All you need to know to live with redness on face or rosacea skin

When people see red skin on a face – their own or someone else’s, they can jump to all kinds of conclusions about what caused it and how to care for it. It’s true that there is a lot that we currently don’t know about how red skin functions. But there is equally a large number of things that we do know about managing it. Here we provide a few simple reminders of good and bad actions when it comes to caring for your red skin on a daily basis. And remember, it’s always a good idea to consult your dermatologist to get proper diagnosis and treatment.

A red face is a sign of drinking too much alcohol. FALSE.

It is time to do away with this myth! Red skin is not a sign of alcoholism.
Alcohol is an aggravating factor in this vascular problem. It dilates blood vessels so that skin flushes and turns red.
To prevent this, the simple trick is to avoid alcohol as much as possible. Drink less. Alternate with cold glasses of water. Eliminate it entirely if you can.

My diet affects my red skin. TRUE.

Spicy food, hot drinks and certain fruits and vegetables can trigger your flushes.
It’s been noted that citrus fruits, tomatoes and other foods containing histamine can aggravate your red skin.
In this situation a journal can be helpful. Write down everything that you eat for two to three weeks, as well as when your skin reacts. Gradually, you will identify which foods are your triggers. By avoiding or eliminating them, you will also reduce and relieve your skin’s redness.

Flushing can be brought on by the weather. TRUE.

The sun, the wind, and sudden and wide temperature swings as you go in- and outside in cold weather can all spark a red, blotchy flush on your face. The sun naturally brings redness out.

Be sure to always wear a sunscreen like Photoderm AR, which offers anti-redness and SPF50+ protection.

With the wind and temperature changes, blood vessels dilate and constrict, causing flushes. Wear a scarf in a soft fabric, not wool, to keep your face protected while outside in colder weather.

The better you are at keeping triggers under control, the more you limit your skin’s redness from progressing.

A good workout eliminates stress and therefore reduces redness on the face. IT DEPENDS.

Physical activity is really important to feeling healthy and good about yourself. And it does lower stress levels by releasing feel-good endorphin hormones.

You do need to be careful with the intensity of your workout. Higher intensity will get your heart pounding, and make you flush more.

If you can, try to work out at moderate levels. You can even try working out more often but at lower intensity to still get the benefit without having to push hard.

Walking is an excellent, low-impact way to stay in shape that works your heart, muscles and joints, and even your mind.

Just remember that the post-workout muscle-relaxing sauna session is also out when you’re finished, since the high temperature will make you flush.

By not cleaning my skin, I avoid irritating it with skincare products. FALSE.

Healthy skin starts with clean skin. You should be cleansing it twice a day, in the evening to remove dirt, make-up and pollution, and in the morning to wipe away dirt that’s accumulated overnight.

Try to avoid using tap water to clean your face, as it may contain irritants that make your skin react. Choose instead a neutral, gentle cleanser such as Sensibio H2O, a micellar water with ingredients selected specifically to clean sensitive skin and that doesn’t need to be rinsed off.

The cleanser you choose shouldn’t contain alcohol or any other harsh ingredients, and your skin shouldn’t sting when you use it.

My moisturiser doesn’t seem to make any difference. FALSE.

Your face moisturiser for rosacea doesn’t have a direct effect on your redness, but it does help your skin to maintain its balance.

Gentle moisturisers like Sensibio AR act to repair and soothe your skin. You help to restore your skin’s barrier function, so that irritants and further redness stay out.

The right moisturiser doesn’t produce any burning sensations. It should make you feel fresh and your skin comfortable.

It’s better if I leave my face free of cosmetic products. IT DEPENDS.

Some make-up can do you a world of good. Covering up your redness boosts your self-confidence and makes it easier for you to live your daily life. So go for it.

A face cream like Sensibio AR BB cream not only provides high coverage, it also helps to reduce and prevent rosacea’s inflammation and redness.

The days that your face is too inflamed, you can leave it off if you choose. Your skin may need a rest. Listen to what it’s telling you and adapt as you go.