All About Rosacea
Pronounced roh-Zay-shah, this condition afflicts people mainly of northern European (including British) descent. It is marked by a chronic, defuse redness on the cheeks, chin, nose and forehead, with a collection of visible blood vessels that look like a tiny roadmap on any of these areas. When the condition is more severe, i.e. when a “flare-up” occurs, small pimples with white heads can develop in some people, while in others who are more dry, redness simply gets worse. Both calm down after the flare-up subsides.
It was previously thought to be a skin condition, which is why antibiotics used to be prescribed, but it is now understood that Rosacea is actually a vascular disorder and cannot be addressed by antibiotics alone. The cause is unknown and there is no cure, but it is understood to be genetic, possibly connected to an inherited weakness in the capillary walls. with an added sensitivity to a certain mite living on the skin that all of us get in the hospital when we’re born.
Skin care, therefore, must concentrate on calming and soothing the skin, reducing the intensity of blood flow, strengthening capillary walls, helping the body build new capillaries, along with supplement and lifestyle changes. In more severe cases, prescription medications, like Finacea, Metrogel or Metrocreme are very effective when used in conjunction with the above mentioned remedies.
Lifestyle changes include:
•Lowered consumption of alcohol, or if the problem is severe, cutting it out completely
•Eliminating things like spicy or other foods that you notice cause flare-ups
•Exercising in ventilated areas only, or outside before 10am or after 3pm
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• Entirely avoiding steam rooms and saunas
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• Turning down the temperature of your shower
•Standing by an open window when in a heated or intense conversation
•Covering the face between extreme changes in temperature, i.e. from cold wind to a warm building
•Opening the passenger side window of your car a crack when the heat is on full blast
•Being super-religious about sunscreen, avoiding sun exposure whenever possible
•Increasing consumption of dark green leafy vegetables, orange and yellow vegetables, and the "pith" of citrus fruits (that’s the white stuff you normally throw away)
•Taking a supplement of vitamin C, with extra bioflavanoids added in, such as a supplement called “Quercetin Complex”
Daily skin care routine for Rosacea, sensitive skin, and capillary redness is as follows :
AM:
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1. Cleanse : mild foaming cleanser if oily, soothing lotion cleanser if dry
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2. Tone : alcohol-free toner that is calming and reparative
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3. Calm : calming, hydrating, repairing serum
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4. Sunscreen : must be hydrating and designed for sensitive skin, and totally non-clogging
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5. Protect : Lipid barrier replacement serum (only if skin is dry or in an arid climate)
PM:
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1.Cleanse : mild foaming cleanser if oily, soothing lotion cleanser if dry
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2.Tone : alcohol-free toner that is calming and reparative
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3.Calm : calming, hydrating, repairing serum
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4. Moisturize : must be hydrating and calming, and totally non-clogging
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5. Protect : Lipid barrier replacement serum (only if skin is dry or in an arid climate)
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•1 to 2 times per week: a soothing gel mask if dry, or a purifying clearing mask if oily/broken out.
Exfoliation can come in the form of a very light complexion brush, which has bristles very much like a baby’s brush. Some skins can handle AHA’s and others need only a periodic facial for exfoliation. Discuss your options with your Esthetician.
