When I read the night before that the official fall equinox was beginning at 3:50am in the morning, I think it seeped too far into my brain, thus triggering a 4am wake-up call to nothing but the official arrival of fall whilst laying awake in complete darkness.
While this change of season means less daylight per day (thru December 21, 2019, the official time of winter solstice), what does it mean for your skin? Do you need to do anything differently for your Rosacea-prone skin in the fall?
I wanted to share these 5 Rosacea skin care rules I personally live by as the seasons change, to help my skin adapt to the weather and conditions without skipping a beat.
5 Tips to Reduce Rosacea Flares this Fall
1. Stay hydrated
Drinking more water hydrates and plumps your skin cells, flushes out toxins and improves circulation and blood flow. It is listed on Rosacea.org as a top tip for healthy skin, since dehydrated skin is more prone to flare-ups, irritation and sensitivity.2. Keep your skin moisturized
A common problem associated with Rosacea is the facial skin barrier dysfunction which makes facial skin unable to retain water. Moisturizers are an important part of a Rosacea skin care routine to lock in as much moisture as possible, so make sure to apply moisturizer every day while your skin is still moist. If you use a topical medication for your Rosacea, like I do, my dermatologist told me medication first, moisturizer second.3. Keep wearing sunscreen
You know how I feel about sunscreen. Sunscreen 365. I wear it every day without fail, rain or shine and in Seattle, where I live, it's often cloudy and even rainy. Do I still wear sunscreen in the fall? Heck yes! It is a physical layer of protection from the elements and UVB & UVA rays that are still there, even in cloud cover or rain. Wear it religiously. It's most often the number 1 skin care recommendation that skin care professionals make. If you do nothing else, wear sunscreen (but ps, please also wash your face).4. Dress in layers
One of my big pet peeves as the weather starts to get cooler, is places that crank up their heaters like it's below zero outside. Since flushing often leads to Rosacea flares, it's really important to maintain a comfortable body temperature. Since you can't control someone's thermostat, dressing in layers will allow you to still wear the stylish outfit, but take a layer off if needed, so if rooms starts to heat up, you can layer down before you face gets flushed. I personally like to wear a cute graphic tee and a colorful cardigan. Peeling off the outer layer can give you instant relief.5. Choose a cooler version of your favorite cold weather drinks
One of my favorite things to do with my mom in the fall and winter, is grab a Starbucks hot chocolate, with a shot of caramel. Mmmmm. Just writing this makes my mouth water. The downside to drinking something hot like hot chocolate or coffee is the heat that it brings to our face and body. If you were lost in a snowstorm and someone handed you a thermos of hot chocolate, you'd be all in, but if you have Rosacea, you need to watch your heat intake.One trick I've found that works well for me at Starbucks is to ask them to make my drink lower temperature, or even "kid temperature". Not only does this make it more comfortable to sip down, it helps eliminate flushing brought on from drinking something hot.
Do you have any fall skin care secrets or products to share that help keep your Rosacea at bay in cold temperatures? We'd love to hear from you!
I also included links to some of my favorite products to help with the 5 Rosacea fall skin care rules I discussed. If the links are thru Amazon, please note that I may make a small commission on purchases through these links.
Thanks for reading! xo
Shannon
Founder, Fairface Washcloths for sensitive skin
RELATED PRODUCTS WE RECOMMEND:
STAY HYDRATED
STAY MOISTURIZED
WEAR SUNSCREEN 365
CARDIGANS & TEES TO LAYER
- I've found good deals on cardigan sweaters at Target and Macys
- Favorite place for cheap graphic tees - Old Navy
photo credit: Timothy L Brock on unsplash |
OUR FAVORITE STARBUCKS REFILLABLE TRAVEL CUP & HOT CHOCOLATE
*or make it yourself and choose your own water temperature!
**If you're making your own, don't forget a splash of Caramel syrup in your hot chocolate...mmmmm