When you have rosacea on your face, it can consume you mentally and emotionally. Every time you look at yourself in the mirror, you don’t see yourself. You only see the rosacea. When people look at you, you feel that they don’t see you, but instead all they see is your red face.
It is understandable that you want to do things to minimize the appearance of this common skin condition and make your skin look as healthy as possible. However, if you are not careful, you may find yourself inadvertently doing things that aggravate your symptoms and make your skin look worse. This is especially the case when it comes to the use of cosmetics.
Contrary to what some people might say, there’s nothing wrong with using cosmetics even though you have rosacea. They key is being consistent in the products that you use, the way that you care for your skin and in the amount of product that you apply. If you use makeup in a gentle way, you can actually manage your symptoms and make a marked improvement in the appearance of your skin.
One key factor is using products and techniques that do not irritate your skin. In fact, you want products that minimize irritation. Talk to our dermatologist about skin care products and cosmetics that are designed for sensitive skin or for individuals with rosacea. If you apply any product to your face and it causes your skin to burn, sting or become irritated, quit using the product immediately as it is only going to aggravate your condition.
When you are looking for skin care and makeup products, you need to be on the lookout for what the National Rosacea Society refers to as common rosacea irritants. These would include things like alcohol, fragrance, peppermint, eucalyptus oil, exfoliating agents and other products that people with normally sensitive skin would avoid.
The second step, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, is to use makeup and skin care products that are fragrance-free. This is because fragrances tend to cause more allergic reactions than other ingredients. Your skin is a large organ that can react harshly when it comes into contact with allergens. Irritants and allergens make your skin weaker and more prone to rosacea outbreaks.
When you’re looking for products, you may see that some are marked as allergy tested. This may mean that the product is safe to use on your skin. However, do not fall into the trap of confusing something that is allergy tested with something that is hypoallergenic. Hypoallergenic can be a catchall phrase. The cosmetic industry as of yet has not clearly defined what that term means. So, something that is considered hypoallergenic could actually cause a negative reaction on your skin.
Of course, it’s important to seek professional care for rosacea. That’s where Dr. Yeoman and his trusted team of professionals at the Dermatology Office can help. With locations in Poplar Bluff and Paragould, we gladly serve patients in these and surrounding areas with expert medical and aesthetic dermatology. To get beneficial, professional care for your rosacea, schedule your consultation with us today.
