Edited: August 2, 2021
Rosacea is a skin condition that many redheads suffer from. When you have rosacea, there is an increased redness and visible blood vessels. These can also be accompanied by small pus-filled bumps. It usually worsens with cold and hot weather, and layering thick makeup never makes the issue go away – it only covers it up. You may have even thought you had acne when your skin was actually indicating you had the commonly misunderstood skin condition called rosacea. Rosacea is an inflammatory disorder affecting the face and symptoms manifest differently from patient to patient.
Here are some tips for treating rosacea from board-certified anesthesiologist and Functional Medicine/Aesthetics physician Azza Halim, MD:
Identify:
1.Diagnosis is made by patient symptoms and a skin check by a medical professional.
2. Flare-ups can last weeks to months therefore it is best to recognize key triggers and avoid those. Everyone’s triggers are different but some common ones include sunlight, stress, heat, alcohol (especially red wine), hairspray, cold, exercise, spicy foods, and dairy.
3. Although the cause of rosacea is unknown, it is due to a combination of hereditary and environmental factors and is not related to poor hygiene.
Treatments:
4. Treatments include topical creams to control redness and irritation, that can be prescribed by a dermatologist.
5. As for skincare, there are several gentle cleansers and moisturizers specifically for rosacea such as ones by Cetaphil, CeraVe, and Skinceuticals that control the redness and contain Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate the skin well.
As each case differs, there is no one size fits all when it comes to a skincare regimen whether treating specific conditions or just as prevention. Rosacea must be properly assessed/differentiated from acne, psoriasis, eczema, and generalized capillary fragility.
For more tips, read the Top Tips to Control Rosacea with Dr. Leslie Baumann
Rock it like a Redhead!