Rosacea is a fairly common skin condition that usually reveals itself through prominent, continual redness on the skin.

If you suffer with rosacea you know how frustrating it can be to find a skincare regimen that is effective yet gentle enough for your sensitive, reactive skin. Today I want to focus on skincare regimens in regards to effectively managing and treating rosacea.

Skincare Ingredients to Avoid with Rosacea

Most rosacea prone individuals can find it extremely difficult to find skincare products that work for them because of how easily their skin reacts to products. It is crucial to be mindful of what ingredients you use on your skin if you are prone to rosacea.  

At a minimum you should avoid the following ingredients if you suffer from rosacea-prone skin:

• Sulfates

• Parabens

• Dyes

• Alcohols

• Witch hazel

• Propylene glycol

• Fragrance

• Essential oils

• Eucalyptus

• Peppermint

• Menthol 

• Camphor.  

Unless you are working with a dermatologist or esthetician who suggests otherwise, you should also avoid active or exfoliating ingredients that could potentially cause inflammation. Especially when you are experiencing a flare up, it is best to keep your skincare routine simple. A simple skincare routine for rosacea-prone skin would include products that include calming and hydrating products that have no drying, stripping or irritating ingredients. It is also beneficial to only use your hands while cleansing the skin when you have rosacea, rather than a cloth or sponge, as well as sleeping on a silk pillowcase to avoid unnecessary irritation. 

Skincare Ingredients Beneficial for Rosacea

SPF

As with any skincare condition, sunscreen is extremely beneficial for presenting flare-ups. Sun exposure is triggering and aggravating to most skin types, and rosacea prone skin is no exception. It is very important when managing rosacea that you avoid chemical sunscreens. The chemicals found in chemical sunscreens are not only unsafe, but are very aggravating especially for sensitive skin types. Instead, I recommend using a 100% mineral SPF. 

Ingredients

More skincare ingredients that are beneficial to soothing rosacea proactively include ingredients like…

• Colloidal oatmeal

• Aloe vera

• Niacinamide

• Green tea

• Jojoba oil

• Chamomile

• Hyaluronic acid 

The reason why these ingredients are helpful for rosacea is because they work to minimize irritation while hydrating the skin. Specifically hyaluronic acid is one to look for in skincare for rosacea, because those with rosacea have a compromised moisture barrier, and hyaluronic acid replenishes hydration to the skin.

Working with a Skincare Professional

Even though your skin tends to be sensitive and reactive because of rosacea, that does not mean you have to avoid active skincare ingredients on your skin forever. It is possible to get rosacea to a place where it is under control, and this usually happens while you are working with a skincare professional, like an esthetician. Once your esthetician helps to treat your skin’s needs, you can start to introduce active ingredients such as…

• Lactic acid

• Azelaic acid

• Mandelic acid

• Gluconolactone

• Vitamin C 

• Retinol

The key to adding these ingredients back into your skincare routine is to do so very cautiously. Your esthetician will know when to slowly introduce these ingredients into your regimen starting at a low percentage. This looks like mindfully testing out one active product or ingredient at a time by incorporating it into your regimen only once or twice a week at first. 

Rosacea is tricky because it can easily be triggered by skincare, which is why people often use strictly non-active ingredients to manage it. The thing is, your rosacea will become dormant if it is never challenged by the right active ingredients.  By doing this, you can actually make structural changes within the skin to strengthen it. For example, Vitamin C can easily cause irritation for rosacea-prone skin, but when used cautiously and sparingly, it actually strengthens the skin's blood vessels, making them less reactive. 

Rosacea truly is manageable and common, but it is complicated to treat. It is best to work with a dermatologist or esthetician to ensure your skincare is gentle enough yet still challenging to the skin. It may be a bit of trial and error to find the right balance for your skincare regimen, as everyone with rosacea is different, but it is entirely possible to achieve your skin goals even with rosacea. Skincare professionals also offer many treatments like facials and lasers that help to treat rosacea and reduce the appearance of a flare up. 

Here at Pomp, we offer an easy and convenient way to connect with an esthetician and receive professional skincare recommendations that can help you manage and treat your rosacea.