The look of Rosacea....is NOT the look of love!

As I get older I am becoming far to aware that I may be one of millions across this earth that suffer from the effects of Rosacea.  The exact causes of this ever so bothersome condition are unknown, but it is clear that it does run in the family.......THANKS MOM!!  Additionally, it is believed that hormones play a strong role, as many women notice rosacea flares when they are menstruating or during the menopausal years.  If you suffer from rosacea, you probably also have some component of sensitive skin......yep, that's me, my red face flares up at the slightest touch to my skin.....love that.  Flare ups can also be triggered by the application of rich emollients, glycolic acid or astringents containing alcohol.  Keeping this in mind, we must be very selective and extra cautious in our selection of skincare products!

So you ask...HOW DO I TREAT ROSACEA?  Don't hate me, but although it cannot be cured, there are a variety of treatments available that can help keep it under control! Yipee!
The most common treatments include oral antibiotics, in particular within the tetracycline family, and topical antibiotics such as mentronidazole.  Advances in peptide technology have been found to be effective at calming inflammation as well.  Although there are no OTC medicines approved for treating rosacea, choosing skincare products that are formulated for hyper irritable skin may help keep your skin calm and less likely to react adversely.  Look for products geared toward sensitive skin, or with slight green tints to them that can help reduce the appearance of redness on your skin.  *I use Smashbox's green colored primer under my foundation sometimes*

KNOW YOUR TRIGGERS!!  
*Sun Exposure
*Smoking
*Red Wine
*Heat - hot or steam baths, radiant heat, saunas and warm environments
*Spicy foods......LOVE THEM!
*Hot Drinks
*Caffeinated Beverages.......ummmm, I know this DOESN'T mean coffee!!!
*Anxiety, embarrassment and stress
*Physical exertion
*Cosmetic and skincare products containing high levels of alcohol or acetone, as well
as fragranced products

BEAUTIES...NEVER FEAR, MAKEUP JUNKIE IS HERE to help you in this battle!!  I am using (and can't live without) the great SOOTHE REGIMEN by Rodan + Fields.  This is a 4 step regimen that relieves your skin of dryness, redness, stinging and burning.  With continual use, your skin WILL feel more at ease, smooth and have visible redness reduction.

After 2 weeks of use, participants experienced the reduction of the following:
67% reduction of redness
80% reduction of peeling
74% reduction of dryness
90% reduction of stinging
72% reduction of overall irritation!

AND, the SOOTHE Gentle Cream Wash (#1) doubles as a calming shaving lotion to help reduce razor burn and irritation, AND the SOOTHE Sensitive Skin Treatment (#2) doubles as an aftershave treatment for those men with sensitive skin!!!  WOO-HOO!!!

If your face can't take anymore, follow the links to these most amazing products and be free of the constant irritation, and remember all is not lost ladies, and gentlemen......although we can't stop rosacea, we can sure fight like the dickens to reduce its appearance!!!

BE BLESSED!!!!