Suffering from rosacea? You are not alone. About 10% of people over thirty suffer from facial redness, especially women. During the summer months, your skin can turn even redder and react more sensitively. Fortunately, you can do something about it. What exactly? I will tell you that in this blog.
What is rosacea?
Many people think that rosacea is another term for rosacea. Make no mistake. There are indeed major differences between the two skin conditions. Rosacea literally means 'as red as a rose'. The redness mainly occurs on cheeks and nose, sometimes also on the forehead and chin. But it doesn't stop with red skin. Patients with rosacea also suffer from red skin thickenings or pimples and a prickling, stinging sensation in the skin. Rosacea is the sequel to rosacea. Frequent flushing causes the fine veins in the face to expand again and again, causing them to lose their elasticity and causing permanent redness and visible capillaries. In a later phase, skin infections may also occur. Only then do we speak of rosacea.
Why does the skin ignite?
Why does one person have radiant, even skin while you suffer from rosacea? The answer partly lies in your genes. You simply inherit the skin type from your parents and therefore also the fragility of the blood vessels. And there are even more factors that play a role in rosacea. UV radiation is number one. Your face receives the greatest dose of sun rays: the reason why rosacea mainly affects your face. Sunlight also warms your skin, causing the blood vessels in your face to expand. This in turn triggers the sebaceous glands, which can overreact and become inflamed, resulting in red bumps and painful skin thickenings. And there is a third culprit: the Demodex folliculorum, a skin mite that lives in the small hair follicles of the skin. The mite - about 0.3 mm in size - occurs in everyone, but in some people in larger quantities. This can also worsen your rosacea symptoms.
Why does the skin ignite?
Why does one person have radiant, even skin while you suffer from rosacea? The answer partly lies in your genes. You simply inherit the skin type from your parents and therefore also the fragility of the blood vessels. And there are even more factors that play a role in rosacea. UV radiation is number one. Your face receives the greatest dose of sun rays: the reason why rosacea mainly affects your face. Sunlight also warms your skin, causing the blood vessels in your face to expand. This in turn triggers the sebaceous glands, which can overreact and become inflamed, resulting in red bumps and painful skin thickenings. And there is a third culprit: the Demodex folliculorum, a skin mite that lives in the small hair follicles of the skin. The mite - about 0.3 mm in size - occurs in everyone, but in some people in larger quantities. This can also worsen your rosacea symptoms.
Take extra care of your skin during the summer
As I said, sun is detrimental to rosacea complaints. This has to do with the process that sunlight initiates. For example, UV radiation causes an accumulation of free radicals in the skin. People with rosacea can miss these extra harmful substances as a toothache, because their skin already contains more free radicals than healthy skin types. Sunlight also affects the antioxidants in the skin. And these substances are crucial for protecting your skin against free radicals. And there is more. Sun exposure also causes your skin to produce a certain protein, intended to protect against harmful invaders. In people with rosacea, the immune system reacts hypersensitively, causing it to produce too much of this protein. This hypersensitivity in turn promotes inflammatory reactions. In short, avoiding sunlight is the message!
How do you best protect skin with rosacea from the sun?
I probably don't need to tell you anymore that it is important to protect your skin from the sun. For people with rosacea, it is even more crucial. Choose a sunscreen with a UVA and UVB filter and stay away from creams with irritating ingredients or perfume. Our Boost of Protection Sunscreen protects your skin effectively and gently. Don't just use this cream on sunny days, but make it a daily habit. Winter and summer.
Because rosacea skin can rely on less protective antioxidants, a cream with extra concentrate is even better. Did you know that Self products are packed with natural antioxidants that boost your skin health? You can also add antioxidants to your plate. Tomatoes, green tea and pistachios are packed with these healthy substances and can be a useful boost. But be careful, some foods can make your complaints worse. Spicy foods and alcohol open your blood vessels and are known risk factors for rosacea.
What else can you do against rosacea?
- Take care of your skin with gentle products. It is better not to use anti-aging products. These often contain irritants such as vitamin A acid that irritate your skin and promote redness.
- Products against acne are also not a good idea, nor are peeling creams. Rosacea and couperose skin is particularly sensitive and needs gentle products.
- Stay away from cortisone. Cortisone makes your skin thin, making it red even faster.
- Pronounced cold and heat can promote redness. Try to avoid major temperature fluctuations and always provide your skin with the necessary protection.
Do you want to know more? Do you have an ultimate tip that you would like to share with the Self-lovers? Give me a call! I'd love to hear from you!
Love, Team SELF
