Rosacea is the most common skin condition responsible for reddening of the skin along with inflammation and irritation. Triggers that can cause flare-ups include spicy foods, medications, stress and overexposure to the sun's harmful UV rays. Treating rosacea will not cure it, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center--the main purpose of treatment is to reduce flare-up occurrence by avoiding the triggers that cause them.
Step 1
Cleanse your skin with a gentle pH cleanser containing less than 10 percent soap, recommends Daily Glow. Soap has a drying effect on skin and may also trigger rosacea flare-ups on sensitive skin. Mild soaps for oily skin may be more effective in fighting rosacea flare-ups by eliminating excess sebum production.
Step 2
Apply a light moisturizer after cleansing to keep skin balanced. According to Daily Glow, moisturizers containing a green tint not only help reduce flare-ups, but also mask redness and irritation from other factors such as sun exposure and food irritants. Topical creams such as tretinoin are also beneficial in treating and reducing flare-ups, according to MayoClinic.com. Apply tretinoin once or twice daily by itself or in conjunction with oral medications.
Step 3
Apply a green-tinted primer to mask redness by neutralizing skin tone. These concealers also contain sunscreen that protect sensitive skin from harmful UV rays, according to Daily Glow. Follow primer application with oil-free concealers or foundations that are one shade lighter than your natural skin tone.
Step 4
Apply sunscreen to your skin year-round to protect from UV rays and reduce flare-ups. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, sunscreen is helpful in reducing flare-ups by eliminating one main rosacea trigger--the sun. Avoiding sun exposure during peak hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. also helps keep redness down to a minimum.
Step 5
Take prescription antibiotics as directed by your dermatologist. Antibiotic treatments for rosacea include topical and oral antibiotics. According to MayoClinic.com, oral antibiotics work faster than topical antibiotics.
Tips and Warnings
- Some cases of skin redness may require laser surgery. Should rosacea symptoms worsen or fail to improve with conventional treatment, discuss this option with your dermatologist.
Things You'll Need
- Gentle pH cleanser
- Light moisturizer
- Tretinoin cream
- Green-tinted concealer
- Sunscreen
- Antibiotics
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