April has been Rosacea Awareness Month and there has been various events, discussions and online articles highlighting this often-misunderstood skin condition. #ExperienceMyRosacea has been the hashtag used over social media where people have been invited to join discussions, gather information amd raise the awareness of the condition.
There is currently no UK charity for Rosacea which is suprising considering there is such huge support for other skin conditions including Exczema, Acne & Psorasis. I think one of the main problems with Rosacea is that the cause is still not fully understood so it can be diffucult to help and there is no definate cure. Outstanding considering 1 out of 10 of the population are thought to suffer from some from of Rosacea.
I have not personally suffered with Rosacea (only Acne which you can read about here) but I have worked with quite a few clients who have it, and I think it is something that we do not talk about enough or know enough about. Did you know a huge percentage of people live with Rosacea throughout their life and don’t know they even have it?!
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition that has lots of different types and elements to it, hence why it can often be un-diagnosed or not bothered about ; it can be a rash, high flushing of the skin,visible blood vessels, bumps, acne and patches of redness on the skin. Some things can make Rosacea ‘flare up’ or become worse such as the things you eat, activities you do and skincare you use. Rosacea usually effects the centre of the face, cheeks, nose and forehead with redness yet it varies from person to person.
How is it treated?
There is currently no cure for Rosacea. Instead, it is managed by prescription creams, lifestyle advice, makeup & topical treatments. If you think you may have Rosacea, then go to your doctor for advice. Don‘t suffer in silence! Rosacea can have huge physchological impact on a person causing low self-esteem, embarassment, anxiety & depression.
Some Lifestyle measures that can help Rosacea & Flare ups (as recommended by Dr Dawn Harper) :
– Minimise exposure to direct sunlight
– Wear SPF30+ (unscented/oil-free preferable)
– Limit Alcohol & Caffeine consumption
– Reduce consumption of spicy foods
Skincare
Avoid skincare that contain ingredients known to dry the skin such as ; Camphor, Eucalyptus, Fragrances, Preservatives, Menthol, Peppermint & Witch Hazel. Basically anything astringent won’t be very agree-able to a skin with Rosacea. Keep it simple, natural and just try a few things and get a regime that works for you. From working with clients and brands I have collated a bunch of skincare below that I believe to be good for Rosacea. Recently I was introduced to the natural skincare brand, Pure Potions,
and they do very good skin treatments and ointments that are great for
flare-ups and sensitivities. My clients who suffer from Rosacea seem to
really like a spritz of hydrating spray before skincare and Jurlique Rosewater Spray and Institut Estherderm Eau Cellulaire are VERY good ; soothing and super hydrating. I have also found the Chantecaille Magnolia,Jasmine & Lily Healing Emulsion fantastic at instantly soothing and calming a red and irritated skin.
Makeup
You may assume that heavy & full coverage foundation is best but it can work a lot better to add mutli-layers of light makeup and radiant fluids to give a beautiful skin. Rosacea can come hand in hand with dryness and patchiness on the skin so hydration is key and a good illuminating base with a good light liquid foundation mixed with targeted concealer can give a really good and natural yet covered finish. You can opt to leave the powder out if you have very dry skin as this can go a little caked. Look for hypoallergenic makeup that is fragrance and oil-free, sun protection may also be of benefit.
Where to get Advice .
From searching myself there is relatively decent information on the internet but it’s never good to consult the web /Google doctor for analysis! There is a great Rosacea support group in the US but nothing as yet in the UK. It is advised to seek help initially from your doctor first.
If you want to read more information and other blogs about Rosacea then head over to the Experience My Rosacea ‘blog carnival‘.
#ExperienceMyRosacea
#Rosacea
