Rethinking Your Topical Regimen
- Persistent erythema (redness)
- Phymatous changes (thickening or enlargement of the skin, most commonly on the nose)
- Papules and pustules (lesions)
- Telangiectasia (visible blood vessels)
- Flushing
- Ocular (eye) rosacea
Many people have a mix of these. “The most important thing is identifying what features of rosacea a person has and individualizing their treatment to help those features,” Barbieri says.
Beyond specific rosacea treatment, general skin care is also important.
Always use sunscreen. Sun exposure worsens rosacea. Barbieri recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 50 or higher. Higher SPF helps compensate for the tendency to not use enough or reapply as often as we should, he says. Either mineral or chemical sunscreen is okay as long as you choose one that feels good on your skin.
Check your face cleanser. What you use to clean your skin matters. Choose soap-free cleansers that do not contain fragrance, says Dr. Harvey. These will be less drying and irritating, meaning less disruption to your skin barrier.
Reevaluate your moisturizer. Moisturizers help trap water in your skin and restore the lipids that your skin needs for a healthy barrier. “You want one that feels right on your skin,” says Barbieri. Look for those with a thicker texture and ingredients like dimethicone and ceramides, which can help protect and repair your skin barrier, he says.
For some people with rosacea, especially those with oilier skin and more rosacea papules and pustules, a retinoid or retinol in a cream can often be well tolerated, says Barbieri. To better understand what choices might be good for you, he advises talking to a dermatologist who specializes in rosacea treatment.
Use a patch test before trying anything new. When you have sensitive skin, there’s a risk that new topical products could cause irritation. Barbieri recommends trying a small amount of a new product on your forearm for a few days to see how your skin reacts.
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