Rosacea is a relatively uncommon skin condition that causes redness and inflammation on the face. It can also cause bumps, pimples, and thickening of the skin. Whilst there are many treatments available, there is no cure for it. It’s also not fully understood what causes rosacea, so dermatologists aren’t entirely sure how best to treat it. Whist this can be frustrating, eventually you will find things that work for you. Have a look at the tips below if you’re struggling:
Use CBD oil
CBD oil, like this cbd oil for example, is a compound found in cannabis that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. This can help to reduce redness and puffiness, which many rosacea sufferers struggle with.
A small study published in the journal JAMA Dermatology found that CBD may be a promising treatment for rosacea. The study included 32 participants who were randomly assigned to use either a CBD-infused cream or a placebo cream for eight weeks. The participants applied the cream to their face twice daily. At the end of the study, those who used the CBD cream had significantly reduced inflammation and redness, compared to those who used the placebo cream.
Whilst more research is needed to confirm these results, this study suggests that CBD may be a promising treatment option. If you are interested in trying CBD for rosacea, however, talk to your doctor first as it may not be suitable for those on certain medications.
Light therapy
Light therapy involves exposing the skin to controlled amounts of light. This can be done with a device called a laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) device.
A study published in the journal Lasers in Surgery and Medicine found that laser therapy was effective in reducing inflammation and redness in people with rosacea. The participants who received laser therapy had significantly better results than those who did not receive treatment.
However, you can’t perform this treatment yourself. A qualified dermatologist is needed to determine the safest amount of light to expose your skin to, so do your research to find a reputable dermatologist who has real experience in dealing with rosacea.
Topical creams
Medicated creams can help to reduce inflammation and redness for some people. There are many different types of topical creams that are available, so it is important to talk to your doctor about which one is right for you. These are the most common:
- Metronidazole cream
- Sulfacetamide cream
- Azelaic acid cream
- Ivermectin cream
Many creams, however, contain strong steroids that will eventually damage your skin if used for too long, so they may not be a long-term solution if your rosacea persists.
Avoid triggers
There are certain things that can trigger a rosacea flare-up. It is important to identify your triggers and avoid them as much as possible. Some common triggers include:
- Sun and wind
- Hot and cold temperatures
- Exercise and sweat
- Alcohol and caffeine
- Dairy and spice
- Hot water and hard water
- Makeup and fragranced cosmetics
- Pollutants
- Stress and anxiety
Obviously, you aren’t going to be able to fully avoid many of these things. It would be impractical to avoid the sun and the wind, unhealthy not to exercise, and impossible to avoid the temperature. This is why rosacea can be so frustrating – most triggers are things you encounter on a daily basis. There is also debate surrounding whether these triggers actually cause rosacea or not, with some finding sun exposure helps on some days, whilst on others it makes it worse. Rosacea can be temperamental, so just try your best to avoid things that aren’t good for skin in general, such as pollutants and alcohol.
Take care of your skin
This might be obvious to rosacea sufferers, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Rosacea does not respond well to harsh skincare routines, so you should avoid exfoliating too often. Fragranced cosmetics are also too harsh for those with rosacea, whilst heavy moisturisers will cause irritation if left to sit. On the other hand, moisturiser that is too light will cause the skin to dry out, causing irritation too, so you need to find a good in-between.
Similarly, harsh emollients (soaps) remove the natural oils that protect your skin against the elements, leading to redness, but too many natural oils will cause redness too, so you need to find a very gentle cleanser to clean your skin with.
Additionally, hot water increases redness and hard water increases irritation. However, nobody wants to shower in cold water, so try washing as normal but keep the water off your face. Instead, splash your face with cold water in the sink. Cold water reduces inflammation, and should leave your skin less red. Hard water, on the other hand, is trickier to deal with. Chemical softeners will irritate your skin, so try a carbon filter to soften your water naturally.
Conclusion
If you have rosacea, it can be easy to despair. Most doctors don’t know how to deal with it, dermatologists debate how to treat it and there is no actual cure. With trial and error, however, you can manage your rosacea and keep your skin looking and feeling its best!
