Tips for Dealing with Rosacea and Facial Redness
Every person’s skin is unique in its coloration, sensitivity, and characteristics. But for some people, facial redness is more than a cosmetic quirk. Rosacea is a skin condition in which the blood vessels beneath the facial skin become dilated, which creates an appearance of red, blushing skin. While rosacea doesn’t generally cause health concerns, its effects on an individual’s self-confidence and social interactions can be damaging, and while it can be managed, it is currently not curable. The good news is that if you suffer from rosacea, you’re far from alone. In fact, according to the National Rosacea Society, an estimated 16 million Americans are affected by rosacea. The better news is that there are many ways to manage the condition and make life with rosacea easier, and below are a few tips to get you started.
Learn more about the rosacea. As with any condition, education is the first line of defense, and this goes for patients who don’t suffer from rosacea as well. For example, it’s important to understand that rosacea often doesn’t arise until after age 30, and to know the symptoms to look for, like on-and-off redness on the cheeks, nose, forehead, or chin. One great resource is the National Rosacea Society, whose website is full of helpful information about the condition.
- Identify and avoid your triggers. Rosacea symptoms can fade for periods of time before flaring up again in reaction to an environmental condition or another type of trigger. Every patient has their own unique triggers, with the most common being sun exposure, emotional stress, warm weather, wind, heavy exercise, and alcohol consumption. Many patients find it helpful to keep a diary of their rosacea flare-ups and what potential triggers they were exposed to before the flare-up. This can allow you to identify and avoid your common triggers in order to minimize your flare-ups.
- Start professional rosacea treatments. As we explained earlier, while rosacea cannot be cured, the symptoms can be managed, and one of the most effective ways to do so is with professional rosacea laser treatments. Laser treatments send targeted energy into the blood vessels beneath the facial skin that are creating the redness, causing the treated blood vessels to close off and be naturally absorbed and eliminated by the body. Because rosacea symptoms do worsen and change as the condition progresses, medical treatments can help patients stay on top of their symptoms and significantly minimize their flare-ups.
- Modify your skincare routine. The purpose of tailoring your skincare routine to your rosacea is two-fold. First, skincare products are common triggers, so to keep from irritating the condition, try to use anti-bacterial brushes to apply makeup when possible, as harsher methods like sponges or even your fingers can cause irritation. It can also be helpful to use as few products as possible and use multi-function products instead to lower the chances of using a skincare product that will trigger or worsen your symptoms.
The second reason to customize your skincare is because certain types of cosmetics can minimize the appearance of your symptoms, even during a flare-up. For example, a green-tinted makeup primer can counteract the appearance of redness, and using a concealer that’s slightly lighter than your skin tone with a foundation that matches your skin tone can produce the appearance of a smooth, even complexion.
For some patients, a diagnosis of rosacea can be difficult to hear, because it means living with a chronic condition. But now more than ever before, rosacea sufferers have a vast library of both short-term and long-term ways to manage their symptoms, and by working with professionals like our providers at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, they can enjoy a life with less embarrassment and self-consciousness. To learn more about rosacea and effective treatments, explore our website or join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for daily information about the treatments we offer.
