Top Tips for Rosacea Patients
As a dermatologist with rosacea, I take an extra interest in rosacea. Over the past 20 years of living with rosacea and treating patients, I’ve learned a thing or two. For a more detailed discussion of rosacea, see our Rosacea 101 post. Here’s some highlights of what I try to share with rosacea patients on a daily basis.
Pay attention to your skin care. Rosacea is one of the most nuanced and finicky skin care conditions in my opinion. Be consistent with the soaps and moisturizers you use. Don’t just use your friends, family members or what they have at the hotel. Figure out what works for you and be consistent.
Use your prescribed medication on a regular basis not just when it flares up. Those with rosacea will always have a tendency for rosacea. There is no cure for rosacea. Using medication on a regular basis is designed to keep rosacea under constant control. Avoid flares by being consistent with medication.
Wear a zinc-based sunscreen every day. Every day? Yes, every day. Most rosacea patients flare with sun exposure. However, most chemical sunscreens flare up rosacea. Zinc on the other hand is soothing to the skin. Adding some tint gives some coverage as well.
Watch for things that cause a flare and avoid them when possible. Although we have a list of common things that cause flares, it often takes a lot of detective work to figure out exactly what is aggravating. For foods and drinks, the face will feel flushed, tingly, or itchy when eating or drinking the offending food or item. If possible, set that food aside. It took me years to figure out that it was actually molasses in barbecue sauces that flared my rosacea. Once I found barbecue sauce without molasses, I am good to go.
Don’t overlook the comorbidities. Comorbidities are the coexistence of two conditions without causation. Patients with rosacea have several comorbidities. They are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol and skin cancer to name just a few. Make sure you have a yearly physical and bloodwork and skin cancer screening. To learn more about comorbidities in rosacea, see our prior article.
Be Patient. Rosacea is a lifelong condition and will not improve overnight. With consistent treatment and avoiding flaring agents, a significant improvement should be seen with 6-8 weeks of starting a treatment regimen. This is just the beginning of information available on our site and elsewhere about rosacea. To learn more check out some of the links below.
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