Battle Skin Redness

Here, the latest treatments to manage rosacea and redness

by Jill Dunn
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If you want to banish your blush this winter, you’re not alone. An estimated 4 million Canadians suffer from rosacea - a chronic, progressive skin disorder that usually affects fair-skinned people of European descent.

What is it?
Rosacea is characterized by skin redness that results from an increased blood flow to the skin through dilated facial blood vessels. It ranges from a just-been-pinched mild flushing across the nose and cheeks (like Cameron Diaz and the late Princess Diana) to more severe symptoms like ruddy, bumpy and uneven skin tones (think Bill Clinton). The winter months in particular are always a challenge for rosacea sufferers because of aggravating chilly winds outside and forced air heating indoors.

Diagnosis
It’s best to visit a dermatologist to get a proper diagnosis if you suspect that you might have rosacea. “here are many crossover symptoms -- like sensitivity, breakouts and redness -- between rosacea and other skin disorders (such as acne and cutaneous lupus), so it’s easy to misdiagnose yourself. A dermatologist will help to correctly identify your condition and prescribe the proper course of treatment. Even though rosacea is not curable, the good news is that it is treatable.

Triggers
Rosacea is hereditary, but it is exacerbated by dietary and environmental factors. Many things can cause flare-ups. Spicy foods, excessive exercise, extreme temperatures (either hot or cold), sun, wind and stress are all common culprits.

Treatments
A dermatologist will likely recommend a combination of laser light therapy to repair broken blood vessels as well as a topical cream. It’s important to note that no topical skin care product is proven to get rid of rosacea, but some will diminish the appearance of redness, especially if they’re tinted with a green cast, which helps to mask a ruddy complexion.

What to avoid
Avoid any stimulating ingredients like lactic acid, glycolic acid, alphahydroxy acid, scrubs and fragrance as these can irritate the skin and result in reactions like rashes. Also avoid any products that warm on contact with the skin. And, as always in skin care, it’s smart to use a broad spectrum sunscreen with a SPF 30 all year round. The easiest sunscreens to tolerate are those with physical blockers like titanium dioxide.