Taming the Fiery Flare of Rosacea

Ahhh, Rosacea. What a beautiful name for such an annoying chronic skin condition. While blushing occasionally at a compliment or a dirty joke can be charming or endearing, rosacea is the definition of too much of a good thing. 

The good news is there are plenty of topical treatments for this all-too-common condition, but first let’s explore a bit about what it is, where it comes from, and who is most affected.

Rosacea 101

Rosacea is an inflammatory skin disorder that leads to redness, bumps, and visible capillaries, typically  on the cheeks, nose, and chin. 

It typically affects adults with fair complexions ages 30-50. However, recent studies have shown that a much wider demographic of various ages and complexions are affected than previously thought. 

The causes of rosacea can vary wildly but here are the top 5 most common factors that can influence it:

1. Sun Exposure/Heat: As if we needed another reason to wear an SPF and cover up in the sun, UV rays are the #1 trigger of rosacea. Not only does the UV radiation directly cause inflammation and can even damage capillaries in your skin, the heat itself can widen your blood vessels to increase the flushed look. 

2. Alcohol: We hate to be the fun police but your skin is yet another victim of the drink. While we can (and did) go on about the various ways booze isn’t good for your skin, we’ll focus on rosacea for the time being. Alcohol can dilate the blood vessels in your face and cause you to flush, leaving you looking drunker than you probably are (no judgement). 

3. Spicy/Hot Foods: We’re lumping these two together but, when it comes to rosacea, spicy foods and steaming hot foods and drinks are cut from the same cloth. While the spice can stimulate the nerve endings that trigger redness, the physical heat from foods can also cause flare-ups.

4. Stress: This one’s just not fair. You get rosacea, you get stressed about the rosacea, you get more rosacea. But if the stress over your redness is causing additional inflammatory responses, go ahead and skip to the “how do I fix this” section of this article.

5. Genetics: Speaking of not fair, being born with it is the simplest explanation in many cases. At least you know who to blame…

Going From Redder to Better

Think of treating a rosacea flare-up like a wild-fire: first you have to extinguish it and calm it down, and then you have to protect the area to help make sure it doesn’t happen again. 

The key elements are hydration, barrier repair, and a daily SPF.

• MYSTIQ Line - This should always be the first step in your journey because every product uses MASQ-tech™, which harnesses a powerful anti-inflammatory called Mastiha, which is perfect for dealing with redness. The MYSTIQ Lifting Masque and MYSTIQ iLuminating Cleanser are great places to start to help barrier activity while soothing redness-prone skin.
  
  

• PRO Lite Serum - A ‘must-have’ addressing skin redness and melanin management without irritating sensitive skin and promoting structural support, this lightweight brightening formula is a great follow-up to the MYSTIQ Line.
  
  

• BIO Hydra C Serum - An essential to pair with PRO Lite Serum to reduce inflammation and discoloration by delivering antioxidant protection and deep hydration through stabilized Vitamin C.
  
  

• BIO Lift Crème - Enhance your skin’s elasticity while soothing and fortifying its barrier function through growth factors and next-gen peptide technology. This peptide-loaded créme uses multiple nourishing plant stem cells to repair skin while using MASQ-tech™ to fight off hyperpigmentation.
  
  

• SPF EliōDrops 30 - Once your skin has been hydrated and repaired, it’s time to protect it. This mineral-based sunscreen that shields against UV damage and environmental stressors (two of rosacea’s biggest triggers) is perfect for sensitive skin.
  
  

Rosacea is certainly annoying and sometimes painful, but it doesn’t have to control your skin’s story. With soothing, restorative products and mindful daily care, you can minimize redness, strengthen your skin’s barrier, and reveal a more radiant, even complexion.