Seeing Red?
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When I was younger, the biggest issue I had with rosy cheeks was a tendency to blush. These days though, it’s a different type of unwelcome rosiness that is plaguing me; rosacea. The causes of redness and rosacea are still pretty mysterious, with the triggers notoriously individual, leading to swelling of the blood vessels in the skin and causing inflammation and redness around the cheek and nose. Anything from food, alcohol, stress or even pollution can lead to rosacea, with those with fair skin being more susceptible (that would be me). Over the past few months I’ve discovered a few tips and tricks that can help reduce rosacea and inflammation. I’ve also got a few choice products that have done the trick for me that I’ll share along the way.
Tip 1: Supplements are your friend I used to be very lax with my supplement intake. A sad pot of multivitamins was the only supplement featuring in my bathroom cabinet, and even then I’d only remember to take one every week or so. I used to think we’ve survived all these years without supplements, why start now? My diet should give me all the nutrients I need…blah blah blah. Small reality check though; we all lead busy lives. I don’t always have the time to make sure all my meals are nutritionally balanced and quite frankly, who does? Step in supplements. To help keep rosacea at bay, the must-have supplements are Vitamin C, Vitamin D3 and Omega-3. Plus, I’d advise you avoid iron supplements as iron can aggravate rosacea.
Tip 2: Avoiding ‘heating’ foods Certain food and drink items can affect rosacea-prone people differently. Caffeine, red wine, curries etc can all aggravate the condition. My advice would be to turn detective and keep track of your own response to each and reduce your intake accordingly.
Tip 3: Beware of the sun (and sunbeds) Ultraviolet light and particularly UVA can affect rosacea sufferers more severely. Everyone should take care in the sun, i.e. always wear sun protection and never burn your skin. But for anyone with skin sensitivity of any kind, it’s wise to avoid sunscreens with a chemical sunblock as they are more likely to cause an irritation. Opt instead for sunblock using minerals, preferably zinc oxide. Bit of an obvious one too, but avoid anything containing alcohol. I reach for Thalgo SPF50+ Age Defence Sunscreen 50ml
Tip 4: Find the right products When it comes to treating sensitivity and rosacea, Thalgo is my go to brand. If I’ve had a few weeks filled with my rosacea triggers, my saviour is always Thalgo Multi-Soothing Concentrate. It’s an intensive 7-day treatment that can help normalise sensitive skin and relieve discomfort. It contains witch hazel which reduces redness and the appearance of dilated blood vessels on the skin’s surface. I use half a vial in the morning and half at night before my moisturiser for 7 days to help rebalance my skin. I also love the Nutri-Soothing Cream from the same range to help restore comfort to my skin. Do you suffer with rosacea? I’d love to hear what you find works best for you. xoxo