Treat Your Rosacea at Home and Avoid Embarrassing Flare-ups
Rosacea flare-ups can be both painful and embarrassing. It's important to consult a doctor for proper rosacea treatment, but you can also control your flare-ups with an at-home regimen. Learn these three important at-home tips and regain control of your skin.
Skin care
Your skin needs special care. Be extra cautious about the soaps, lotions, and cosmetics you choose. Only use rosacea products that are made for sensitive skin and do not clog pores. Do not scrub your face -- gently wash it instead with a rosacea cleanser. Your doctor can recommend which products are best for you to use.
Rosacea triggers
Your first step in avoiding rosacea triggers is identifying them. Do this by keeping a diary of your flare-ups and note what caused them. The National Rosacea Society has developed a great list specifically for this purpose.
Avoiding these triggers is part of your rosacea treatment. Here are some triggers you need to avoid:
Excessive hot water -- hot tubs and saunas
Skin products that irritate your skin
Midday sun -- put sunscreen on your face first thing every day
Stress -- minimize the stress level in your life
Alcohol
Spicy foods
Hot drinks
Sunscreen
With rosacea, it is most important that you protect your skin from the sun. Choose a sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher. It may be difficult to find a sunscreen that doesn't bother your sensitive skin, but continue until you find one. Also, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen. This product will protect your skin from UVA, UVB, and infrared rays.
To keep your rosacea under control, carefully follow the advice of your rosacea specialist and follow the tips in this article.