Rosacea is a skin condition that is characterised by symptoms of erythema (redness), telangiectasia (thread-like red broken veins that scatter on the skin), inflammation and breakout that looks like acne.
Doctors do not know exactly what causes Rosacea but genetics can play a role and it usually affects women between the ages of 30-50. Other factors that may worsen the condition are heat, sunlight, spicy food and alcohol.
There are 4 different types of Rosacea, these are listed below.
Type 1 (Erythematotelangiectatic) rosacea
This presents as persistent redness with some broken capillaries that are visible especially over the cheeks and nose.
Type 2 (Papulopustular) rosacea
Visible redness with bumpiness on the skin which can include pustular lesions. This type of rosacea looks similar to acne which is why it is often mistaken as such.
Type 3 (Phymatous) rosacea
This is an extreme type of Rosacea where the skin becomes thick, especially seen around the nose, which becomes enlarged and bulbous.
Type 4 (Ocular) rosacea
A rosacea that affects the eyes. Symptoms include dry or watery eyes, burning, swollen eyelids and styes. If left untreated it can cause blindness.
Rosacea is best treated by a medical professional who understands the needs of this type of skin. Many people misunderstand the condition and treat the skin with products that could be prescribed to treat an acne concern, which is the opposite of what you want to do with a condition like this. Your treatment plan will be based on your doctor’s diagnosis. Knowing that you have Rosacea will also make it easier for skin care professionals to make product suggestions to treat your red and extremely sensitive skin.
As a Rosacea sufferer you will find that there are a number of professional salon treatments available that can help to improve the condition. Always do your research before going into any salon to make sure the therapist is properly qualified and has an understanding of how to treat your skin condition. Seeking out a skin professional with knowledge of the best ingredients and products to use is advised. Follow your skin therapist’s advice and avoid using any products and ingredients that may irritate your skin condition.
One treatment that has been found to help in controlling Rosacea’s visible symptoms: redness, flushing and bumpiness, is micro-needling. While it may seem counter-intuitive to stimulate redness in the skin with tiny needles, this treatment serves to increase blood flow, stimulate collagen production in the dermis and aid in thickening both dermal and epidermal layers of the skin. This in turn builds up the skin’s resistance to triggers that would cause the redness and irritation and leaves the skin calm and healthy.
A course of 6 treatments, performed by a skin care professional is recommend, 28 days apart. Additional improvements that can be seen during the course of treatments includes a reduction in rough or bumpy skin texture that can be associated with Rosacea. A homecare plan will be prescribed for you by your skin care therapist to use between your sessions to compliment the treatment and further improve the health of your skin.
Even though a needling session can be beneficial to Rosacea skins, it is not advisable to undergo any needling session should your skin be going through an active flare up and should rather be postponed.
LED light therapy may be included after the micro-needling session. This is very beneficial for rosacea prone skin as it will assist in further healing the skin and combat inflammation. It will usually be used on a red or blue setting or a combination of both, creating purple light. Purple light helps to rid the skin of toxins, reduces inflammation and improves blood circulation as well as being very healing.
Mild Alpha Hydroxy Acid peels are also beneficial. Mandelic acid is a good option for sensitive skin as it treats skin concerns gently and effectively. It exfoliates the skin by increasing cell turnover thus improving the skins texture and tone. With its large molecular structure, it doesn’t penetrate as quickly or as deeply therefore irritation in the skin is lowered. DermaFix DermaBright contains this AHA and is a good addition to a home care plan for a rosacea sufferer planning to have their first in salon peel treatment. It would be used, as prescribed, in the evening home care routine. A few drops will be added into the cleanser every other night for a week or two. Once a tolerance level is reached, these drops can be switched to the evening moisturiser, this works as a slow release of the acid into the skin which will also help to stimulate collagen and strengthen the skins resistance. Usually, 6 in salon peeling treatments would be recommended as a treatment plan. This is often combined with micro-needling sessions as mentioned above.
DermaFix MD Mandelic Retexturising Wipes are the latest addition to our powerful MD range and an excellent addition to in-treatment and homecare rituals offering superior exfoliation, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, moisture stabilizing properties. Gentle enough for sensitive skin that demands results.
Here are some active ingredients that can assist in the treatment of Rosacea:
Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant with incredible hydration benefits. A molecule can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water! Therefore, helping to keep skin hydration levels optimal. A major sign that hydration levels have dropped is rough skin. It also offers remarkable anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant benefits that will repair red, irritated skin giving back your skins natural glow. Found in:
- DermaFix HydraSilk Cleanser (Cleanser)
- DermaFix ACC Hyaluronic Gel (Serum)
- DermaFix Bio-Hydrating Cream (Moisturiser)
- DermaFix ACC Copper (Serum)
- DermaFix Hyalu7 Boost (Serum)
- DermaFix Eyeluronic Gel (Eye Cream)
- DermaFix Ceramide Complex (Serum)
- DermaFix HydraSooth SOS (Masque)
Vitamin C contains anti-inflammatory bioflavonoids that support weakened blood vessels. Researchers have found that Rosacea may be caused by blood vessels that dilate more easily than normal and the use of Vitamin C based products can help to combat this. It is recommended to start with a lower concentration of Vitamin C and build up a tolerance in the skin to avoid irritation, working your way up to a higher concentration. Vitamin C is a key active ingredient in the following DermaFix products:
- DermaFix Vitamin B Cream (Moisturiser)
- DermaFix Vitaplex C Cream (Moisturiser)
- DermaFix Bio-Effective Cream (Moisturiser)
- DermaFix Skin ResQ (Moisturiser)
- DermaFix Vitamin C Complex (Serum)
- DermaFix Acc Vitamin C (Serum)
- DermaFix Acc Retinol (Serum)
- DermaFix Ferulic + C + E (Serum/Facial Oil)
- DermaFix Brightening Wipes (Exfoliating Serum Wipes)
Vitamin K, usually in the form of Phytonadione an anti-inflammatory oil soluble form of Vitamin K helps to reduce inflammation by stimulating blood flow. It also aids in the speed up of natural wound repair processes. Vitamin K has blood clotting abilities and thereby prevents leaking from the veins avoiding discoloration of surrounding skin, as well as improving spider veins and broken capillaries. DermaFix Vitamin K rich products are:
- DermaFix Regenerate Rx (Moisturiser)
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) helps to stabilise a rosacea prone skin by assisting with the increase of natural ceramide levels in the skin helping to strengthen the skins barrier. It also has strong anti-inflammatory properties and can improve hydration levels of the skin. DermaFix Niacinamide champions are:
- DermaFix Brightening Cleanser (Cleanser)
- DermaFix Vitamin B Cream (Moisturiser)
- DermaFix Vitaplex C Cream (Moisturiser)
- DermaFix Bio-Effective Cream (Moisturiser)
- DermaFix ACC Vitamin C (Serum)
- DermaFix B3 Boost (Serum)
- DermaFix PowerDerm (Moisturiser)
- DermaFix MD Mandelic Cleanser (Cleanser)
- DermaFix MD Mandelic Toner (Toner)
- DermaFix MD Vitamin A Propionate (Night Moisturiser)
- DermaFix MD Acne Solutions (Night Moisturiser)
Zinc is used to heal the skin and minimise the flushing or breakout often associated with rosacea. It is found in many sunscreens as Zinc Oxide. Around 81% of rosacea sufferers see a flare up of their condition after UV exposure so, using a zinc-based sunscreen will not only help to calm the irritated skin but will also protect you from the sun’s rays. Zinc is active in the following products:
- DermaFix DermaShield SPF40 – Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB/HEV Light Protection Sunscreen
- DermaFix DermaShield SPF50 – Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB/HEV Light Protection Sunscreen
- DermaFix MD SPF50 – Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB/HEV Light Protection Sunscreen
If you or someone you know suffers from rosacea and would like more assistance, please contact DermaFix Head Office.
