Rosacea - which La Roche Posay products?

[Popuppippa]

My skin is just out of control and horrible at the moment. Dry redness that breaks through make-up and horrible patches of a red dot-like rash on my cheeks, and weirdly, below my chin.

It's getting worse, not better. My usual skincare is just not working so I thought I'd try La Roche Posay but I have no idea where to start and I don't want to make more expensive mistakes (probably spent £120 on primers and foundations recently that look terrible).

Any recommendations? Doesn't have to be La Roche Posay - anything that would work!

Interested in replies as I have the same problem on my nose and chin

The Rosaliac range is the La Roche Posay one for rosacea.

I've been using Rosaliac AR Intense serum & Rosaliac UV Riche moisturiser for a few months.

They have definitely calmed down the redness & soreness but that's the extent of my rosacea, I'm not prone to rashes, so it might not be the solution you are looking for.

I'm considering Intense Pulsed Light treatment as I've heard of people having great results from that. It's pricey though.

@hilbil21 - it sucks doesn't it. I tend to go without make-up at weekends whenever I can but I'm finding I just want to cover it up as it looks so awful.

@DramaAlpaca - thanks, I wasn't certain which range was best. Some of the reviews mention greasyness with the moisturiser, have you found it overly greasy? Also, does make-up go over it smoothly. Some (bloody expensive!) products I've used have created pilling when I've applied make-up over them.

I’ve recently been prescribed a new product for rosacea, it’s called Soolantra. I’m cautiously optimistic, I apply at night to clean skin and once it’s soaked in I apply my moisturizer.

Soolantra was life changing for me. I applied it twice a day for about four weeks. I just use it a few times a month now and my skin is perfectly clear. It's still a little red but no spots or dryness.

I have had Rosacea since my early twenties, about 25 years. I have found that whilst specific products help more than others, it's also important to stick to a regular skincare routine. Ideally cleanse and moisturise day and night. Oils are particularly good for my thirsty skin. I avoid all but the most gentle toners.

Products that are good for me and I recommend;
Cleansers - 'Kalme' cream cleanser for anti redness. Can be removed with cotton wool, so handy for travelling/camping. Really good for Rosacea. Helps get flare ups under control.

I find cleansing balms really good too, wiped off with a wet warm fluffy mitt. My favourites are Jane Scrivner and Emma Hardie. I used to have a Superdrug gentle oat based cream cleanser that was cheap but effective. It doesn't have to be expensive to work!

I occasionally use toner, Liz Earle is nice and gentle.

To moisturise I find oils gentle and absorb better. My favourites are Sarah Chapman Skinesis overnight facial (quite an expensive treat!) Emma Hardie's is good. I find most oils work to be honest and I have about 4 on the go at the moment.

I also find it helps to use a tinted moisturiser or light foundation. It seems to protect my skin through the day and keeps my Rosacea at bay. Although this might be better to try when your skin is a bit calmer.

Useful product is 'Kalme' chameleon concealer. It's a green liquid that is miraculous for evening out redness. It literally disappears before your eyes!

Try not to touch or pick at your face. Diet plays a part, unfortunately my triggers are beer and wine. I also take 'accumax' skin capsules and I think they help.

If you try one product from my suggestions, I think the 'Kalme' cleanser and concealer are fairly reasonable and very good to get it under control. (I'm not a fan of their moisturiser though.) Once it's under control I think you open up to being able to use many more products. I am working my way through the M&S beauty advent calendar and nothing has upset my skin because it's more robust now.

Didn't mean to write so much but I hope it helps!

Rosacea is a progressive skin condition that needs proper treatment.

I tried all the options before being prescribed Soolantra, which is invermectin. Made a massive difference.

I did try La Roche stuff but it makes no difference, you really need to get the cause treated and managed. Food makes a big difference tho the consultant didn't believe that!

Use rose water as a toner. Really calms the skin and gets rid of redness.

Popuppippa the moisturiser is a little greasy, you only need a tiny bit. I don't wear much makeup but it seems to be OK under it when I do.

Sparkofjoy did you use the soolantra all over your face or just on the red areas?

I have whiteheads also I’m wondering if it will help them.

I had white heads everywhere, bigger spots and very red flaky skin. Soolantra was the only thing that worked. I applied a very thin layer over my face twice a day. It is now perfectly clear.

My skin was so sensitive if I wore lipstick I got large, painful whiteheads around my lips. Sun block also caused a rash. I now use foundation a few time a week and make sure I wash it off immediately when I get in.

Thank you

SPF will also help in the longer term

Thought I'd resurrect this thread and report back for anyone who's in the same boat.

I've tried several of the suggestions so here goes;

La Roche Posay Roseliac - I found this odd, not very nice texture and strange smell. It did nothing at all for the rosacea.

Paula's Choice - I got the sample pack for sensitive skin and this was better. The creamy cleanser worked well and I liked the mineral moisturiser SPF 50 as it also diminishes redness (it's slightly white like suncream)

I eliminated everything else - no serums and I also stopped using primers. I tried The Ordinary and several green toned ones but mostly they made the rosacea look worse.

I reverted back to my old cleanser and moisturiser (Elemis) and it has calmed down a little but I still have a butterfly rash and dots on my forehead and chin. The dryness is better though. I was chopping and changing products, trying out some new things and I think that overall, the changes made my skin flare.

So, marginally better but I'm awaiting a prescription for Soolantra. This as always my last resort so I'm hoping it works.

One thing that has made a difference to the appearance is switching to It CC cream. It really does cover well and I also got some Bye Bye Redness Correcting Cream which is good for the worst affected areas.

@Popuppippa I've been wondering if I have roseacea on my chin- skin is red, dry / flaky, and there are little whiteheads. I've been using Dermol 500 Lotion which does help. When did you ask your GP for something more?

@CurbsideProphet I have paid for a private prescription as it's impossible to get an appointment at my GP surgery for non-emergencies.

Initially, I didn't think it was rosacea as it is under and around the sides of my chin (as well as cheeks/forehead). I look like I've been in a wind tunnel for too long - it looks chapped, red, spotty and dry (lovely!). However, I have started to get tiny infected bumps now so I really want to stop it in it's tracks.

I think I’m developing rosacea on my cheeks (probably hormone related as I’ve been on HRT for the past few months) I’ve been putting sunscreen on the affected parts (cheeks) which seems to help but I’d like something to cover it over

@The MarbleFaun one of the suggestions from a PP was to use sunscreen. I thought my usual moisturiser had SPF but when I checked it didn't. I like the Paula's Choice mineral moisturiser which has a high SPF.

I can really recommend the It Cosmetics CC cream. I started a thread about foundations as I couldn't get anything to sit properly on my skin and it was suggested by a poster then. I waited until I could get to a large Boots to test it as I couldn't tell which shade to use and I have wasted a small fortune on this problem with skincare, primers and foundations. It covers well and looks natural which is what I wanted.

Also, I do think mine is linked to hormones, diet and stress. I had acne as a teen, then lovely skin for years, then increasingly terrible skin. It's been a really terrible few years one way and another and I think all these things have contributed.

I was using the Liz Earle moisturiser and a NARS foundation and when I checked neither of them have an SPF in them so I think that’s why the redness has got more noticeable
I’ll definitely check out the IT cosmetics thanks

I had the tiny bumps and also any make up would flake so badly. It was on my cheeks nose and forehead... I got zineryt from the GP and it was amazing. It cleared up all the bumps and got the flaking under control, I only use it when I’m having a flare up now but can definitely recommend 😊

Can a gp prescribe soolantra? Or does it have to be a dermatologist

@freedles that's interesting as I remember being offered Zineryt for acne when I was younger. If the Soolantra doesn't work I have a Plan B!

It's the dry flaky thing I detest the most. It's so difficult to get any kind of foundation to sit properly.

@BethMaddison A GP can prescribe it but I went for a private prescription with an online GP. I used Zavamed because I just couldn't bear to wait a month for an appointment.

I’m wondering if it may help me I have v sensitive skin, spots bumps, congestion, redness and have always had flushing
It’s been so bad lately I’m considering is it rosacea I’ve been using avene tolerance for a few days but the bumps look and feel awful