oil that will clog the pores causing congestion and breakouts, the skin's lipid barrier may also be damaged, which opens the doors for bacteria and irritants to attack the skin.
What To Do: Use a gentle, non-foaming, non-stripping cleanser morning and night, and avoid anything that contains sodium lauryl sulfate or ammonium laureth sulfate.
TWELVE BEAUTY
Purifying Cleansing Beauty Cream <- Click to shop
This mild yet effective creamy milk formula contains a high dose of squalane, as well as prized organic botanicals, including Mallow, Butterfly Bush, White Genepì and Masterwort, to renew and repair the skin, fight free radicals, soothe inflammations and remove impurities simultaneously, leaving the skin revitalized, super soft and hydrated.
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6. Avoid Benzoyl Peroxide
As one of the symptoms of rosacea is acne-like bumps, a lot of people treat it with acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide. This is a big mistake. By nature, this substance increases the skin's oxidative stress and dries the skin, which leads to even worse inflammation, as well as premature aging.
What To Do: Use products with enzymes instead as they can reduce inflammation, remove waste, bring nutrient to the damaged area, and help speed up the repair of damaged tissues, yet without causing irritation.
LA BELLA FIGURA
Gentle Enzyme Cleanser <- Click to shop
With pineapple, papaya and pumpkin enzymes, which are gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin, it gently exfoliates and improves enlarged pores, blemishes and dullness. Whilst, ingredients such as Damascus Rose Hydrosol, Marshmallow Root and Reishi help to balance skin, promote skin cell regeneration and collagen synthesis, fight free radicals, as well as hydrate and brighten.
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7. Exfoliate, But No Scrubs or Glycolic Acid
Contrary to popular belief, rosacea skin needs exfoliation too, as it is imperative to remove dead skin cells, and increase skin turnover, so healthy skin underneath can reveal itself. However, it is best to avoid physical scrubs and glycolic acid, as the former is designed to scrub away the top layer of skin, including healthy skin cells that form your skin’s protective barrier, as well as causing micro-tears in the skin, and the latter has the smallest molecular structure in the acid category, which means they get deep into the skin, and may cause irritations.
What To Do: Use a gentle acid-based exfoliator (without glycolic acid) that is also formulated with soothing, calming ingredients once, or maximum twice a week.
OUMERE
No. 9 Exfoliant <- Click to shop
Contains natural effective yet gentle AHAs, BHAs and PHAs, together with Mulberry, which has the highest concentration of resveratrol in nature (10x more than what is found in grape), as well as Goldenseal, Licorice Root, and Aloe Leaf Juice, etc., it gently removes dead skin cells, unclogs pores and prevents acne, while providing soothing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial actions. Suitable even for sensitive skin!
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8. Avoid Food That Can Trigger & Worsen Rosacea
We have mentioned many times how food can affect the skin positively and negatively. Unfortunately for rosacea skin, there are many types of food that are best avoided, including dairy, gluten, sugar, eggs, nightshades, soy, alcohol, and caffeine, as they cause inflammation and can trigger and worsen rosacea symptoms.
Just remember, you are what you eat, and unless you maintain a strict but necessary diet, even the best and most expensive skincare products won’t be able to help.
What To Do: Find out more about the foods to be avoided here and here.
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