Rosacea: What It Is and How to Calm It
Redness is one of the most common skin concerns I help my clients with. Often this redness is due to the skin condition rosacea and can leave people feeling very self-conscious about their skin. Rosacea is categorized into three grades: mild, moderate, and severe. Although many people report flushing as the first sign of the condition, other signs include red spots and dry skin.
Several factors work alone or together to sensitise the skin. Common culprits include irritation from skincare ingredients including Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), alcohol, oxybenzone found in sunscreen, and overuse of exfoliating acids; sun exposure and UV radiation, especially in fair skin; a compromised skin barrier function that causes the body to overproduce histamines; vitamin deficiencies of Vitamins B Complex, C, and D as well as minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes; and even an overgrowth of a mite called Demodex, which produce an enzyme that causes flushing and red bumps. Add into the mix humidity, heat, alcohol, emotional stress, and/or spicy foods, and the result is rosacea.
Luckily, there are ways to calm the skin and eliminate redness. First, seek out a professional for a full consultation. They’ll help figure out what’s causing your condition. Then, they’ll work with you to take an integrated approach to heal your skin.
What can you do now to ease Rosacea?
First, assess your skincare routine and remove any that contain triggering irritants such as SLS, perfumes, glycolic acid, silicone, and oxybenzone. And, never use baby wipes and face wipes to wash your face! Instead, use a gentle cleanser made with enzymes to thoroughly clean the skin. Follow it up with a serum that contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients.
Then, make your skin an inhospitable environment for Demodex mites by incorporating salicylic acid into your skincare routine. It’s also important to incorporate a Vitamin A-based product in your skincare routine to repair your barrier function. Look for products that list Retinol or Retinaldehyde. Also, look for ingredients such as shea and jojoba to keep the skin hydrated.
To keep UV rays at bay, use a mineral sunscreen with an SPF and wear makeup that contains zinc and titanium dioxide. Zinc may also help heal inflammatory skin issues.
But, perhaps most importantly, healthy skin begins from within! Fill your diet with lots of healthy fruits and vegetables and try to avoid inflammatory foods such as gluten, eggs, dairy, sugar, and alcohol. If you do all of these things, you’ll be well on your way to a healthy, even complexion.
This article has been written by Aysha Awwad.
Aysha Awwad is the Co Founder and Director of an innovative company called Medico Beauty that is the sole distributor of American made skin treatments from a company called CosMedix. Over the last twelve years Medico has partnered with award winning clinics, advanced salons and spa’s across the UK and Ireland and helped initiate a new mindset amongst all medical and beauty professionals for understanding the link between healthy skin and digestion.
She is a keen advocate of taking a mindful approach to wellbeing and can often be found learning a new sport or adopting a health trend all in the name of research!
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