Rosacea is a very common skin complaint – around 1 in 10 people develop it at some point during their life. While it doesn’t have any serious health implications, it can still have an impact on the daily lives of sufferers who feel self-conscious about the condition flaring up. Many people experience rosacea but haven’t had it diagnosed – so, what is it, and how can you treat it?

What Is Rosacea And What Causes It?

Rosacea is the name given to regular and excess blushing or flushing that is often combined with visible blood vessels on your face. Occasionally it can be combined with small red bumps that look like blemishes. The most common sign of rosacea is blushing when seemingly nothing has caused it.

Nobody seems to know what causes rosacea for definite, but studies have made initial links to having an overactive immune system, environmental factors and is potentially being hereditary. It’s important to point out that, at the moment, these are simply educated guesses at best.

Several factors can cause flare-ups of rosacea. While you can experience redness on the face when using products that aren’t right for your skin, this is a skin reaction and not rosacea. Rosacea and the subsequent flare-ups are not caused by poor hygiene or ill-suiting products.

Rosacea flare-ups can be triggered by many things such as heat, sunlight, stress, alcohol or spicy foods – triggers vary from person to person.

Can You Shorten Flare-Ups?

There are several methods that you can try to shorten the length of a flare-up. They might not work for everyone as each person experiences rosacea differently – additionally, some remedies will work better for certain triggers than others.

In general, soothing your skin with a fragrance-free moisturiser for sensitive skin could help provide some relief. Choosing a sensitive moisturiser is important, so you don’t exacerbate the flare-up.

If your rosacea flare-up has been triggered by heat, then try dampening a towel with cold water and placing it on the back of your neck. For a flare-up triggered by stress, you should take some time to do something that relaxes you, like walking or meditating.

Are There Any Natural Remedies For Rosacea?

Rosacea isn’t curable, but there are things that you can do to naturally lessen the frequency and severity of your flare-ups.

Firstly, rosacea is linked to dehydration, so ensure that you’re drinking enough water and applying a fragrance-free moisturiser regular to ensure that your body is hydrated from the inside and out. Using a humidifier in your room at night could also help calm the condition in the long term.

Rosacea is also commonly known to react to certain foods and drinks. If you’re getting a lot of flare-ups, try cutting out caffeine and alcohol for a while to see if your symptoms improve. Spicy foods commonly trigger rosacea, and dairy products are also known to cause issues for rosacea sufferers.

Heat and physical exertion also trigger rosacea, so if you enjoy working out, then try bringing a flannel to put in cold water afterwards. If you can, exercise somewhere that has air conditioning.

Finally, rosacea can be brought on by stress or any kind of intense emotion, so practising mindfulness is a great way to counteract this. You should try taking regular breaks during stressful times – head for a walk, write in a journal, or just scroll through social media. Whatever helps you relax!

How Else Can Rosacea Be Treated?

If you’ve tried managing rosacea at home with no luck, then reaching out to a trained professional could really help. Hans Place Practice offers a number of treatments that could ease the suffering of rosacea.

As we’ve already mentioned, finding the right skincare is one of the best ways to treat rosacea. Obagi offers a range of prescription-strength skincare products that are designed to penetrate the skin at a deeper level.

It changes the way the skin works in order to improve healing, reduce hyperpigmentation, boost moisture retention and increase the skin’s tolerance to external factors. Obagi can be an excellent way to treat rosacea flare-ups as well as reducing skin sensitivity to minimise future flare-ups. It’s also a great way to improve your skin’s overall condition.

Obagi uses prescription-strength ingredients, which means you need to have a consultation before a clinician can prescribe it to you. Dr Mike Comins can give you advice on how to look after your skin, and if you choose to go for Obagi skincare, he will be in touch over the following months to check your progress and ensure that it’s working for you.

Rosacea is a frustrating condition that can make sufferers feel embarrassed or self-conscious, but once you’re aware of the things that trigger a flare-up, you can begin to treat it. As with everything, leading a healthy lifestyle can go a long way to reducing symptoms, but Hans Place is experienced and able to treat your concerns if you need extra help.