Useful Tips for Rosacea Sufferers

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition known to cause moderate to severe redness to the facial skin of its sufferers. President Bill Clinton and legendary comedian W.C. Fields both have/had it and it tends to be more common than we think.

Rosacea tends to start out as frequent flushing, quite like blushing or light sunburn before areas of your face become permanently red. While the exact cause is still unfounded and there is yet to be a cure, Rosacea can be treated.

I was diagnosed with Rosacea over two years ago, and while it is still an everyday battle, I have learned some tips and products that really help to keep my flare-ups under control.

Please remember that we are all different, and what might be a trigger for my flare-ups, might not be the same for you and vice-versa. I am not a medical professional, so please speak with one before following any of my tips and suggestions below.

Helpful Tips

Do not use abrasive facial products such as exfoliatants, pore strips, chemical peel masks, microderm-abrasion kits and etcetera. These will only cause your skin to peel and become even drier, thus making it even redder.

Skip hot showers. Hot water is over drying and can cause your skin to flush. The same goes for Saunas or any excessively warm environment.

Drink plenty of water. Hydration definitely helps with any and all skin problems.

Try to avoid the urge to pick at pimples. While this is something that goes for anyone, skin condition or not, it seems to have worse effects on us.

Skip spicy foods, as they tend to aggravate flare-ups, same goes with hot drinks and alcoholic beverages.

Try to stay relaxed as much as possible. Emotional influences such as stress, anger, embarrassment, and anxiety are known triggers. As is heavy lifting and extreme exercise.

Foods to avoid or decrease in consumption are liver, yogurt, sour cream, cheese (excluding cottage cheese), chocolate, vanilla, soy sauce, yeast extract (though bread is fine), eggplant, vinegar, avocados, spinach, broad-leaf beans and pods, citrus fruits, and foods high in histamine.

Chewing on ice is said to help relieve flare-ups caused by food.

Do not rub your face after washing instead gently pat it dry with a soft towel.

Green-tinted foundation aids in covering stubborn red areas.

Wear a scary of ski mask in the wintery months of the year to protect your face from wind damage.

Stomach conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, gastritis or ulcers could be the cause (though there is no known cause for Rosacea, studies have shown that the bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori has been found in numerous people with Rosacea and this bacterium is linked to stomach problems), so speak with your physician about the possible link of Rosacea and stomach conditions if you have both. Keep in mind though, that there is not solid evidence to support a pro or con against this theory. Please try and remember that triggers are as unique as the individual with them. While one person might get flare-ups from eating spicy food, another will not. It might be an excellent idea to keep a journal of your flare-ups to try and discover what exactly brings on your attacks.

Now that we have talked about some tips you can do to help control your condition, let’s move on to products that might be useful to aid the tips above.

Useful Products

Below are some of the best products available to help you manage and keep a handle on your rosacea.

Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin. Because our skin is often dry and susceptible to the elements, we need a face wash that is non-abrasive and does not contain any artificial scents or colors and is soap and oil free. This does a wonderful job and I have found that the majority of rosacea sufferers recommend this as a daily face wash. The average cost is around $4.00 US.

Dermarest Rosacea Advanced Redness Treatment. This is still fairly new on the market, only coming out in 2005, but it works wonders, you’d think it was a prescription but it’s available over-the-counter. It is non-irritating, provides you with an even skin tone and visibly improves red skin within the first few hours of application. You can purchase this for around $9.00 US.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer. I cannot sing the praises of this product enough. You see the effects almost immediately and it serves as a great moisturizer for sensitive skin plus, it comes with SPF 15. What makes this product so special is the inclusion of the herb, Feverfew, which is related to Chamomile. Feverfew is clinically proven to reduce redness and has long been used in herbal remedies for such reasons. This does tend to run a little on the pricey side, $13.00 US, but it’s definitely worth it.

Metro-Gel or Metronidazole Topical Gel. This was the first thing my doctor put me on when I was diagnosed and within a week over 60% of the redness has subsided. Metro-Gel is the brand name and the latter is the generic. This is currently only available through prescription and the cost depends on your insurance or prescription plan coverage. The time I was prescribed this, I didn’t have insurance, so it ran me around $49.00 US, not too back, but still a big amount to pay for face cream.

Sunscreen. While I don’t have a specific brand to suggest (I use the aforementioned Aveeno and it comes with SPF protection), if you decide against using a moisturizer with built in SPF protection, find a sunscreen that does not contain any sort of acids. These will affect your skin and could make flare-ups worse. So, please, read the labels before you put anything on your face and I’d go as organic as possible even if it means spending a few extra dollars. If you tend to have hypersensitive skin, you might want to try a brand made for children, as this will tend to be gentler.

Eucerin Redness Relief Kit. I have yet to personally use this and have just recently been given a sample, so I cannot voice my personal opinion here, but I have heard many sing the praises of Eucerin products. It just might be worth a try. These products are said to contain Licochalcone, an extract of licorice root, demonstrated to soothe visibly red skin. This can be found at all leading drugstores and averages about $15.00 US a kit. More information can be found at www.Eucerinus.com. I hope this will helpful to those out there, who like me, are trying to win the battle with Rosacea. You should be able to find the products listed in this article at stores like CVS, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart or online at www.drugstore.com.

Sources:
My information is based on personal research & experience and also some information is borrowed from the National Rosacea Society.

Reference:

• www.rosacea.org/