My red, itchy, acne-like skin was indeed mild to moderate Rosacea. And although I had a new topical prescription in hand, I didn't really know what else to do once I walked out that door.
He hadn't recommended anything else.
Was I supposed to use a certain cleanser?
Could I still use the skin care products I was using on my skin?
He didn't tell me any of that.
I was so relieved he'd given me a prescription to help clear my skin but I didn't really know what to do next.
If you've recently been diagnosed with Rosacea by a skin care professional, I want to share with you what I learned so you don't have to stumble around in the dark trying to figure out what to do next.
Just Diagnosed with Rosacea? 4 Simple Next Steps to help you care for your skin
1. Create a new gentle Rosacea-safe skin care routine
This was the BIGGEST thing I needed help with after walking out of my appointment. How was I supposed to wash my face now that I had Rosacea? What face wash was I supposed to use? What about a Rosacea-safe moisturizer? Help!
Thanks to the recommendation of a dermatologist and my own trial and error over the years, I have found the holy grail of Rosacea skin care, or as I also like to call it:
The Rosacea Skin Care Dream Team
ROSACEA SAFE CLEANSER
My favorite: Vanicream gentle cleanser. It is so gentle and creamy on my skin, without any irritation at all and cleans really well without stripping my skin's natural oils. I can often find it at Target or Walgreens.
ROSACEA SAFE FACE CLOTHS
My favorite: Fairface Soft Flannel Face cloths. These are the only face cloths I will use on my Rosacea prone skin. I need more than just my fingertips to clean my skin, and these are the next best thing! They are so soft and gentle, and don't cause any irritation to my sensitive skin. Find them at FairfaceWashcloths.com and FairfaceWashcloths.etsy.com.
ROSACEA SAFE MOISTURIZERS
My favorite: CeraVe moisturizing cream OR Vanicream lite lotion I have used both moisturizers safely on my Rosacea prone skin. I tend to use CeraVe because I love its thicker, creamier coverage, but Vanicream is a very nice lighter-weight option if you don't want something very thick.
I can safely say I use all of these sensitive skin products every day and have had no irritation from them whatsoever. It is so important to wash your face gently morning and night and always moisturize. Also be sure to use any topical medications as prescribed by your dermatologist and for daytime, sunscreen is a must (as we discuss in #3)!
2. Sleep on the right pillow case and change it often to help decrease Rosacea flares
This is such an easy way to keep your skin cleaner (and clearer)! After all your effort to keep your skin clear and calm, you don't want to "undue it" by sleeping on a dirty pillow case. Plus, sleeping on a clean, cooling pillow case can be so good for Rosacea by keeping your skin cooler at night with less flushing.
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| Best pillow cases for rosacea, eczema and sensitive skin Photo ©Fairface™ |
ROSACEA SAFE PILLOW CASE
My favorite: Silk-Cotton Pillowcases from Fairface. These pillow cases not only feel soft and silky against my skin, it also reduces heat on my face through the night which means less flushing (so important for rosacea!). Plus, the glide of the fabric reduces friction to my skin and hair throughout the night, decreasing new fine lines and hair breakage. I'll take 2 please!
3. Apply sunscreen daily to protect Rosacea prone skin
I haven't always had the best relationship with sunscreen, but once I did, there was no looking back. There is no better way to protect your skin from aging and damage than wearing sunscreen AND it is vital for keeping your Rosacea prone skin protected and healthy.
According to the National Rosacea Society, exposure to the sun is named as one of the top triggers for rosacea flares and can also cause severe redness and visible blood vessels on the skin. Protect, protect, protect!
ROSACEA SAFE SUNSCREENS - My favorite: I have been using Eucerin Daily SPF 30 on my face, neck, chest and arms for years and my skin tolerates it well.
It is often recommended that those with Rosacea choose a UVA/UVB protecting, non-chemical sunscreen (those that reflect sunlight, rather than absorbing UV rays) containing zinc or titanium dioxide, to lessen the possibility of irritation.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Face Sunscreen SPF 50 comes highly recommended but I haven't tried it myself.
4. Choose make-up that is safe for Rosacea and sensitive skin
Once you calm, protect and manage your skin (steps 1-3) you can celebrate it! I think of make-up as the "cherry on top" of healthy skin.
The key to wearing make-up if you have Rosacea, is choosing make-up that won't irritate your skin. Honestly, finding the right make-up can feel like starting at step 1 again and be very overwhelming. So many choices, and the last thing you want to do is spend a bunch of money on products that might not be right for your skin, or even worse, irritate it!
Choose brands made for sensitive skin and/or Rosacea for the best chance of finding products that won't irritation your skin.
ROSACEA SAFE FOUNDATION MAKE-UP
My favorite: I have been using Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation for years and my skin has tolerated it well, HOWEVER, that's all about to change. This particular foundation has been discontinued and I will be looking for a new foundation. Ugh.
My next "Rosacea friendly" foundation to try is from It Cosmetics, because it was initially created by someone with Rosacea herself (Jamie Kern Lima). Fingers crossed. I will share my experience once I've used it. Have you tried it?
OTHER MAKE-UP FOR ROSACEA PRONE SKIN
I, personally, only wear foundation, eye liner and mascara (Maybelline eye liner and Loreal mascara). I also have Ocular Rosacea (read more about Ocular Rosacea ) so sometimes eye make-up can sting my eyes. My eyes have tolerated these products well, so for now they are what I use.
I found a Rosacea forum where people discuss products they've tried, so you could check that out.
Do you have any Rosacea safe recommendations for eye make-up or other make-up? Please share in the comments!
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Getting diagnosed with Rosacea doesn't have to feel overwhelming or scary if you find the right products and routines to keep your skin stay calm and clear. I hope this has helped!
I'd love to hear your own experience with Rosacea and any products or favorite tips you'd like to share! Comment below, or reach out to me on Instagram or Facebook @FairfaceWashcloths - I'd love to hear from you!
xo Shannon
Shannon Sorensen is the Founder and CEO of Fairface Washcloths for sensitive skin
SHOP:
Fairface Washcloths, the softest washcloths and face cloths for sensitive skin:
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