What's more, a few weeks ago, I started seeing tiny specs of blood on my cheek as I was blotting on my foundation with a sponge. Like I had a microscopic cut on my cheek. What I have since learned, is that such problems are a tell-tale sign my Rosacea prone skin was lacking hydration, and my skin barrier was in trouble.
Why you need a Rosacea moisturizer that protects your skin barrier
"A healthy skin care routine is really about taking care of your skin barrier (the outer layer of your skin)." - Tom Allison, a founder of CeraVe
Rosacea prone skin is much more susceptible to sensitivity and irritation, so keeping that protective outer layer, or barrier, in tact and healthy is crucial.
Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD FAAD, said often times with her Rosacea patients, she finds the first step of treatment is getting them on a moisturizer, cleanser and sun protection and off offending products that have been causing more harm than good. Simplifying a Rosacea skincare routine and protecting the skin barrier is really important. -via @CeraVe Instagram #Skinchat with @drmarisagarshick
What's the best moisturizer for Rosacea? One that hydrates your skin.
I decided to reach out to Dr. Marisa Garshick and ask her questions about moisturizers for Rosacea. Even with her over 4,000 followers, she was kind enough to personally respond to my message.
She said the Vanicream moisturizer I had been using (Vanicream Lite Lotion) should be good for Rosacea as the ingredients are both hydrating and support the skin barrier. For those with Rosacea, she also recommended La Roche Posay Double Repair Toleraine or CeraVe, and she concluded that the most important thing for Rosacea, especially this time of year, is feeling hydrated.
Her last sentence was key for me.
My rosacea prone skin, was in fact, NOT feeling hydrated enough with the Vanicream Lite Lotion I had been using, so I was ready to turn up my moisturizing game, and give my skin barrier the extra TLC it needed. (and PS, no offense to Vanicream, I still love their products and use their gentle cleanser every day)
How does CeraVe protect your skin barrier?
With Ceramides.
According to CeraVe, ceramides are lipids that form at least half of the natural skin barrier. Their moisturizers contain 3 of those essential ceramides.
What Do Ceramides Do?
Dr. Donna Tran said, in another Instagram skin chat with Tom Allison, you can think about your skin like the bricks on a house. Your skin cells are the bricks and ceramides are the mortar that helps to cement these bricks together.
Ceramides are great because you want to keep the things in that you want in your skin like water, you don't want it to evaporate out of your skin.
And you don't want things from the environment, the pollution, products, i.e. "the bad stuff", to get into your skin. That's why it's very important to have the ceramides.
If you don't tend to your skin it's going to start leaving little cracks and that's how things from the inside of your skin get out and how things from the outside that you don't want to get into your skin, get in. - via @CeraVe #skinchat with @drdonnatran
Eeek! Did you catch that? Flash back to those little microscopic cuts on my cheek I was telling you about? She just summed it up.
Upgrading my Rosacea skin care moisturizer
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| Best gentle skin care products for Rosacea: Fairface Washcloths, Vanicream cleanser, CeraVe moisturizer | photo ©Fairface™ Washcloths |
You had me at Ceramides
Armed with everything I had learned about Rosacea and the healing powers of CeraVe's moisturizers, I got in the car and drove to Bartell Drugs. To my disappointment, they were all out the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion I wanted to try, but they did have a tub of CeraVe's Moisturizing Cream, so I snatched it up.
After washing my face that night, I unscrewed the plastic lid and dipped my clean fingers down in the creamy mixture. As I gently glazed the CeraVe moisturizer across my face, it felt just as I hoped it would. If my skin could talk, it would have let out a big sigh. It felt very dewy and moisturizing, but not the least bit greasy, and before I screwed the top back on, I even slathered it on my arms and hands.
In the morning, my face and hands felt much more hydrated. My skin didn't feel as tight or dry at all and since then, 2 weeks later, my skin feels much more hydrated. Those little microscopic cracks on my face are a thing of the past.
So if you're like me, and your Rosacea-prone skin is feeling a little dry and not getting what you need from your current moisturizer, follow the advice of Dr. Garshick and remember, the most important thing for rosacea is feeling hydrated.
Must-have skin care products for Rosacea:
Soft washcloths - ditch those traditional scratchy old washcloths. Fairface Delicates, double-sided soft, flannel face cloths are dreamy and gentle to the skin, without any irritating textures.
Gentle face wash - toss anything that has fragrance or irritating ingredients. Vanicream gentle face wash is smooth and creamy on the skin and free of any irritants.
Hydrating Moisturizer - stop using anything with fragrance, a top skin irritant! Use CeraVe moisturizing cream. No fragrance and stacked with 3 ceramides that can protect your skin barrier, keep the moisture in and the bad stuff out.
Sunscreen - always use a broad spectrum SPF on your face and neck every day of at least 30+ . The best sunscreen is the one you'll wear! I use Eucerin Daily SPF 30, but there are many recommended for Rosacea and sensitive skin. Find one you like the best and wear it religiously.
Did you miss our last post? Read how Haley, a fellow Rosacean, found relief after an unfortunate incident with a microfiber cloth
