Rosacea is much like any other pervasive skin disorder, from breakouts to eczema, because there are no easy answers. Cosmetics companies looking for your money have a penchant for claiming that their line has the answer to your problems, yet these products—such as exfoliants, anti-irritants, antifungal ingredients, antioxidants, and so on—often have no relation to the needs of someone struggling with rosacea. But for most women looking for the magic bullet the hope that the next product can make a difference is just too tempting. In reality, even well-formulated products, meaning primarily those that are free of topical skin irritants, can be a problem for rosacea.
So where do you begin when you’re dealing with rosacea? Because rosacea is so often misdiagnosed, the place to start is with a dermatologist who has experience with this disorder. Next come skin-care considerations, to be sure the products you are using aren’t making matters worse, and then lifestyle considerations, because what you do can trigger flare-ups. As is true for all skin types and skin disorders, it takes experimenting to find what works for you. What is crucial for everyone but especially for those with rosacea is to follow the skin-care basics of being gentle in every part of their routine. Finally, using leave-on products that are loaded with antioxidants, skin-identical ingredients, and cell-communicating ingredients to normalize the skin as much as possible is the best place to start.