I wanted to discuss rosacea in detail as it is something that is a lot more common than you might think, and a lot of customers message daily asking for advice. I suffer from it myself, although mild. In my early teenage years, I suffered quite seriously with it and it really affected my confidence when it flared up. I always worried it would flare up, which of course, made it worse and more extreme.
(The aftermath of a glass of red and facial massage)
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a long-term chronic inflammatory skin condition that mainly affects the face. It's more common in women with lighter skin, but men can also suffer, and their symptoms are usually more severe.
What Causes it?
Unfortunately, the cause of rosacea isn’t fully known but what is known is that it often runs in the family, so genetics play a part. Other research has shown that it could be linked to the immune system, skin mites and environmental factors.
What are the Symptoms?
- Redness – blushing across the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin area
- A burning or stinging feeling when using water or skincare products
- Tiny broken blood vessels that do not go away. They appear mostly on the cheeks and nose
- Small, pink or red bumps sometimes filled with white/yellow liquid
- Patches of rough, dry skin
- Severe cases may result in a swollen, bulb-shaped nose
- Large pores
- Spots that look like acne
- Sensitive skin
It comes and goes but can become permanent over time.
What Triggers it?
Triggers can vary from person to person but here is a list of common ones:
Alcohol
Spicy foods
Caffeine
Hot drinks
Change of extreme temperatures – cold to hot
Heating
Wind
Exercise
Sauna/dry heat
Laptop light/heat
Sun exposure
Stress – emotions
Adrenaline
Two of the triggers that I recognise for myself, are citrus fruits (oranges and satsumas in particular) really trigger my cheeks to flare up, and also my laptop screen when it is dark in the room can lead to a flare up.
Treatments Available?
You can see your GP/Dermatologist for prescriptions for creams and gels and antibiotics.
Light treatment and laser can also help with the appearance.
What Can I Do to Help?
- It is so important to wear SPF - 30/50SPF every day to protect against UVA and UVB is a must even in winter months
- Avoid direct sun or heat treatments
- Use gentle skincare products and keep it quite basic, to avoid irritating the skin
- Keeping your skin hydrated and moisturised can help, it will be soothing and help with the appearance
- Wear concealer/foundations on the cheek. I personally like to look like I haven’t got makeup on as prefer the more natural look, so I’ll use a bb cream on my face and then the areas that flare up more coverage
- Take your/use products with Omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega 3
Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid which is known to play a role in being anti-inflammatory. It may play a role in helping to protect against ageing caused by sun UV damage.
When we think about sources of omega 3, usually oily fish comes to mind. However, you can get it from plant-based sources including sacha inchi oil, chia seeds, flax seeds (linseeds), walnuts, avocado, and almonds. Omega 3 is thought to help relieve symptoms of dry itchy skin and help to prevent inflammation. Fats are involved in maintaining healthy cell membrane structure, and therefore our skin.
For more information on Foods to Feed Your Skin see our blog here.
Lucy’s Tip
Learn breathing techniques, or things that will relax you. I find my cheeks trigger when I am under pressure, stressed and anxious. Although you can’t stop a flare up, I find taking deep breaths and trying to relax my mind and body helps me to feel calmer and relaxed, which helps with the appearance.
Talking From Experience
Although rosacea seems to appear in 30 plus year olds, any age can suffer. I first started getting rosacea when I was in my early teens. I didn’t know what was happening to my skin and it would really affect my self-confidence and make me feel embarrassed. I remember on a few occasions having to leave the room, to sit out in the cold as my cheeks were red raw and itchy. I saw a dermatologist who helped me and over the years, I have been lucky that I do not get it as extreme as it was then, but I am always aware of keeping it at bay and using makeup and avoiding triggers when socialising.
This chronic skin condition is known to cause embarrassment, lowered self-esteem and self-confidence, anxiety and even depression. So, if you are suffering, please do book-in to see your GP or dermatologists to help you.
How do the Lucy Bee Products Help?
As mentioned above, simple products are best when you have rosacea. Lucy Bee skincare products are organic, natural, fragrance free and focus on hydration.
The range has been dermatologically approved for sensitive skin and has anti-inflammatory properties such as turmeric, which helps with reducing redness. The range also contains aloe vera, coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter and apricot oil which are all very soothing, nourishing, hydrating and skin-boosting due to the antioxidant properties.
As I also mentioned, I suffer from mild rosacea and one of the other team members suffers more seriously with it and they have found the products have really suited their skin and have helped to calm and soothe it. It has also helped to keep the skin hydrated and it doesn’t trigger them to flare up or cause any irritation.
We have samples of the Cleansing Cream, Exfoliating Tonic and Face Cream available here and I would encourage you try them, before purchasing the full set, to make sure they are right for you. We also have reviews with photos on the blog section and I’d recommend a read of these, which you can see here.
Lucy, CIBTAC accredited beauty therapist.
About Lucy Bee Limited
Any information provided by us is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. We always recommend referring your health queries to a qualified medical practitioner.
Lucy Bee is a lifestyle brand selling food, skincare and soap products all completely free from palm oil and with minimal use of plastic. Lucy Bee is concerned with Fair Trade, organic, ethical and sustainable living, recycling and empowering people to make informed choices and select quality, natural products for their food and their skin.
