Let's start with the basics, what exactly is Rosacea? It is a common skin condition that causes blushing or flushing and visible blood vessels in your face. It may also produce small, pus-filled bumps that aren't acne. These signs and symptoms may flare up for weeks to months and then go away for a while. Although it cannot be cured, there are products and treatments that can reduce the redness and discomfort. Rosacea can affect anyone, though adults over the age of 30 are more likely to be affected. A family history or rosacea increases the likelihood of the disorder, and it appears more often among women, but men tend to have more severe symptoms. If left untreated, rosacea can worsen over time, so it is important to stay on top of your symptoms once they start appearing.
So, how can you manage your symptoms safely and effectively? We have some amazing treatments & product recommendations that will help to reduce the appearance of rosacea, and calm the discomfort in your skin!
Here are some of our top product recommendations to help with Rosacea!
Cleansers
Anything that is gentle, soothing, and non-exfoliating. We love Cream Cleanser by iS Clinical, it's nourishing and calming, and doesn’t require any water to remove - simply use cloth and gently remove the product. If you do choose to use water, always use cold water to help soothe the skin and calm inflammation.
Another option is to use a milk cleanser from Biologique Recherche, specifically we recommend Lait E.V. or Lait U. My favourite tip for those experiencing inflammation is to wrap ice cubes in gauze and massage the cleanser into the skin with them. At the same time you are de-puffing, creating healthy circulation and of course soothing the redness.
Serums
Serum Erythros from Biologique Recherche is a targeted serum that will soothe Rosacea. It is a light brown fluid that you pat into the skin and let it set before applying creme. It calms and smoothes the surface of the skin and the rosacea calms down after 5 minutes or so. It should be applied AM and PM on the areas of redness for best results. How does it work? It inhibits the formation of new blood vessels, thereby reducing redness and sensitivity. This serum is perfect for rosacea skin as it provides instant and long term results.
Pro-Health Serum is a 15% vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) that helps to protect against the visual effects of photo-damage while providing calming properties. The olive leaf extract is there to help blemish-prone and compromised skin. It’s the perfect formula for those that deal with rosacea or inflammation.
Masques
The one masque I think EVERY skin type should have on their skincare shelf is Masque Biosensible. It is ideal for calming red, irritated or rosacea skin. It’s a detoxifying mask that purifies and soothes skin BUT will also reduces the appearance of blemishes, replenish lipids and restore the acid mantle barrier. Use this with Biologique Recherche’s CryoSticks for an immediate result - these are designed with medical-grade stainless steel to guarantee the highest amount of thermal energy. The ergonomic shape allows you to work effectively on every area of the face from the forehead and cheeks to the eyes. Store the sticks in the refrigerator or in nice for maximum thermal energy. The cold sensation is picked up by receptors in the skin, stimulating nerve cells and providing a tightening effect, while also soothing and calming the skin.
Cremes
Did you know you can find cremes that will also help calm redness? Creme Verte Espoir prevents and reduces the signs of rosacea. It acts on broken capillaries, visibly reducing their appearance to decrease the extent and intensity of chronic redness. Fun fact: "verte" is "green" in French! This creme is directly counteracting the redness in your skin by balancing it with green tones! This means that it works instantly to reduce the appearance of redness, and also works over time.
If you are looking for something lighter in texture, Emulsion Gel Biosensible is the favourite amongst Myüz Estheticians. It is meant for sensitive skin but its hypoallergenic fluid contains a high concentration of moisturizing active ingredients like hyaluronic acid, essential unsaturated fatty acids like grape seed oil and anti-inflammatory agents like Kudzu extract. I love this for all skin types as an SOS product. Alternatively, if you have oily skin I recommend Emulsion Gel Biosensible S.R. - the formula is very similar, but the S.R. stands for "sebo-regulating", this means that it will help with balancing your oil production (while still providing all the benefits listed above).
If you are wanting something thicker in texture then SHEALD will be your go to product. Full of ceramides, which are fats or lipids that are found in skin cells, to nourish the skin. This is the only product that can be used directly on cut or raw skin before a scab has formed. It creates anti-microbial barrier that activates repair with amnio acids and lipids and it stops pain and itching!
Last but not least, SPF! As always, my advice is to never skip on SPF. It’s your #1 protective product. Eclipse SPF or Extreme Protect SPF are both mineral SPFs, as opposed to chemical SPFs you find at the drugstore. This means that they provide an instant physical barrier for those damaging UV rays. They come in a tinted and non-tinted option, but we love the beige to give a slight wash of colour and even out the skin tone. If you have rosacea, the skin needs to be protected from the sun at all times. Heat will aggravate your rosacea and increase inflammation.
Treatments
Products work best when they are paired with professional treatments. We've listed a couple of services below that would be most beneficial for those struggling with Rosacea. The goal is always to calm, heal, and soothe the skin. We never want to do a treatment that would create additional irritation or cause further harm to the skin.
Light Therapy
Light treatment has been shown to improve symptoms of Rosacea. It works by reducing and eliminating excessive blood vessels in the skin. This in turn will reduce your redness and sensitivity! Red LED light acts on cells in the skin known as fibroblasts, which play a role in production of collagen, a protein that makes up a large part of connective tissue and helps the skin to recover when it's harmed. Blue LED light is most often used to treat acne. In this treatment, your esthetician will cleanse, use the Celluma LED light therapy, zap you with high frequency and finish off with the appropriate iS Clinical serums.
Biologique Recherche Custom Facial
This facial is done with world class products from the Biologique Recherche line. It is applied from the chest to the face. It is designed to build up the epidermis and boost the skin. It is incredibly customizable, from the booster, the massage, the add-on treatments, and the finishing products - this means that your esthetician can design the facial from the ground up, using specialized techniques only taught by Biologique Recherche. This facial is a great option for those of you with Rosacea, as it can feature products such as Serum Erythros, Serum & Masque Biosensible, CryoStick Massage, and many others.
If you suspect that you have Rosacea, we always recommend seeking out a professional. Remember that we are here to help! We take pride in our knowledge and training, and love being able to educate our clients.
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