Everything You Need to Know About Rosacea & How to Treat It

Most of us know that dealing with skin conditions can be difficult, exhausting, and even embarrassing at times and it looks different for everyone. But it’s important to keep in mind that most skin issues such as acne, eczema, and even rosacea, can be treated and they don’t have to rule your world!

Today, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about rosacea, how to treat it, what products to use, and more.

What is rosacea?

Did you know that 16 million people suffer from rosacea in just the US alone? It’s actually amongst the top 5 most common skin conditions! And even though it’s super common, we actually don’t know what causes it which means there isn’t a cure.

Rosacea is a skin condition that typically causes redness, visible blood vessels, and bumps on the skin. Rosacea usually only occurs on your nose, cheeks, and forehead. People who suffer from rosacea deal with flare-ups that occur in cycles which means that you may not have any symptoms for an extended period of time and during a flare-up, you will see symptoms for weeks or months at a time. While rosacea can affect anyone, it’s most common in women who have a lighter skin tone.

Different types of rosacea

To make things even more complicated, there are actually four different types of rosacea.

• ETR (short for erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, long word, we know) shows signs of redness, visible blood vessels, and flushing of the face.
• Symptoms of acne rosacea are well, acne-like breakouts.
• Ocular rosacea is a type of rosacea that affects the eye area.
• Rhinophyma usually affects mean and actually makes the skin on your nose thicken and turn red.

How to treat rosacea

Like we mentioned before, there is no cure for rosacea but there are steps that you can take to prevent flare-ups and reduce symptoms such as redness and breakouts.

You first want to think about factors that contribute to your flare-ups. Everyone is different which means their skins reacts differently to certain things, but doctors and researchers have found triggers that commonly cause flare-ups for people with rosacea (spoiler alert, keep reading to learn more about common triggers).

It’s also super important to find the perfect skincare routine for you and your skin.

Cleanse: A lot of people who suffer from rosacea tend to skimp on cleansing their skin because it’s already dry and irritated. The key to perfecting your cleansing routine is by finding a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your skin and make it feel all tight and squeaky (we’ve all been there). We love our Neroli + Lavender Cleansing Balm for rosacea prone skin because it’s formulated with shea butter and neroli oil (AKA, moisture powerhouses) to provide a deep but hydrating clean.

When cleansing your face, always use lukewarm water to rinse as extreme hot and cold temperatures can cause rosacea flare ups.

Tone: Toner is a skincare step that a lot of people forget about but for those with rosacea, it can be super beneficial. This is because many toners combat redness and dryness. When choosing a toner, make sure to stay away from anything that includes drying alcohols because it can trigger flare-ups for people with rosacea. Additionally, if you are using a toner with witch hazel, be sure to make sure it's alcohol free witch hazel. Most Witch Hazel contains about 14% alcohol (and this usually isn't printed on the label!) so be sure to do your research! Our Tulsi + Rose Toner is our go-to for rosacea prone skin. 

Treat: Rosacea can cause inflammation and irritation so it’s important to have a product in your routine that can help calm your skin down. Our Aloe + Willow Bark Vitamin C Serum is an amazing addition to your product arsenal to soothe your skin while also brightening and reducing the signs of aging. The star ingredient, aloe, is amazing for rosacea and is even recommend by dermatologists to use during flare-ups!

Moisturize: Whether you have dry or oily skin, moisturizing is a crucial step for everyone, but especially for people with rosacea. Hydrating helps trap water in your skin which leads to reduced irritation. Make sure to look for a non-irritation moisturizer that will still pack a moisture punch when shopping for a new moisturizer.

Protect: Last but most certainly not least, make sure to wear your sunscreen, even when it’s cloudy outside! We know we sound like your mom, but wearing sunscreen is so so important for people that suffer from rosacea because sun exposure can cause flare-ups. Make sure to use a physical sunscreen (which are sunscreens that contain active mineral ingredients) instead of a chemical sunscreen so that you’re protected from UVA and UVB rays. Also, avoid sunscreens that are fragranced as they can irritate skin.

What to avoid

Like most skin conditions, certain factors such as some foods and your environment can cause flare-ups of rosacea. If you’re dealing with flare-ups, it’s important to look at your diet, skincare routine, stress levels, and environment to find out what could be causing them. Here are a few common triggers for rosacea flare-ups:

1. Alcohol—We all enjoy a glass of wine after a long workday or a sparkly mimosa during brunch but unfortunately, alcohol is a huge trigger for rosacea flare-ups. While all alcohol isn’t great for rosacea, red wine is the biggest known culprit along with champagne, vodka, and beer.
2. Stress & Anxiety—While we can’t avoid stress and anxiety completely, they are triggers for symptoms of rosacea as well as other skin conditions such as eczema. If you’re feeling more anxious or stressed than usual, make sure to carve out time to take care of yourself (hello, spa night!) and your skin will thank you. We promise.
3. Harsh skincare ingredients—We all know that products and ingredients work differently for everyone but if you’re suffering from rosacea, it’s important to stay clear of products that contain harsher ingredients such as drying alcohols, and fragrances. These ingredients (among others) can cause dry, flaky skin for rosacea prone skin and even make it look worse!