Looking After Your Skin If You Suffer From Rosacea

Posted on January 31, 2010
Filed Under |

If you suffer from rosacea you’ll be aware that your skin is easily irritated and very sensitive. You will probably find it better to use specially formulated rosacea skin care products that are gentle on the skin and will not make your problems worse. If you find that a product causes a stinging feeling then you should stop using it.

A few sufferers of rosacea have found that some products that contain menthol, peppermint oil, salicylic acid or eucalyptus oil have resulted in irritation of their skin so you should be very careful if you purchase a product that contains these ingredients and use a very small amount at first to test the reaction of your skin.

Rosacea sufferers are often more sensitive to the sun’s rays which may cause flare ups. It is important to always apply a high factor sunscreen even when the day is cloudy for best protection. A sunscreen that  contains zinc or titanium dioxide is a good idea as these ingredients will not aggravate the skin.

Treatments for Rosacea

It’s important, if you have symptoms of rosacea, that you consult a dermatologist or other health care practitioner who is able to give you a suitable treatment. The most frequent therapy that is prescribed is a combined course of oral antibiotics followed by medicines, that may be creams, lotions or gels, which can help control the condition in the long term. These decrease inflammation which can reduce the redness that is present in rosacea and can decrease the incidence of flare ups.

The medicines applied to the skin boost the antibiotics effect and assist with control over the long term. Some drugs commonly used are azaleic acid, sodium sulfacetamide and metronidazole.

For rosacea sufferers who fail to respond to these treatments or whose rosacea is severe perhaps with disfigurement, there are some other therapies. Laser therapy is often used to take care of the blood vessels that are visible on the skin, dermabrasion can be used or plastic surgery.

Dermabrasion removes the skin’s top layer to leave it clearer and smoother. For rosacea sufferers with skin thickening, particularly in the region of the nose, one successful option is plastic surgery to repair severely damaged areas.

Ingredients Used in Rosacea Skin Care Preparations

As soon as the condition is controlled, OTC skin care preparations can be used successfully. Specially formulated rosacea skin care products are available that are non-irritating and mild, contain ingredients that have been shown to be useful for sufferers and have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Other ingredients found helpful include Vitamin K and Willowherb. Willowherb has a long tradition of use in treating burns and inflammation and is very good for lessening the redness resulting from by rosacea. Vitamin K is critical for the health of the blood vessels and helps to heal the capillaries in the face.

Bio Maple has also been reported to be effective in lessening blemishes and redness and can help to inhibit the bacterial growth. Bio Maple is extracted from maple trees and has a similar pH to the skin.

Cosmetics

Women need to also take care when they buy cosmetics. Heavy cosmetics will clog up the pores and trap oil, which will encourage the growth of bacteria. An oil free, light cosmetics should be used.

In Conclusion

Although rosacea is a painful and upsetting condition there are treatments available. As well as using topical medication, taking care of your skin and being careful of the preparations you apply to your face, will result in a marked improvement.

For more helpful information on rosacea visit Choosing Rosacea Skin Care Preparations

Comments

Leave a Reply