Rosacea 101: A Health and Beauty Guide
Rosacea is an often misunderstood facial skin disorder. Not many seem to know what causes the red cheeks and irritated skin. For years, I relied on the expertise of pricey New York City facial experts who told me it was broken capillaries or just your average breakout — even hives had been a mistaken diagnosis from some. For those that may be suspicious but aren’t sure if they’re suffering from rosacea, these are a few major indicators according to the National Rosacea Society: flushing, persistent redness, bumps and pimples or visible blood vessels.
The good news is, there are topical solutions for this skin condition. Certain ointments and moisturizers can keep your skin soothed and symptoms at bay, but what I’ve found to be the most effective is the combination of changing up my diet along with a proper skin care and beauty regimen. Here’s what you need to know:
Diet and environment
An elimination diet, which requires removing certain food groups from your daily eating regimen and then reintroducing them to see which you’re poorly reacting to, can be quite challenging but also very rewarding. Red wine and cheese lovers may have an extra difficult time adjusting since these are two of the rosacea inducing culprits. Some of the other major triggers for rosacea are spicy food, citrus fruits and foods that are high in histamine: shellfish, chocolate, milk, and fermented foods and drinks. Since there is no perfect way of eating that works for everybody, do what works for you and give yourself time to adjust. Start by eliminating the things that so obviously make you cheeks itch after you consume them and go from there. If you aren’t seeing the results you desire, you could hire a health coach or naturopath to help guide your way and support you through the process.
While you are sorting out your new meal plans, keep in mind that there are other environmental triggers you can avoid like keep your face shaded from direct sunlight and trying to stay out of extreme cold, windy and humid surroundings.
Skincare
When it comes to skincare, look for products that are meant for sensitive skin and do not contain fragrance which is unregulated in the United States — always read the labels! Avoid products that have astringents like witch hazel or alcohol and either avoid exfoliators or use a lighter formula that wont be as harsh or your delicate face. Cleanse with a non-foaming, mild formula, taking care not to over rub. Make sure to use sunscreen under your moisturizer that has an SPF of at least 15 and will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. Moisturizers that include color correcting tints and natural ingredients like calming calendula are my favorite.
Makeup
When it comes to makeup, you’re going to want coverage. Look for formulas that are free of common irritants like parabens, mineral oil, and talc and only use heavier foundation products over the affected areas. As a makeup artist, one of the most common mistakes that I’ve noticed is applying the same amount of make up from forehead to chin, which creates a mask like effect. For a natural looking complexion, use a clean brush or fingertips to apply a lightweight foundation or tinted moisturizer all over and then add extra coverage where needed with a concealer. Stay away from using a sponge that could promote further irritation on already sensitive skin. Click through to see some of our favorite products for redness-prone skin.
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