The 2 subtypes of rosacea that affect the skin on the face are:
ETR – Erythematotalengiectatic Rosacea
Characterised by persistent flushing, talengiectasia (tiny spider veins).
PPR – Papulopustular Rosacea
Characterised by ongoing erythema (redness) with papules (spots/blemishes) and pustules (spots with pus) of varying severity.
Symptoms of rosacea can be of 1 form or a combination of them both.
Triggers and Symptoms
Firstly, rosacea is a systemic condition, which means it cannot be cured – it is common for mild forms of rosacea to flare up and down quite randomly but can also be persistent in nature, especially in more severe rosacea.
Symptoms can be transient or persistent and can progress in severity.
Factors found in rosacea skins
- Increased and frequent inflammation and/or papules and pustules
- Visible capillaries
- Commonly seen on cheeks and nose but also chin and forehead.
- Overabundance of certain skin microbes especially the Demodex mite.
- Skin sensitivity
- Impaired skin barrier
Environmental & aggravating factors
- Stress
- High ‘amine’ diet: alcohol, dairy, spicy foods, hot drinks, caffeine.
- Exercise (cardio)
- Extreme changes in temperature
- Over exposure to UV light
- Use of harsh skin products (avoid: sulphates, physical scrubs, Hydroxy acids i.e. glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid.)
All of the above cause an increase in the dilation or constriction of blood vessels which can induce a flare up.
Things you can do
- Avoid the aggravating factors listed above as much as possible.
- Keep well hydrated by drinking lots of water/herbal teas
- Help repair the skin barrier with an unperfumed moisturiser (preferably emulsifier and preservative free)
- Use Minimum SPF 15 mineral sunscreen when anticipating sun exposure. For inflammatory skin it is a good idea to avoid application of unnecessary products as much as possible so if you are going to be in an office between 9am-5pm then there is NO NEED to apply any sunscreen at all.
Dietary advice:
Try to reduce inflammatory foods as much as possible:
Anything that spikes your blood sugar levels creates inflammation in the body so cut out any refined sugar e.g. sweets, fizzy drinks, cakes, biscuits, desserts etc also high starch foods such as bread, pasta, white potatoes & rice all break down into sugars very quickly.
Cut out alcohol. This also quickly converts to sugar in the bloodstream but also creates flushing in the skin. Red wine is probably worse for this.
For some people dairy produce is an inflammatory trigger so its worth experimenting by cutting out dairy products completely for 6 weeks and see if it helps.
Supplements that can help with minimising rosacea symptoms
Probiotics/Prebiotic combination –
The balance of bacteria in our gut has a profound role in the health of our skin.
There is a direct link between the population of microbes in the gut and those on the skin.
Inflamed gut leads to inflamed skin so balancing the gut can in turn lead to calmer skin.
Particularly good if you have recently taken a course of oral antibiotics.
Probiotics can:
- Repopulate the gut and skin with beneficial microbes to prevent an overgrowth of pathogenic microbes
- Help regulate the immune system and control inflammation
- Support healthy barrier function in both gut and skin preventing
“leaky gut” (and “leaky skin”)
PREbiotics are “food” for the beneficial bacteria to thrive.
Omega 3 – highly anti-inflammatory and is a constituent part of our cell membranes and the lipid bilayers of our skin barrier so consistent supplementation will improve flare ups and strengthen the skin barrier function, improving the resilience of the skin.
Any supplements need to be taken consistently for a minimum of 6 months before deciding if they are providing any benefit to you.
Other things to try:
Blue light therapy
Thereis ongoing research being done on the benefits of blue light therapy on inflammatory skin conditions and so far there have been excellent results obtained in the reduction of inflammation and improvement of skin appearance for all inflammatory skin conditions.
What is most appealing about light therapy is that it is completely non invasive and no side-effects have been noted. The only people who shouldn’t use it are those on photosensitive medications.
Read more about why skin inflammation occurs and how to help >>> What makes skin sensitive or inflamed?
All skins can be dramatically improved by restoring and maintains a strong skin barrier so read more on >>> What can I do to create a strong and resilient skin barrier – in other words achieve REALLY healthy skin!?