Redness or Rosacea? Common Q&A - The Skin Care Clinic

I have redness on my face, generally all-over, though worse on my chin and cheeks. Some skin care products make it worse, especially when i use masks and scrubs or when i massage my face. My skin seems to be getting more sensitive too. Is this Rosacea, and what can I do about it?

Peta | SA | age 35

Peta has reactive skin, rather than Rosacea. Her skin is ageing and becoming more dehydrated, which makes it more sensitive as well, and as she most likely has paler skin her redness (flushing) will be more prominent. It is quite common in anglo-saxon skins, but thank goodness it can be helped with good skin care, staying out of the sun and avoiding harsher products. She should avoid scrubs and begin to focus on choosing gentler, no nasties products, building the strength of her skin with Stemcells, peptides and DNA repair serums. Starting now will mean she will age without the red-raw look many paler skinned women in Australia develop. Over time her skin will improve if she is diligent.

She also needs to wear a good zinc based sunblock every day – the Cosmedix Hydrate is perfect.

My skin feels tight always, is red with the skin on my cheeks standing out from my face and seems to get pimples on this area. It is quite unpleasant, both to look at and to feel from the inside. I used to able to cover it up, but it is becoming harder and harder. It is worse when I am hot. What can I do and why is this so?

Rose | NSW | age 43

Rose has Rosacea, probably stage 2-3. She needs to decrease her skin’s inflammation (Redness) with specialist serums or oils, also concentrating on keeping it gently clean and well hydrated. Her inner health, including her gut health is a very important part of her healing her skin, as Rosacea comes from the inside. Skin products are essential, however managing stress with her triggers and making some lifestyle choices are equally important.

Both Peta and Rose can be helped by using of the products recommended below, but Rose needs to read up on further lifestyle changes that will help.

Recommended Skin Care Routine for general redness & rosacea

Whether you are simply red or do actually suffer from rosacea the treatment will be similar – looking at skin care products, gut health and lifestyle choices.

Morning

Cleanser – gentle, such as Osmosis MD Cleanse or CosMedix Elite Gentle Cleanse.
Antioxidants – Aspect Dr Redless also contains anti-inflammatory properties.
Moisturiser with Sun protection – CosMedix Hydrate – physical sunblock with moisturiser.

Evening

Cleanser – gentle, such as Osmosis MD Cleanse or CosMedix Elite Gentle Cleanse.
Antioxidants – Aspect Dr Redless also contains anti-inflammatory properties.
Repair Serum – Osmosis MD Stemfactor – after 4 weeks either add to or replace with Osmosis MD Rescue serum. Ideally use both for 6-8 months.
Moisturiser – Aspect SMC – brilliant night cream – okay to use any time though.

Once your skin is feeling more normal – add the Osmosis MD Calm which is a Vitamin A serum designed for you and use it nightly.

I have been using Osmosis MD Purity, Rescue serum, Calm, Clear Plus and Quench Plus, for approximately 3 years however my Rosacea still flares at times. I am currently working with a Naturopath to help with gut issues, but was wondering if there was anything else I need to add into my skincare routine.

Jen | VIC | age 48

Jen’s question is a good one. Nothing happens over night! I’m sure her skin will have changed, or maybe it’s that her Rosacea hasn’t progressed as much having used the Osmosis products for 2-3 years. The times when she flares up are probably when she is stressed or over heated or after a day or two of eating poorly.

It’s great that she is working with a Naturopath to improve her gut health and I wonder if she has other health issues related to her gut. If so, these will invariably be affecting her skin as well. We almost always recommend our super foods with a healthy sugar free, green veggie laden diet – lots of water and avoiding your triggers to our clients with reddened and Rosacea skins.

The products she is using will arrest the progression of the condition and with gut health improvements, along with Osmosis MD Rescue (it’s amazing) the skin symptoms will eventually subside. I’ve had clients which have taken 4 years or so from stage 3-4 – it does happen though :-).We have no way of knowing what stage her Rosacea is with the information she has provided and of course the further the progression the longer the change and healing will take.

Her current skin regime is great, however two products she could add are the Aspect Dr Redless every morning and the Osmosis MD Stemfactor at night. Use this one prior to your Rescue and/or Calm and use the Redless after your other serums.

The Osmosis MD Skin Perfection Harmonised water would also be helpful.

Lastly – her sun block. As we age naturally, if we don’t protect our skin from the UV’s it becomes harder for products to heal and this is what you need to happen with rosacea. The CosMedix Hydrate+ is a zinc based moisturiser as well as UV blocker and most Rosacea skins are happy using it. However, if her skin is quite sensitive she might prefer the Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush. It’s a SPF 30 waterproof powder. Just brush it on throughout the day, over or under your existing makeup.

Lastly (again) to cover redness you can’t go past the Colorescience All Calm SPF 50 – makeup which treats – soothes and calms red skin.

Enjoy the challenge and remember, nothing happens over night. Take it gently and over months, you’ll notice significant changes!!

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