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Sat Dec 30, 2006 11:49 am  |
Rosacea ~ A Cautionary Tale ~ Very, very long!!!
As the New Year approaches and we re-evaluate our skin care regimes, I wanted to add my take on rosacea and, hopefully, offer some advice to people who have rosacea, but are not aware of it yet. Don’t worry, it will make sense as you read on. 
My teens and early twenties were blessed with beautiful skin; I was extremely fortunate and I took exceedingly good care of my skin (unfortunately the wrong way!).
Clues I had rosacea – lovely peaches and cream complexion with a tendency to blush. The “blush effect” would last a longer and longer period of time after embarrassment, etc. 
What I did wrong - I was very pale, but, would tan a teensy bit. I was in the pool in the summer from 10 AM to 5 PM. No sun protection used, sunscreens were not available at this time. No hat used. I went to a dermatologist and received light treatments that produced mild sunburn + I was prescribed exfoliating cleansing products that I used twice a day!!! I also used an alcohol based astringent.
What I learned –
Before you are diagnosed with rosacea, evaluate your skin. If you are very fair with a tendency to blush, you might be headed for full-blown rosacea. Treat your skin accordingly and you might prevent further progression of the disease.
Never exfoliate. (I can’t use a washcloth, a cleansing brush, or any cleanser with grainy particles.)
Avoid the sun between 10 and 2; wear a hat, USE SUNSCREEN.
Do not use AHA or BHA. (Some people use BHA with rosacea, I cannot.)
Use a mild cleanser twice a day.
Find out what are irritants for your skin and avoid them. (Common ones = hot showers, alcoholic beverages, eucalyptus or peppermint in skin care products.)
Facials, unless done specifically for rosacea may cause harm, steaming and exfoliating are not recommended for rosaceous skin.
Microdermabrasion is a no-no for rosacea.
Avoid harsh astringents and toners, alcohol and witch hazel should be avoided.
Retinoids should not be used; if they are used, proceed with extreme caution. (Some research is pointing toward retinoids helping rosaceous skin; I, personally, did not do well with retinoids.)
Simple is best.
Expensive does not mean better.
I cannot use products geared towards anti-aging; products that are too active send my skin off the deep end.
Try to treat your skin like it has rosacea before you are diagnosed with rosacea; I really think that you can stop the progression of rosacea with proper early care.
For about 10 years, I used Crème de la Mer, which worked at first, but, then appeared to exacerbate my rosacea (maybe the eucalyptus leaf oil, I don’t know. I loved it, but, it stopped working). I try to go back to it occasionally, but, I develop redness and pustules. Just a word to say, my skin looked great for a long time with Crème de la Mer. If you have rosacea, try a sample, it might be effective for you. I was very sad, when it stopped working for me. 
I, also, used Sisley Restorative Facial Cream with success. Sisley Botanical Facial Mask with Linden Blossom is heaven!
Currently, with the advice of my dermatologist, I use:
Bio2 Cosmeceuticals Gentle Facial Cleanser (Advanced Skin Care Line);
Avene Thermal Spring Water, spray on after cleansing, dry face, spray again, and leave on.
While skin is still damp, apply Bio2 Cosmeceuticals Aminosome Moisture Gel.
While skin is still damp, apply Avene Cicalfate.
I do this AM and PM.
Bio2 Cosmeceutical Products are available at
http://www.oxymist.com/
Linda Sy makes a zinc oxide based sunscreen, which works for some people with rosacea; it is called ZincO.
This routine is supposed to help my skin repair and to protect my skin’s moisture barrier. I have been following this for three months and my skin is very soft and smooth.
I have also had V-Beam laser treatments on my face for the multitude of broken capillaries. I have had some success with this, but, I am not free from broken capillaries.
Bottom line, my dermatologist said that rosacea is the primary condition. Treat the rosacea and the rest will fall into place; do not try to treat the papules, pustules, or blackheads – they are not the primary condition. THEY ARE NOT ACNE. Treat the rosacea with a simple, gentle regime and the rest will heal in time. (They are a secondary condition to rosacea, not the primary presenting factor!).
I had blackheads on my nose and after following this treatment plan for 3 months, the blackheads are much better! My skin is still o.k. with very few wrinkles, but, I do suffer from redness and broken capillaries that I think could have been prevented with proper skin care early in my life. My skin is very easily irritated.
My mother, who is 77, has beautiful skin. She avoided the sun, did not get regular facials, and still uses Olay products.
I am fifty years old. I have had a basal cell carcinoma on my nose ~ USE SUNSCREEN!!!
Happy New Year. I hope this helps someone with rosacea or pre-rosacea.  |
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