Can anyone help on how to repair a damaged skin barrier on rosacea skin? The lady who does my ipl facials mistakenly exfoliated my cheeks after this and my skin has been in a bit of a state ever since….. 😢. Any advice or wonder products would be most appreciated xx
Hello Isabel! Thank you for your question. The answer - as always - is 'it depends!'
A few things to consider:
- Is your skin in a happy place? If you're in an active flare up, it's not a great idea to add in ingredients that might be aggravating. It's an acid, so if your skin barrier is damaged, it's going to sting!
- Is it a gentle formulation? Some people think a high percentage is great because they want to get their moneys worth, or they want fast results. But often a low percentage over a longer time is better as you'll avoid irritation.
- It's a marathon, not a sprint. With any kind of active (vit c, retinol, azelaic acid etc) I will start small and build up over time. Apply once a week for a month and see how you go. Then go up to twice a week. I use mine 2-3 times a week and don't feel the need to increase more than that, but took my time to get there.
- Apply it in the morning on dry skin (applying to damp skin can cause irritation). Apply your usual serum/moisturiser afterwards and don't forget your SPF.
Answering this question has made me realise I haven't done a dedicated article about vit c so I'll add that to my list and I'll put together some product recommendations as well! x
I’m in my 70s with minimal wrinkling, but with krinkles around the eyes. What concealer can you recommend that isn’t heavy looking and won’t bleed into the lines? I use a moisturizing toner, Olay antioxidant serum, moisturizing sunscreen spf and L’Oreal True Match foundation applied with a RealTouch sponge. There’s not too much moisture in these products that would be the cause.
Also, since I understand that I can no longer wax my upper lip, how can I best remove the hair? I began waxing after chemo 13 years ago, so not too much hair. Since the rosacea has become a thing, I’ve been tweezing obvious ones. I wouldn’t think bleaching them would be safe and some of them are white. At my age I won’t have any special procedures done.
When it comes to hair removal, there are a few options which all have pros and cons and may come down to preference:
1) Threading - This is a fantastic hair removal method where a twisted thread is tightened around the hair and pulled out. It stings, but if you're used to waxing or tweezering you'll be absolutely fine. The people who do it are so skilled and quick, it's impressive! Some people offer a cream/gel afterwards to help with the redness but I always decline as it's usually that which irritates more than the actual threading.
2) Hair removal cream - I use cream that's designed for sensitive skin or sensitive areas (like the bikini line) as this tends to be less irritating. I would highly recommend doing a test patch beforehand just in case!
3) Tweezering with a magnifying mirror is an oldy-but-a-goody - if you don't have much hair it won't take too long.
4) Shaving - many people recoil in horror from this idea but it's quick, easy, and cheap. I use those small dermaplaner razors (like this: https://www.boots.com/boots-smooth-care-dermaplaner-razors-10300652p) on my eyebrows when I can't be bothered to pluck them and haven't had any skin irritation. Ignore the myths about shaved hair growing back thicker or darker, it's not true: the hair is blunt and prickly when it grows back, so it may seem like it's thicker. This option needs more upkeep because hair grows quickly, so may be more time-consuming over time than the others.
Thank you for these ideas, Lex! I think I’d like to try the hair removal cream, I’ll have to look into that. I do shave my chin hairs daily with a blade razor. It can get a bit bumpy, so I use a little baking soda in my creamy cleanser there and it’s helpful. I don’t think it’s irritating. I’m hoping you think it’s safe.
Hello! Thank you for your questions. I'll answer them in two comments as I think they'll both be fairly long!
I have a similar issue with concealer, as my under eyes have always had natural creases and these are increasing all the time. The problem I have is that long-lasting concealers tend to be quite drying which I find make the undereye area look *more* lined... which is not what we want! But the more hydrating concealers, which are more forgiving on the lines, tend to 'travel' which gives the obvious creasing.
My tips are:
1) Apply the smallest amount of concealer you feel comfortable with. I think many of us use more than necessary because that's what we see others doing. Personally, I apply a dab in the inner corner and a dab on the darkest bit of my 'eye bag'. These are the areas I want to brighten the most.
2) I try to avoid applying concealer to the outer half of my under eye. This is where my lines are most concentrated, so by avoiding them I reduce the issue. This area isn't as thin as it is closer to my nose, so the blue-purple tint of my under eye is less pronounced.
3) Once I've applied the concealer, I take a piece of toilet paper and split in in half (like opening a sandwich) so the paper is very thin. Lightly press this on the concealer to absorb any excess moisture or oil.
4) Lightly apply powder to set the concealer. I prefer a loose powder as this looks and feels lighter than a solid powder. I have used the IT Cosmetics one for years and years.
5) I accept that a little bit of movement is going to happen and I may have to lightly tap the creases to redistribute some concealer throughout the day. I would prefer this to using a drying concealer than would stay put but make my eyes feel like dust!
Shoot, my answer disappeared! Thanks for these tips. I’ll look into a different concealer in case mine is drying. I apply a bare skim on the inner corner, as you do, and blend with a brush. Re 3 & 5), I’ve been considering rice paper for this, love the TP hack and will try. I could add rice paper to my purse. I’m using Sephora loose pan powder with a fluffy brush. Seems no different from regular loose powder. Thanks so much!
Can anyone help on how to repair a damaged skin barrier on rosacea skin? The lady who does my ipl facials mistakenly exfoliated my cheeks after this and my skin has been in a bit of a state ever since….. 😢. Any advice or wonder products would be most appreciated xx
Oh gosh I'm sorry to hear that, how is your skin now?
I wrote an article on the skin barrier, with expert tips from Dr Anjali Mahto, you can find that here: https://rosaceaclub.substack.com/p/rosacea-skin-barrier x
Is vitamin C serum appropriate for rosacea-prone skin?
Hello Isabel! Thank you for your question. The answer - as always - is 'it depends!'
A few things to consider:
- Is your skin in a happy place? If you're in an active flare up, it's not a great idea to add in ingredients that might be aggravating. It's an acid, so if your skin barrier is damaged, it's going to sting!
- Is it a gentle formulation? Some people think a high percentage is great because they want to get their moneys worth, or they want fast results. But often a low percentage over a longer time is better as you'll avoid irritation.
- It's a marathon, not a sprint. With any kind of active (vit c, retinol, azelaic acid etc) I will start small and build up over time. Apply once a week for a month and see how you go. Then go up to twice a week. I use mine 2-3 times a week and don't feel the need to increase more than that, but took my time to get there.
- Apply it in the morning on dry skin (applying to damp skin can cause irritation). Apply your usual serum/moisturiser afterwards and don't forget your SPF.
Answering this question has made me realise I haven't done a dedicated article about vit c so I'll add that to my list and I'll put together some product recommendations as well! x
I’m in my 70s with minimal wrinkling, but with krinkles around the eyes. What concealer can you recommend that isn’t heavy looking and won’t bleed into the lines? I use a moisturizing toner, Olay antioxidant serum, moisturizing sunscreen spf and L’Oreal True Match foundation applied with a RealTouch sponge. There’s not too much moisture in these products that would be the cause.
Also, since I understand that I can no longer wax my upper lip, how can I best remove the hair? I began waxing after chemo 13 years ago, so not too much hair. Since the rosacea has become a thing, I’ve been tweezing obvious ones. I wouldn’t think bleaching them would be safe and some of them are white. At my age I won’t have any special procedures done.
Thank you and for all you do!
Deborah
When it comes to hair removal, there are a few options which all have pros and cons and may come down to preference:
1) Threading - This is a fantastic hair removal method where a twisted thread is tightened around the hair and pulled out. It stings, but if you're used to waxing or tweezering you'll be absolutely fine. The people who do it are so skilled and quick, it's impressive! Some people offer a cream/gel afterwards to help with the redness but I always decline as it's usually that which irritates more than the actual threading.
2) Hair removal cream - I use cream that's designed for sensitive skin or sensitive areas (like the bikini line) as this tends to be less irritating. I would highly recommend doing a test patch beforehand just in case!
3) Tweezering with a magnifying mirror is an oldy-but-a-goody - if you don't have much hair it won't take too long.
4) Shaving - many people recoil in horror from this idea but it's quick, easy, and cheap. I use those small dermaplaner razors (like this: https://www.boots.com/boots-smooth-care-dermaplaner-razors-10300652p) on my eyebrows when I can't be bothered to pluck them and haven't had any skin irritation. Ignore the myths about shaved hair growing back thicker or darker, it's not true: the hair is blunt and prickly when it grows back, so it may seem like it's thicker. This option needs more upkeep because hair grows quickly, so may be more time-consuming over time than the others.
I hope you found both of these answers useful! x
Thank you for these ideas, Lex! I think I’d like to try the hair removal cream, I’ll have to look into that. I do shave my chin hairs daily with a blade razor. It can get a bit bumpy, so I use a little baking soda in my creamy cleanser there and it’s helpful. I don’t think it’s irritating. I’m hoping you think it’s safe.
Hello! Thank you for your questions. I'll answer them in two comments as I think they'll both be fairly long!
I have a similar issue with concealer, as my under eyes have always had natural creases and these are increasing all the time. The problem I have is that long-lasting concealers tend to be quite drying which I find make the undereye area look *more* lined... which is not what we want! But the more hydrating concealers, which are more forgiving on the lines, tend to 'travel' which gives the obvious creasing.
My tips are:
1) Apply the smallest amount of concealer you feel comfortable with. I think many of us use more than necessary because that's what we see others doing. Personally, I apply a dab in the inner corner and a dab on the darkest bit of my 'eye bag'. These are the areas I want to brighten the most.
2) I try to avoid applying concealer to the outer half of my under eye. This is where my lines are most concentrated, so by avoiding them I reduce the issue. This area isn't as thin as it is closer to my nose, so the blue-purple tint of my under eye is less pronounced.
3) Once I've applied the concealer, I take a piece of toilet paper and split in in half (like opening a sandwich) so the paper is very thin. Lightly press this on the concealer to absorb any excess moisture or oil.
4) Lightly apply powder to set the concealer. I prefer a loose powder as this looks and feels lighter than a solid powder. I have used the IT Cosmetics one for years and years.
5) I accept that a little bit of movement is going to happen and I may have to lightly tap the creases to redistribute some concealer throughout the day. I would prefer this to using a drying concealer than would stay put but make my eyes feel like dust!
Shoot, my answer disappeared! Thanks for these tips. I’ll look into a different concealer in case mine is drying. I apply a bare skim on the inner corner, as you do, and blend with a brush. Re 3 & 5), I’ve been considering rice paper for this, love the TP hack and will try. I could add rice paper to my purse. I’m using Sephora loose pan powder with a fluffy brush. Seems no different from regular loose powder. Thanks so much!