So many people are affected by Rosacea, and the care that they recieve is not always the best.  To find out more on this skin care issue I consulted with  Anouchka Ferrer, a licensed esthetician with 30 years in the skin care industry, and to get the real scoop. First of all, Anouchka made it very clear that “it is not acne.” Understandably, there is a lot of confusion between rosacea & acne because they often look alike.  Even though, as it progresses, rosacea develops papules and pustules that create pimples resembling acne.

Acne is actually a disorder of the sebaceous gland accompanied by blackheads and whiteheads over the face, neck, decollete and back.  Rosacea is a vascular disease that affects only the face and displays no blackheads.  Unfortunately, some people are genetically predisposed to Rosacea like those with thin fragile skin who have an Irish, English or Scottish background.  Lately though, more and more people seem to be affected as well, even those with a light olive complexion.

Unfortunately even knowing who is likely to get it, still doesn’t help to find the cause of Rosacea. However, we do know that it is a weakness of the capillaries which causes them to become permanently dilated over time.  Rosacea appears in a butterfly shape on the cheeks, chin, forehead and nose.  It is characterized by a persistent redness & flushing, scaliness & papules.  People with Rosacea should not smoke since smoking destroys Vitamin C & tightens capillaries which prevents circulation of the blood.  Anouchka also recommends avoiding the sun at all costs, and to always wear SPF. Try to avoid hot showers and baths, saunas, and, oh no, spicy foods.

Here is Anouchka’s Facial Regiment for anyone with Rosacea or even a mild case:  Use a gentle cleanser, followed by a toner without alcohol or any aggressive ingredients, and make sure to use creams with anti-inflammatory & anti-irritant ingredients (such as chamomile, licorice root extracts and allantoin).

Vitamin C, an antioxidant that promotes collagen synthesis is also very beneficial as it strengthens the capillaries and is vital in supporting the skins auto-immune system. Vitamin A is an anti-oxidant which normalizes cell turn over for Rosacea along with Vitamin E an anti-inflammatory & free radical catcher.  All help in alleviating rosacea conditions. Pevonia, Kinerase and Dr. Grandel all offer excellent skincare products to help calm and to a certain extent, control Rosacea.  In extreme cases of rosacea, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist.

Do not confuse rosacea with “couperose,” which is a very mild case of dilated capillaries on the cheeks and is not accompanied by a diffuse redness and flushing like rosacea.

For more information on Rosacea, and your skin care concerns, you can email Anouchka: anouchka@roadrunner.com

image credit: The petcenter.com

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