Rosacea: It’s one of the most common skin conditions, and can also be one of the most irritating and painful. Suffering from redness, but aren’t sure if it qualifies as rosacea? With rosacea, you’ll often see redness, however, you’ll also probably see tiny pus-filled bumps within the area of redness. You’ll also often see visible blood vessels in your face. In comparison, redness can appear on your skin for a variety of reasons, and it can be anywhere from mild to severe, depending on the cause. Your skin may become irritated from external factors or products, especially if you have sensitive skin. You may also have developed a sunburn, itching or dry skin.
No matter the cause, both rosacea and redness can be an annoying and sometimes painful burden to bear with your skin. They’re often treatable with the same types of ingredients and products. Certain ingredients in skincare products can be effective in soothing rosacea and redness in the skin, while others tend to inflame the area more. Let’s look into what ingredients you should be looking for in skincare products if you suffer from rosacea or redness:
Niacinamide: Niacinamide is one of two forms of Vitamin B3, the other being nicotinic acid. Niacinamide is known to be effective due to it being a precursor to two biochemical molecules that are essential for chemical repairs in the skin. It’s also helpful in the production of ceramides in the skin, which help to restore the skin’s moisture barrier. Finally, niacinamide is known to be anti-inflammatory and can help soothe rosacea and redness. SkinMedica’s Redness Relief CalmPlex is a moisturizer with niacinamide clinically shown to reduce redness on the skin and soothe irritation.
Dimethicone: Dimethicone is a silicone-based polymer that works by creating a film on the top layer of the skin that prevents the loss of moisture through the skin. It also works as an emollient, which means it helps to fill in cracks in the skin, helping to keep it smooth and non-irritated. Avene’s Antirougeurs line has great products known to be soothing for redness and rosacea, like the CALM Soothing Repair Mask. This mask contains dimethicone and Vitamin E that provides comfort to inflamed skin by calming and soothing irritation and helping to maintain the skin’s moisture balance.
Azelaic Acid: Azelaic acid is a type of naturally occurring acid found in grains like barley, wheat and rye. It’s known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial qualities, which make it a commonly beloved ingredient in skincare. It’s effective in reducing the appearance of swelling in the skin, as well as visible blood vessels caused by conditions like rosacea. Jan Marini’s RosaLieve contains azelaic acid and antioxidants that help to soothe the skin and reduce the appearance of redness and flushed skin.
In addition, your skin can benefit from products that contain antioxidants. Antioxidants are important because they reduce and protect the skin from free radicals that can damage the skin and irritate conditions like redness and rosacea even further. Products like Neostrata Reactive Skin Neutralizing Serum that contain antioxidants and peptides can help cool and soothe the skin and prevent it from further stressors and irritants.
What ingredients should you avoid in your skincare products if you’re suffering from redness or rosacea? Try to stay away from products that contain retinoids, as they can be drying, as well as acids like salicylic and glycolic acid that can be irritating for sensitive skin types. In addition, it’s best to avoid drying astringents like witch hazel or products heavy in alcohol to avoid over-drying the area.
With a skin condition like rosacea or redness, your skin will likely be inflamed and irritated naturally, so it’s best to stick to ingredients and products that will help your skin, rather than make it worse. If you have any additional questions about rosacea, please feel free to reach out!
