Blog Post

Rosacea Top Tips & Advice

Victoria Hayes • 10 April 2022

'I'M NOT BLUSHING, ITS ROSACEA'

Working with many Rosacea clients at my Skin Clinic in Alsager, is one of the most common skin conditions that I treat, which affects both men and women, mainly in lighter skin types. 

April is Rosacea Awareness Month and I'm sharing with you my tips, advice and treatment options for this chronic skin condition that affects 1 in 10 people.

What is Rosacea?

It commonly presents on the midface with redness and visible blood vessels, small red, pus-filled bumps may also appear. 


If you have Rosacea you may flush easily and skin can become sore. Your eyes may also become affected with swelling of the eyelids in more severe cases of Rosacea. These symptoms can last for weeks or even months depending on the severity and then lessen or vanish for a while. 


Rosacea Treatment Alsager
There are 4 types of Rosacea;

Type 1- Flushing or persistent redness of the cheeks with visible blood vessels.
Type 2- Redness, swelling with bumps and pimples. 
Type 3- Skin thickening, often resulting in an enlargement of the nose.
Type 4- Eye irritation with bloodshot eyes and swollen eyelids that feel gritty and sore. 

You may have a single type or several types, but the most common are types 1 & 2. 

What makes Rosacea worse?

There are a number of triggers/factors that can make Rosacea worse. Lifestyle factors including alcohol (especially red wine) (sad face), stress, caffeine and spicy food. Also, hot showers or baths, saunas, steam rooms and hot yoga are a no-no, and try to avoid extreme cold. Generally speaking, you should avoid extreme temperatures and anything that increases heat in the skin.

When planning your skincare regime, I advise clients to avoid strong high active ingredients, such as retinol and exfoliating acids as these can be overstimulating for a reactive skin. You should also avoid the use of facial scrubs (exfoliators) and harsh cleansers and toners, as these can set Rosacea off. 

Can diet affect Rosacea? 

Yes, it can. I advise clients to stick to a non-inflammatory diet as this may help. You should look to minimise refined sugars and where possible stick to minimally refined foods and anything that can help microorganisms in the gut. Pre and probiotics will help promote good bacteria in the gut, and antioxidant foods such as tomatoes and blueberries can help to strengthen the skins barrier function. Fats such as oily fish, nuts, seeds, avocadoes - commonly known as ‘good’ fats, will help to keep your skin hydrated and balanced if it gets dry and flaky.

What products can help Rosacea?

When you’re looking for products to help your Rosacea azelaic acid and niacinamide are good ingredients to look for as they can help to soothe redness and reduce inflammation. Choose un-scented products to avoid irritation and opt for gentle, non-foaming redness-reducing cleansers. I also recommend Vitamin C serums to help to strengthen the skin barrier, which becomes weakened in those suffering from Rosacea - these serums also help shield your skin against environmental factors such as pollution and the sun. 

Moisturising is key for helping your skin stay supple, soothed and balanced. I also recommend using a daily SPF (sun protection factor), preferably a physical SPF rather than chemical as these are best for sensitive skin types and repel heat rather than absorb it. If you’re not sure of the differences between chemical and physical SPF and want to know what you should be stocking-up on ahead of the summer see my blog post here.

In my experience, well-formulated products like Medik8 are very effective in treating Rosacea, rather than ‘natural’ brands. Many natural, organic ingredients used in skincare products can cause significant skin sensitivities that build up over time. This is often true of essential oils added as ‘fragrance ingredients’. My customers have had vast improvements once they’ve swapped from irritating ‘natural’ products to science-based formulations.

If you’ve had or are having a flare-up of Rosacea and feel you’ve tried various over the counter products and aren’t getting any improvement, visit your GP. There may be additional factors contributing to the condition and they may suggest a course of antibiotics such as doxycycline or lymecycline and/or a topical treatment such as Rozex or Soolantra cream, which in my experience is excellent.
Rosacea Treatment

In-salon treatments for Rosacea 

Prior to a visit to the doctor, there are a number of treatments for Rosacea I recommend as a facialist and skin care expert, which can be carried out in a salon. These include LED light therapy, prescriptive cosmeceutical facials and redness reducing peels and IPL/laser treatments. 

When clients come to me with Rosacea I generally recommend a series of calming and hydrating facials and a redness-reducing Skin Peel. Of course, every case is different and anyone you see about your Rosacea should perform an in-depth skin consultation before agreeing on the right programme of treatments with you.

Is there a cure for Rosacea? 

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Rosacea and it is a condition that you have to learn to manage the best you can. My advice for anyone beginning on their Rosacea journey is to start by making a diary tracking your triggers so you can avoid them. 

Rosacea can be distressing and may be embarrassing at times, however, you can reduce its severity by following a few of the above steps and working with a facialist or skincare consultant - or a GP if it becomes severe. Scientists are working on researching a cure, and I'm hopeful they will, but this could take several more years and a proactive approach to management is the key to minimising the effect so that you can get on with your life.   

If you have Rosacea and would like to have a chat about it, or would like some recommendations for products to treat your Rosacea please message me and I’ll be happy to help.

Come and join me in my Private Facebook Group too!

Vicky x
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