How Do You Get Rid of the Appearance of Rosacea?
Key takeaways:
Rosacea is a skin condition that causes a ruddy-like facial appearance.
Calming the skin and reducing inflammation help reduce the red appearance of rosacea.
Some people with rosacea use moisturizers and creams designed to reduce redness. Others say an anti-inflammatory diet can help.
Rosacea is a common skin condition that most commonly affects middle-aged women with fair skin.
There are different types of rosacea — but it’s most identifiable by flushed skin that won’t go away, visible broken blood vessels, and red bumps on the face. Medical treatment is based on severity. A dermatologist might recommend laser treatments, over-the-counter topical creams, low-dose antibiotics to reduce inflammation, or oral prescription medications for more severe rosacea.
Those who deal with the condition often come up with their own lifestyle strategies for reducing the look of flare-ups. Here’s what three women recommend for reducing the appearance of rosacea.
Use a gentle moisturizer
It can be challenging, but not impossible, to minimize the appearance of rosacea, says Connie Elder, the 65-year-old CEO of a skincare company and a resident of Payson, Arizona.
“Using gentle, yet effective moisturizers that don’t irritate the skin further is important,” she says.
She likes products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid that are found in the skin naturally and do not cause any added irritation. She also says CBD serums can help calm the red appearance of rosacea and reduce inflammation.
But she stays away from harsh facial scrubs or products that might “cause the redness from rosacea to be more visible and can make the skin angry,” she says.
An anti-inflammatory diet might help
For 64-year-old Beth Todd, of Nashville, Tennessee, what she puts inside her body is as important as what she puts on her skin.
Beth has had rosacea and psoriasis for most of her life. Blood tests conducted by her physician have shown high levels of inflammation in her bloodstream.
“My mother and grandmother both had autoimmune issues, so I was not surprised to find that I did, too,” Beth says.
She finds her rosacea gets worse at particular times.
“Cold weather flares it up, as well as hot weather. So, temperature extremes can trigger it,” Beth says. “Stress, spicy food, alcohol — these all cause flare-ups.”
She’s found that following an anti-inflammatory diet has helped.
Beth says she feels best when she avoids red meat, dairy, corn, wheat, sugar, and flour. She takes a low dose of doxycycline (an antibiotic) to manage her rosacea, which can also flare up when she’s stressed, hot, or drinks alcohol.
Pay attention to your gut
Abbey Johnson, a 23-year-old social media influencer who posts helpful rosacea care videos on TikTok and Instagram, was diagnosed with rosacea just before turning 20.
Abbey, who’s from Brisbane, Australia, agrees that rosacea goes beyond what is happening on the surface level of the skin.
“Rosacea shouldn’t be treated as just a skin condition,” she says. “Your skin is just a map of your gut.”
She says what appears on her skin could be a response to other things. She stresses the importance of diet in managing her symptoms.
“I focus on giving my body foods that can be easily processed and feed healthy bacteria in my gut microbiome,” she says. “I avoid dairy, too much gluten, processed foods, vegetable oils. I find if I eat a little bit of these foods here and there my body is able to handle it, but if I’m eating too much consistently, then my skin will start to freak out.”
A self-professed skincare and wellness enthusiast, Abbey is studying alternative medicine and naturopathy and the link between gut health and skin issues.
“Through my rosacea journey, I have learned that just looking after your skin is not enough,” she says.
What does the doctor say?
Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH
Medical Editor
Living with rosacea can be frustrating. It’s one of those conditions where it’s not exactly clear what’s really causing it, and it’s likely that several factors come into play. And when there’s not just one direct cause, finding the right treatment can be really tough.
Scientists are still figuring out what exactly causes rosacea, so the prescription treatments available focus on reducing redness instead of addressing the underlying causes. These creams can temporarily make your redness go away for about 12 hours, but redness will return once the medication wears off, especially if you’re having a flare.
There are other treatments, like laser and light therapies, that offer longer-lasting results, but they can be more expensive and require more time commitment. Laser and light treatments can help shrink blood vessels and improve skin thickness.
In addition to treatment, it’s important to find and avoid triggers that can worsen your rosacea. Everyone’s triggers can be different, but some triggers apply to everyone. Sunlight, for example, is a known trigger for rosacea. The UV rays in sunlight can damage the skin and cause inflammation. If you have rosacea, your skin is already more prone to reacting to sunlight. So it’s crucial to prioritize sun protection.
Remember to wear sunscreen with SPF 30 on your face and neck every day. If you’ll be spending time outdoors, consider using a higher SPF and reapplying sunscreen often. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and UV protection sunglasses can also offer extra protection. Whenever possible, try to stay in the shade.
Creating a skincare routine that doesn’t irritate your skin is also important. Many skincare products contain dyes, fragrances, and alcohol. These things might not irritate most people, but they do cause some direct irritation to the skin and that can be enough to trigger your rosacea. Look for gentle products without these ingredients.
Making changes to your diet might help as well. Adding more anti-inflammatory foods like fruits and vegetables can improve your overall health and won't harm your skin.
If you need to cover up redness quickly, try green tinted cosmetics. This will balance out redness and you can still apply a skin-toned cosmetic on top. Keep in a mind that new cosmetics may trigger rosacea, too. If you find a product that works well for you and doesn’t irritate your skin, consider buying an extra bottle or two so you have it in case of emergencies.
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