April is National Rosacea Awareness Month!

Let’s shine the spotlight on this chronic skin condition, which is manageable but not curable.

Rosacea affects up to 14 million people in the US, and is typically associated with sensitivity, flushing, redness, broken capillaries, and breakouts.

Rosacea is a genetic disorder (meaning you are more likely to suffer from it if it runs in your family), and is also most common in fair-skinned women between 30 and 50 years old.

Rosacea causes are still somewhat of a mystery to scientists and dermatologists. Some possible causes include bacteria (such as bacillus oleronius), H pylori infections, the demodex mite (which lives on everyone’s skin), the cathelicidin protein (which usually protects the skin from infections), and auto-immune diseases.

Rosacea triggers are somewhat better understood. Environmental factors play a role: cold, dry, overly windy and very hot climates can trigger or worsen mild rosacea; temperature and weather extremes can aggravate sensitive skin, causing redness and irritation. Other triggers include spicy foods, hot beverages, emotional stress. Rosacea is not curable but symptoms can be managed through medical care and the right combination of treatments.

Here are some tips about how to manage and minimize your rosacea symptoms:

1. Cleansing: use a gentle, soap-free cleanser. Our Gentle Cream Cleanser is ideal for redness-prone, sensitive skin.
2. Moisturize: use a moisturizer that features anti-redness and anti-inflammatory ingredients, and that helps the skin hold on to moisture. Our Kantic Calming Cream is rosacea-prone skin’s best friend.
3. Less is more: in particular during active rosacea flareups, minimize any treatment products or exfoliation steps in your skin care routine.
4. Avoid hot baths and showers, or cleansing your skin with hot water. Use cool, lukewarm water only.

Your ingredient cheat sheet:

1. Ingredients to look for include anti-irritation, anti-inflammatory, calming and healing ingredients. Blueberries play a role in the management of flushing symptoms: they tighten and protect fine capillaries thanks to anthocyanins, making them ideal for redness-prone skin. Vitamin E is very moisturizing, and known for its wound healing properties. Another key ingredient to look for are oats, for their soothing properties, as well as panthenol and menthol, as they quell the feeling of irritation and sensitivity. Finally, aloe vera also has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and helps moisturize, soothe, and hydrate the skin as it contains 98% water.
2. Ingredients to avoid include: alpha-hydroxy acids and beta-hydroxy acids, retinol, propylene glycol, essential oils, harsh exfoliants, and sulfates.