Seeing Red – Is it Rosacea?

April is Rosacea Awareness Month, recognized throughout the professional health community as an opportunity to share information and resources for those affected by this common skin condition.

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that causes persistent redness on the face and is often associated with highly sensitive skin that burns or stings when some skin care products are applied.

Symptoms can start as occasional flushing that may flare up and then diminish for a time before it reoccurs. Skin can feel hot and tender, even when nothing has been recently applied.

Many rosacea sufferers develop swollen red bumps that resemble pimples and often misdiagnose themselves as having acne.

It is important to seek early medical advice and diagnosis if you suspect you might have rosacea, as the skin condition is a progressive disease and can worse over time if left untreated.

Contributing factors to rosacea

The exact cause of rosacea is still under investigation, with research exploring genetics, immunology, and the vascular and nervous systems.

There is a large hereditary component, with 30% of people dealing with rosacea having a family history of the condition.

Flareups can be provoked by external influences like sun exposure, extreme temperatures, nutrition, and inappropriate product use.

A skin therapist’s role in helping clients with rosacea

Rosacea is considered a medical condition. Estheticians cannot diagnose or cure it. (In fact, there currently is no cure.) But we can help navigate the redness and sensitivities that accompany rosacea.

Skin therapists provide education, resources, and support, as well as customized facial treatments and daily skin care plans that can ensure comfortable, soothing care targeted specifically for rosacea-prone and sensitive skin.

Not all redness is rosacea. And not all rosacea is the same.

Skin therapists are highly trained in skin physiology and cosmetic chemistry. We often see patterns of redness and sensitivity that can be addressed with natural therapies including cooling, soothing facials, LED light therapy, and the proper professional skin care products.

We are also highly skilled in recognizing skin irregularities. If we spot a skin problem that is outside of our scope of practice, we can and will direct you to see your medical professional.

If you are diagnosed with having rosacea, we can work alongside any prescribed medications to support your care with appropriate services and products.

Corneotherapy and rosacea

Experience has taught us that many rosacea sufferers struggle with an impaired skin barrier, where irritants and inappropriate products can significantly aggravate already reactive skin.

Hydrating and cooling hypersensitive skin, as well as supporting the barrier function of the skin through corneotherapeutic services is our first priority. By avoiding all perfumes, surfactants, known allergens, and preservatives, corneotherapy works to stabilize the surface layers of the skin to protect the deeper layers from external stressors. When the skin functions optimally, chances of inflammatory flare-ups decrease.