- 1). First you must accept there is no magic potion that will eliminate Rosacea. Research has led the medical community to believe the condition may be hereditary, caused by your body having too much of a small protein and/or too much of a particular enzyme. So at least for now the condition is here to stay. So let's discuss the best way to handle Rosacea.
- 2). Talk with your family physician or dermatologist and request one of the prescription antibiotics prescribed for Rosacea, Tetracycline (which I take) or Oracea. Also ask for a prescription for a medicated topical cream such as metronidazole. Keep in mind these will not help you if your don't follow the medical regiment recommended by your doctor. Also, the Mayo Clinic points out alternative therapies - colloidal silver, emu oil, vitamin K, etc. - have no conclusive evidence to support their claims of effectiveness.
- 3). Just because your mother, best friend or co-worker uses a harsh soap or cosmetic company's cleanser to clean their face, does not mean you can. Also, you should not use facial masks, scrubs, or medicated strips. Run from alcohol, witch hazel or other harsh astringents as these aggravate Rosacea. Do not use rough wash cloths, a loofah or small scrubbers designed to clean your face. Actually, whether you have the condition or not, do not mistreat your skin with any of these!
- 4). Having covered what you should not do, here is what you can do. Purchase a cleanser that is soapless, lipid-free, non-comedogenic, fragrance free, and recommended by dermatologists. The word "hypo-allergenic" means little as the cosmetic industry has not clearly defined what this encompasses. I use Aquanil cleanser that my drug store orders for me. It is not a prescription but most stores don't keep it in stock. Use it to clean your face morning and evening. First wash your hands, very important, place several pumps of Aquanil on your fingers and gently rub over your wet face. Rinse off by splashing your face with lukewarm water and blot with soft cloth.
- 5). If you are using the topical cream, let it dry and then apply a moisturizer. I stopped using moisturizers from cosmetic companies years ago and now use Cetaphil. It is available in drug stores and some grocery stores. Make sure it says moisturizer on the bottle. Finding the right foundation for your skin may prove to be "trial and error." The Rosacea Organization, www.rosacea.org, has Clinique shown on its web site so you might try it. I use Chanel although it is what I consider expensive. Just run from any company that tells you their make-up is for people with Rosacea. If it were they would be spending mega dollars to advertise that fact.
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