The Basics of Rosacea Skin Care

Highly sensitive skin is characteristic of rosacea. To properly care for your skin, follow this daily four-step, skin-care regimen.

Cleanse:Skin cleansing should remove dirt without upsetting your skin’s protective layers or natural pH balance. Everyday soaps and cleansers are often harsh, causing dryness and irritation. Because rosacea–prone skin can be easily irritated, it is important to cleanse with a non-irritating, soap-free, oil-free and fragrance-free, gentle skin cleanser. Use as small an amount of cleanser as possible and apply it gently with your fingers. Rinse with plenty of lukewarm water and blot with a soft towel.

Medicate:There is no substitute for medical treatment in the effective management of rosacea. Once diagnosed, carefully follow your prescribed treatment. Apply your prescription medication in a thin layer across the affected areas only and allow it to dry before applying moisturizer, makeup or sunscreen. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Often you will need to experiment with several sunscreens before finding the one that suits you. Apply your sunscreen often and liberally to all exposed areas when outdoors, whether during the summer or winter. Consult your pharmacist for additional information on sunscreens.

Moisturize: Rosacea and other skin conditions noted for dryness can upset your facial skin’s normal protective barrier. To help restore moisture without causing irritation, apply a long-lasting water-based moisturizer in a cream or lotion formulation. Make sure you choose a product that does not contain fragrances or lanolin.

Maintain:You can help maintain your skin’s normal healthy state by cleansing and moisturizing your face once in the morning and again before bedtime.

Can Rosacea Affect the Lips?

Rosacea usually affects the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead. Bumps or pimples around the mouth could be a sign of another skin condition such as perioral dermatitis. This disorder usually presents a red, slightly scaly rash around the mouth and is especially common in women and children. There may be clusters of small bumps around the mouth. Flushing, blushing or visible blood vessels are not usually associated with this condition; however, concurrent rosacea may also be present. You should see your dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapy.

Rosacea or Something Else

While a host of conditions can cause symptoms that may superficially resemble rosacea, dermatologists are increasingly able to pinpoint this widespread disorder and any concurrent conditions in order to tailor appropriate therapy for the individual patient. Proper diagnosis of rosacea can be especially important, since treatments for similar-appearing conditions can often make rosacea worse.
 Rosacea usually begins as a flushing or redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead. Left untreated, the redness tends to grow more permanent, and small dilated blood vessels may become visible on the skin. Bumps and pimples called papules and pustules also commonly appear, and in advanced cases the nose may grow swollen from excess tissue.How do dermatologists differentiate rosacea from other facial skin disorders?
 "In dermatology, it's what you see and where you see it," said Dr. Joseph Bikowski, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh. "The pattern of distribution, the color and size of any bumps and other skin characteristics are usually enough to alert a dermatologist."He noted that some of the conditions that may superficially resemble rosacea include acne vulgaris, folliculitis, perioral dermatitis, contact or seborrheic dermatitis and lupus erythematosus.
For instance, bumps and pimples characterize acne vulgaris, the condition perhaps most often mistaken for rosacea, according to Dr. Bikowski.
A condition called Pityrosporum folliculitis also produces papules and pustules, and an inflammatory disorder known as lupus erythematosus produces redness, scales and a butterfly-shaped rash across the central portion of the face -- all possible signs of rosacea.
However, each of these conditions also has telltale differences from rosacea. For example, in acne, the bumps and pimples may appear over the entire face rather than the central portion, there is no history of flushing and symptoms also include whiteheads or blackheads, called comedones, which do not appear in rosacea.
Furthermore, contact dermatitis -- an allergic reaction to an external agent like poison ivy -- is intensely itchy, unlike rosacea.
Lupus erythematosus is scaly, in contrast to rosacea, and includes macules -- flat areas of redness of the skin.
However, sometimes another skin disorder appearing at the same time as rosacea can complicate the diagnosis, said Dr. Jonathan Weiss, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Emory University School of Medicine.
For example, a rosacea patient with dry, scaly skin may be difficult to distinguish from one with scaling from seborrheic dermatitis, he said, and the two sometimes appear together. To receive treatment that is appropriate for your specific condition or concurrent conditions, it is critical to consult a dermatologist, who can prescribe therapy targeted to your individual skin problems and also ensure that medication to help alleviate one condition does not make another disorder worse. For example, since topical steroid therapy often used for seborrheic dermatitis can trigger or exacerbate rosacea symptoms, Dr. Weiss recommends using nonsteroidal therapy when these two conditions occur simultaneously.In the vast majority of patients, the diagnosis of rosacea is clear to a dermatologist, Dr. Weiss said. "Usually, there is very little doubt that a patient has rosacea," he said.

Sleep your way to better skin

Adequate sleep not only reduces stress - a common rosacea trigger - but also allows your skin time to rejuvenate. So, try these steps to a good night's rest.

Go to bed when you feel tired. If you don't doze off immediately, leave the bedroom and do a chore until you feel sleepy.

Exercise in early evening. Give yourself time to wind down after any workout.

Avoid stimulants. Caffeinated beverages and alcoholic drinks may prevent you from a restful slumber.

Take a warm bath. Soaking in a tub can relax you.

Dim the lights. Soft light creates a restful environment.

Write in a journal. Jot down your worries, thoughts and possible solutions to your problems. Recording your ideas may provide stress relief.

Quiet time is quality time. Unwind each night with a tranquil activity like reading.

Sleep in your bed. Don't use your bed as a place to watch television, read the mail or do anything job related.

Get up each morning at the same hour. Even if you stayed up later, force yourself to get up at the usual time.

Promoting Healthy Skin

Although rosacea is a chronic disorder, it can be effectively managed and controlled with medical therapy and avoidance of factors that aggravate the condition. Beyond this, patients can also take various measures that promote healthy skin. Here are some skin health tips often recommended by physicians.

Drink plenty of water. This will keep skin cells plump, helping to fend off fine wrinkles and will assist in flushing out toxins. Depending on your size, as many as eight full glasses a day may be advised.

Protect against dryness. When humidity is low, as in colder parts of the country during winter, keep skin hydrated with water or a moisturizer recommended by your doctor.

Cleanse with lukewarm water. Hot water tends to cause the skin to lose moisture and may also break down its natural protective barrier. Hot baths and showers have been reported to cause flushing and trigger flare-ups.

Sleep eight hours each night. Adequate sleep not only reduces stress, a common rosacea trigger, but also allows your skin time to rejuvenate.

Avoid beauty and skin-care products that sting, burn or itch. Read product labels to avoid ingredients that may irritate your individual condition.

Minimize exposure to the sun. Sun exposure is a common rosacea trigger, and can also damage the skin, accelerate the aging process and lead to skin cancer. It is therefore important to limit time in the sun and to use sunscreen year-round, even in winter.

Sun Care Tips for Rosacea

Rosacea sufferers have very sensitive skin that requires special care. When you are outdoors, whether during the summer months or when enjoying winter activities, protect your skin by applying a daily facial moisturizer with a minimum of SPF 15, as well as additional sunscreen for protection against prolonged exposure to the sun. Let your prescribed topical medication dry before you apply your moisturizer, makeup or sunscreen.
Remember that protection against the sun’s harmful rays means covering all exposed parts of your body with a sunscreen, minimum of SPF15, according to guidelines set by the Canadian Dermatology Association. In addition to the face, be sure to apply the sunscreen generously to your neck and ears, reapplying it every few hours and after you have been in the water.
You may have to try several different sunscreens to find the one that is best suited to you.

Helpful Skin Care Tips for Rosacea

Avoid pulling or scratching your facial skin; do not use loofahs, brushes, hard sponges or rough towels on your face.

Keep your face well protected when outdoors in cold or windy weather; always use a scarf to cover your cheeks and nose.

Drink a lot of water.

Use a humidifier to offset the drying effects of indoor heating.

Reduce your bathing time; use lukewarm, instead of steaming-hot water.

Stay away from harsh cleansers and astringents that over-dry your skin or any substance that causes redness or stinging.

Avoid alcohol-containing shaving creams or gels; do not use after-shave lotions.

Use an electric shaver rather than a blade, which might cause further irritation. If you use a blade, replace it regularly to avoid scraping.

Avoid skin care products that contain any one of the following ingredients: witch hazel, menthol, peppermint, salicylic acid, eucalyptus oil or clove oil.

Use natural fiber fabrics, other than wool, close to your face or against the skin. Cotton, linen, silk and hemp are soft, breathable and non-irritating.

Choose light, oil-free makeup products. They are safe to use and effective in countering the impact a rosacea flare-up may have on your appearance.