Roseacea - products that suit

[FryOneFatManic]

I have roseacea and have real trouble finding suitable products for my face.

I currently use Pond's cold cream as a cleanser, that's really working nicely, and sometimes rosewater if I need a toner. But finding a moisturiser that is light on the chemicals and doesn't cause my sensitive skin to react is a problem.

I currently use nivea pure essentials day cream, but there's no SPF protection and having been out in the cold today, my face is still bright red and hot more than an hour after I came indoors.

Any advice gratefully received.

[hatcam]

Have a look at this //www.drsambunting.wordpress.com.

She did a really great blog post about rosacea and honestly, this woman is the bees. She is a leading cosmetic dermatologist with a great empathy for how all consuming and miserable skin conditions can be. Can't recommend her advice more highly!

[DrMcDreamysWife]

I swear by the Liz Earle cleanse and polish. It really calms my skin and keeps it clean without irritating my cheeks. It's not cheap but it lasts ages so it sort of works out ok

[lurkingaround]

Just be aware FryOne that your GP may not know a lot about Demodex, even some dermatologists aren't very aware of it. I wish I could remember the Selsun regime I had to use, I've a memory of using I twice a week, but I'm not 100% sure. And I think I had to use Lyclear cream after washing? Have a Google, and see what you can find.
Goodness, it wasn't that long ago, you think I'd remember, there was a haze of sleepless nights back then.....

Hope you feel better soon!

[FryOneFatManic]

Reading that link is making me feel blurgh, not helped by the fact I now have a cold and feel rough anyway. Might see if I can get some selsun and see what happens. And a trip to the docs might be good too.

[valiumredhead]

The aloe range from The Body Shop is fantastic.

[lurkingaround]

Indeed, pink, I was pretty horrified at first. Made worse by heay/oily creams. They thrive on that kind of environment.

Passed on/around by touching etc. Life just keeps on giving, eh?!

Yes Dona, I think there's more and more evidence and growing acceptance of Demodex among the medical community.

[pinkhousesarebest]

......don't want to go to bed..

[DonaAna]

I checked up Dermodex and the theory appears to be backed up by at least some research evidence. Selsun may really be worth a try.

Quoting directly from the article:
"They crawl about your face in the dark to mate, then crawl back into pores to lay their eggs and die."
Whoa, a novel in a sentence. Who knew you'd have all this drama going on while you sleep...

[lurkingaround]

That's a few years ago, and there's been no recurrence. I think the figure of 50% of people over the age of 50 years are colonised with Demodex. It's similar to the mange mite in dogs, I think.

I'm making your night, aren't I?

[lurkingaround]

I don't have rosacea (as such) but in the last few years I have been with a dermatologist for acne treatment. Initially when I went I was very 'red in the face' and she diagnosed Demodex folliculitis. I can't fully remember the treatment but it involved washing with selsun shampoo (yes, my face), can't remember the rest but the improvement was dramatic, the redness dramatically calmed. Iirc, they live in follicles and come out of your pores at night to mate, all sounds very lovely indeed.

[DonaAna]

A really gross but intriguing article about potential causes of rosacea. Demodex mite feces, yum...

[ohmeohmy]

Sea buckthorn oil is good for rosacea, it is bright orange though so one for bedtime.

[PipCarrier]

Holland and Barratt sell trilogy rosehip oil and have free delivery on at the moment.

I would also recommend la Roche posay or similar gentle cleanser, dermalogica special cleansing gel also v good. Then rose hip oil on afterwards.

[FryOneFatManic]

Scripsi if my reaction is really bad, and I'm at home, I have used a very cold flannel, refreshing the water to keep it cold. I don't have anything else that'll help.

[FryOneFatManic]

Alcohol is a trigger for it, for me, or at least wine is (rum is okay ). Very cold weather is, too. Went out today, and it was milder here than yesterday, and there was less of a reaction.

Witch hazel was something always recommended as a toner by mum when I was younger, but I can't use it without a flareup.

[pinkhousesarebest]

Yes DonaAna such familiar symptoms. For me the stinging, hot eyes preceded the facial flushing by many years. I see a dermatologist fairly regularly, though the greatest thing she did was to point me in the direction of LRP. Things are better in the summer if I can wear a hat- wind and extreme cold ( we are close to the Alps) is a killer.

Eucerin sounds good. They have a serum that got fantastic reviews, but my skin went ballistic when I put it on. Didn't get along with LRP Anthelios either, but the children's one was ok.

[DonaAna]

Pink there is a lot of trial and error involved. My rosacea is pretty well under control at the moment (milder Mediterranean climate is the biggest factor) but I spend a lot of time in freezing cold/ centrally heated Northern Europe and there Eucerin is a lifesaver, otherwise my skin would be very tight and flaky. Eye burn/ocular rosacea sensations are also very familiar to me plus I am sensitive to a common cosmetics ingredient (my reaction: stinging, red eyes).

I have to avoid quite a few things that causes flushing. Bizarrely, splashing with water and wind are the worst offenders for me (red wine is fine).

I'd really love to know what's the disease mechanism behind rosacea. Most people on my maternal side are clearly symptomatic. Fairly severe acne during teenage and adult years (some have needed Roaccutane), and when that is over, ie starting in early middle age, nearly everyone gets major redness/flushing (think fire engine) and couperosa. We don't get the bumpy nose type, but my first symptoms were tightness, flushing and ocular rosacea. We all are extremely fair-skinned (milky white) - my brother gets 2nd degree sunburns easily if he is not careful.

Definitely worth consulting a specialist. Rosacea.org has good pages. Many get exacerbations from LRP and other tailor-made products. It seems that the simpler the product (=shorter the ingredients list), the better it is. I'm not using green primers or anything like that, just a normal medium/heavy coverage foundation.

[scripsi]

As an aside, are there any super-soothing masks for when you're having a particularly awful time?

[scripsi]

I made the huge mistake of thinking I could use aqueous cream as a rosacea-soothing cleanser and I nearly went through the roof (it burns!). I stopped drinking alcohol altogether which helped for a while, but now I am teetotal AND have mild rosacea. I love smashbox primer for shielding skin from makeup and helping concealer adhere. I am going to try eucerin too!
Cetaphil cleanser and moisturiser is also great if you can find it.

[FryOneFatManic]

diplodocus don't worry about any hijack, these are all good questions and answers.

PipCarrier Where could I get rosehip oil? And do you use it for cleansing or for putting on afterwards?

I'm thinking I might get to the doctor to see if there's anything such as antibiotics he'll give. I've heard that topical creams can work well.

[pinkhousesarebest]

Mild Rosacea here too- redness and tightness, when I drink a glass of wine it burns... Have kept it at bay for years with LRP Nutritic, but they have just "upgraded" (and masssively inflated the price), and the new version irritates no end. Bizarrely LRP products designed for Rosacea also exacerbated my symptoms (and made my eyes burn). I must try Eucerin DonaAna. Am desperate.

[DonaAna]

Mild rosacea here and swear by Eucerin products. They have a spf day cream with a light blue cap that is my summer staple. And Eucerin 5% urea is the best thing ever for my easily irritated, flushing, flaky and dry face (sounds lovely doesn't it).

Have some LRP too (Toleriane Riche and Anthelios) but prefer Eucerin by far- they don't irritate, are chemically quite simple, but not pore-clogging. I get awful adult acne flareups if I slather on thick creams.

I have used Revlon Colorstay for about 20 years. While it's not perfect, its quite good. Medium/full coverage but not a thick feel like some creamier foundations can have. Doublewear and Bourjois Flower Perfection give heavier coverage but are more pore-clogging on my skin.

I can't do any oils. They provoke cystic acne and I get purple scars that last for months.

[diplodocus]

I've just started using la roche posay products - while expensive they seem really good. I also take oral antibiotics intermittently when it flares up.
By the way can anyone suggest whether there is one make-up oproduct I could use to cover patches of redness? I don't usually use foundation etc. but is there a tinted moisturiser or correcting cream I can use on it's own to just tone things down a bit (not expecting a flawless complexion). Sorry for hijack, and thanks.

[PuppyMonkey]

I have nose rosacea only and use Rosex (prescription). But I use the Clinique make up and it's wonderful.

[cockatoo]

Sali Hughes has written an article on this:

www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/2013/jan/26/sali-hughes-beauty-rosacea-treatments