Daily advice

All you need to know to live with redness on face or rosacea skin

When people see red skin on a face – their own or someone else’s, they can jump to all kinds of conclusions about what caused it and how to care for it. It’s true that there is a lot that we currently don’t know about how red skin functions. But there is equally a large number of things that we do know about managing it. Here we provide a few simple reminders of good and bad actions when it comes to caring for your red skin on a daily basis. And remember, it’s always a good idea to consult your dermatologist to get proper diagnosis and treatment.

A red face is a sign of drinking too much alcohol. FALSE.

It is time to do away with this myth! Red skin is not a sign of alcoholism.
Alcohol is an aggravating factor in this vascular problem. It dilates blood vessels so that skin flushes and turns red.
To prevent this, the simple trick is to avoid alcohol as much as possible. Drink less. Alternate with cold glasses of water. Eliminate it entirely if you can.

My diet affects my red skin. TRUE.

Spicy food, hot drinks and certain fruits and vegetables can trigger your flushes.
It’s been noted that citrus fruits, tomatoes and other foods containing histamine can aggravate your red skin.
In this situation a journal can be helpful. Write down everything that you eat for two to three weeks, as well as when your skin reacts. Gradually, you will identify which foods are your triggers. By avoiding or eliminating them, you will also reduce and relieve your skin’s redness.

Flushing can be brought on by the weather. TRUE.

The sun, the wind, and sudden and wide temperature swings as you go in- and outside in cold weather can all spark a red, blotchy flush on your face. The sun naturally brings redness out.

Be sure to always wear a sunscreen like Photoderm AR, which offers anti-redness and SPF50+ protection.

With the wind and temperature changes, blood vessels dilate and constrict, causing flushes. Wear a scarf in a soft fabric, not wool, to keep your face protected while outside in colder weather.

The better you are at keeping triggers under control, the more you limit your skin’s redness from progressing.

A good workout eliminates stress and therefore reduces redness on the face. IT DEPENDS.

Physical activity is really important to feeling healthy and good about yourself. And it does lower stress levels by releasing feel-good endorphin hormones.

You do need to be careful with the intensity of your workout. Higher intensity will get your heart pounding, and make you flush more.

If you can, try to work out at moderate levels. You can even try working out more often but at lower intensity to still get the benefit without having to push hard.

Walking is an excellent, low-impact way to stay in shape that works your heart, muscles and joints, and even your mind.

Just remember that the post-workout muscle-relaxing sauna session is also out when you’re finished, since the high temperature will make you flush.

By not cleaning my skin, I avoid irritating it with skincare products. FALSE.

Healthy skin starts with clean skin. You should be cleansing it twice a day, in the evening to remove dirt, make-up and pollution, and in the morning to wipe away dirt that’s accumulated overnight.

Try to avoid using tap water to clean your face, as it may contain irritants that make your skin react. Choose instead a neutral, gentle cleanser such as Sensibio H2O, a micellar water with ingredients selected specifically to clean sensitive skin and that doesn’t need to be rinsed off.

The cleanser you choose shouldn’t contain alcohol or any other harsh ingredients, and your skin shouldn’t sting when you use it.

My moisturiser doesn’t seem to make any difference. FALSE.

Your face moisturiser for rosacea doesn’t have a direct effect on your redness, but it does help your skin to maintain its balance.

Gentle moisturisers like Sensibio AR act to repair and soothe your skin. You help to restore your skin’s barrier function, so that irritants and further redness stay out.

The right moisturiser doesn’t produce any burning sensations. It should make you feel fresh and your skin comfortable.

It’s better if I leave my face free of cosmetic products. IT DEPENDS.

Some make-up can do you a world of good. Covering up your redness boosts your self-confidence and makes it easier for you to live your daily life. So go for it.

A face cream like Sensibio AR BB cream not only provides high coverage, it also helps to reduce and prevent rosacea’s inflammation and redness.

The days that your face is too inflamed, you can leave it off if you choose. Your skin may need a rest. Listen to what it’s telling you and adapt as you go.

Wearing our red face together

The burning feeling, the angry redness, the hypersensitivity and pulsing – and that is just how your red face feels! Inside, you feel even worse. Worried, anxious, impatient, defensive, maybe even ashamed about not meeting society’s ideal for perfection. And in such a visible way! You inevitably draw looks from people around you, making you the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons.

Is there a safe place to go, some refuge, to give you and your red face relief from the public eye and the raw exposure?

Red skin takes an emotional toll that also needs attention

Dermatologists agree that beyond the uncomfortable physical aspects of red and blotchy cheeks, flushing and rosacea, these are all accompanied by the weight of their psychological impact. In terms of rosacea alone,

90% of patients experience a fall in self-esteem and confidence*

41% of patients don’t feel comfortable socialising*

88% of patients with severe rosacea have their professional relationships affected*

51% of patients miss work because of severe rosacea*

^**https://www.rosacea.org/patients/all-about-rosacea*

Do any of these sound familiar? Don’t let the burden become too heavy. Talk about you’re the redness on your face with your dermatologist, who can help you in terms of knowing what to expect.
It is also helpful to get in contact with other people who suffer from red skin like you do. They will have similar experiences and be able to empathise with how you feel.

Life would be much simpler if it were possible to predict rosacea flare-ups! Meetings, events and friends could all be planned for the good periods, leaving your red face out of all that social interaction.
Several trigger factors are easier to control. Simply by avoiding hot drinks, sudden temperature changes or the sun, you can have a positive effect on your skin. Stress, however, is not quite so easy to contain. Yet it is one of the most important things that you can manage.

As much as possible, take some time for yourself, and find an activity that soothes your mind and your muscles. It could be yoga, gentle physical exercise, a movie with friends or playing a game with your family. Do your best to evacuate the day’s events, negative thoughts and time pressure that all have a tendency to build up… So that in the morning there is no rush, just getting ready for a normal day.

Beyond the physical discomfort of red skin and rosacea is the shame you may feel when having to interact with others. You run into so many people every day. The bus driver, the barista, colleagues at work, clients at lunch, the grocery line-up until finally, you return to the safety of your home. What is everyone thinking? Are they judging? Maybe they think you neglect your skin when it just has a mind of its own!

Other people only see the visible side of your red skin, but you know all too well that there is an invisible side too. You need a lot of courage to look people in the eye when your face is flaming.

To conquer your anxiety and self-consciousness, remember that you’re much more than your skin. It’s part of who you are but it’s not all of who you are. You’re a whole person with a unique experience and valuable views. For everyone around you, make what is invisible about you more important than what is visible. Focusing on your strengths can help you get past the stigma and judgement. And there’s no harm in giving your self-confidence a boost with some concealing make-up. Be sure to choose products that are adapted to rosacea and your skin’s needs, and that also let it breathe.

Is it sunburn? Bad acne? Are you wearing sunscreen? Oh you should get that looked at! Sometimes people are curious, most often they are well-meaning, but when the same questions get asked day after day, it can get tiring to always hear them.

Behind the questions, there may be assumptions about your lifestyle and hygiene which you know to be plainly wrong. Rather than the looks, it may be this constant concern for your well-being that makes you want to not go out – when in fact, you’re doing very well, thank you very much.

Stay confident in the care that you and your dermatologist give your skin and rosacea. You know yourself better than anyone. Listen and trust yourself.

When stress comes from all sides, you can easily want to stay home and live under a rock. But other people suffering from red skin and rosacea like you can also help you cope and share the weight of your problems.

There is an enormous #skinpositivity community online speaking out about difficult skin conditions, from acne to atopic dermatitis to #rosacea. Why hide away when there are so many of you who feel so much better once you’ve shared?