By Tegan O’Brien  

Medical Skin Therapist 

Introduction 

Rosacea is a long term skin condition that mainly affects the face, causing diffused redness, enlarged blood vessels, and is sometimes accompanied by pimples or bumps. It usually starts with frequent flushing of the skin, which progresses to more frequent and noticeable symptoms. This is a condition that can be treated and significantly reduced, however there is no known cure and symptoms will need to be managed with topical products and avoiding specific triggers.  

Symptoms: 

-Redness or “flushing” in cheeks, nose or forehead.  

-Visible blood vessels  

-Bumps or pimples similar to acne  

-Burning, stinging or heated sensations in the skin  

-Thickened skin (in more advanced cases, can thicken around the nose causing a condition called rhinophyma)  

-Ocular irritation or redness associated with some or all of the other symptoms mentioned.  

Causes:  

-There is no known cause for rosacea. Except there have been links between people with a Celtic heritage (Scottish/Irish) and being more likely to develop conditions like rosacea in their 30s-60s.  

-Research shows that people with rosacea have an overpopulation of demodex mites. Demodex mites are part of our skin’s natural microbiome, however people with rosacea have an 3x more per square centimetre of skin. These mites eat our skin’s sebum and burrow into the hair follicle, which causes the symptoms mentioned above.  

Triggers:  

It’s important to note that avoiding or limiting triggers if possible can help to manage the symptoms of rosacea and make it less noticeable.  

-UV exposure  

-Exercise  

-Alcohol  

-Spicy foods 

-Caffeine  

-Stress 

-Medications (Beta blockers, photosensitising drugs, vitamin b3 and some blood pressure medications can exacerbate symptoms)  

-Certain ingredients in skin and hair products, e.g shea butter, highly fragranced products or heavy/occlusive creams.  

-Extreme changes in temperature  

-Air pollution  

Skincare:  

Biojuve 

Introducing “Xycrobe” technology, this skincare system can help support and balance the skin’s natural microbiome by releasing good bacteria onto the skin’s surface. These good bacteria release propionic acid, which has a highly anti-inflammatory effect on the skin. Important to note the products within Biojuve are also shea-butter free and non occlusive, further aiding in symptom reduction.  

Vitamin A  

Otherwise commonly known as “retinol” but comes in many other forms. Vitamin A helps with DNA repair which can help reverse some symptoms of rosacea. It’s also very strengthening for the skin, which helps with the skin’s resilience against environmental factors.  

SPF 

UV protection is very important for preventing “flare ups” or exacerbating the symptoms of rosacea. UV exposure triggers inflammation and disrupts the skin’s lipid barrier, which further “feeds” rosacea. Using a good quality broad spectrum SPF and re-applying every two hours in direct sunlight is a non negotiable, not just for rosacea but for general skin health and age prevention.  

Antioxidants 

Topical antioxidants like Vitamin C and/or vitamin B can help neutralize environmental factors that trigger rosacea, such as air pollution and radiation. Vitamin C in particular acts as a photo protectant and can aid more with protecting the skin against UV, and can also help strengthen visible blood vessels making them less noticeable. It’s important to note not all forms of rosacea can tolerate vitamin C, and inflammation may need to be reduced significantly first before introducing one.  

Treatments:  

LED light therapy: Using different wavelengths of light to penetrate the skin, greatly reducing inflammation as well as promoting healing. Sessions are typically short and non invasive. Better results are achieved through LED light therapy courses and may be recommended before advancing to other treatments.  

Peels: Depending on which type used, can help sterilize the skin as well as reducing the population of demodex mites present- typically through lactic or glycolic acid. They can also strengthen and promote DNA repair through vitamin A peels specifically.  

IPL: Using intense pulsed light, the IPL is attracted to the chromophore in the skin (a.k.a redness) and helps to shrink and break down blood vessels giving a noticeably more even skin tone. IPL works best on prepped skin using appropriate medical grade skincare, and potentially some other treatments like LED light therapy or peels beforehand for best results.  

Conclusion  

If you’re unsure what treatments and products are best for you, book in for a Medical Skin Consultation with one of our skin team!