Rosacea Awareness Month: Clinic Treatments
Rosacea is a long-term inflammatory skin disorder, which affects both the blood vessels and skin. There are skincare products for Rosacea that can be incorporated into your daily skincare routine but for those who want to take it a step further, Kate from our clinic takes a closer look at the Rosacea treatments available at Face the Future.
Common Rosacea triggers
Each Rosacea patient will express different skin 'triggers' but commonly identified triggers include hot and spicy foods, alcohol or a rapid change in temperature, so avoidance is key. Rosacea sufferers should seek advice from experienced professionals who are best placed to advise appropriately for this tricky skin disorder, to ensure they get the right treatment for them.
Active ingredients to avoid
Wherever possible, patients buying 'over the counter' products should choose skincare that is free from emulsifiers, preservatives, perfumes and mineral oils. In an ideal world patients should seek advice from experienced professionals, who can advise on more 'active' ingredients that can really help to improve and reduce the visible effects of Rosacea.
Active ingredients to use
Often professional products include combinations of exfoliating acids such as Azelaic, Glycolic and Salicylic Acids, but these must be used with professional guidance and support, to help minimise occasional problematic side effects. Of course, long term UVA/UVB sun protection is key, to help with further deterioration of symptoms.
It can be tempting to slather on a long-wear foundation in an attempt to hide the redness experienced with Rosacea, but this can cause more problems. I advise the use of something much more gentle, especially in the early stages of treatment and until we get symptoms under control. I particularly like Oxygenetix Oxygenating Breathable Foundation, which offers fantastic coverage but is gentle on the skin.
Our approach to treating Rosacea
At Face the Future, we use a multi-dimensional approach in-clinic and advise not only on treatment modalities, but also on diet and lifestyle changes as well as appropriate home care products. We focus on great skincare products such as Jan Marini, which helps to improve the visible skin problems relating to skin texture, colour and the fluid filled pustules. We also look at treatment modalities such as Lynton Lumina Intense Pulsed Light and Lutronic Spectra Gold, which target both visible capillaries and the flush/blush typical of Rosacea.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a very effective treatment to easily and quickly target visible capillaries. It works by picking up the haemoglobin in the vein and coagulating the blood. The vein sometimes disappears instantly (very satisfying for the clinicians) or can go a darker shade of blue or brown until the blood is dispersed and the vein collapses. Treatments involve very little downtime. There can be some redness and a tiny amount of swelling but this is very minimal and makes a huge difference to the skin in the long run, achieve a much more even skin tone.
Although there is no 'one fix all' treatment, it's important that each patient is assessed as an individual and a thorough treatment pathway explored. Face the Future is a member of the Acne and Rosacea Association UK (ARAUK). If you would like more information on how to treat your symptoms of Rosacea, book a FREE consultation with our expert clinicians. To book, call 0113 282 3300, email info@facethefuture.co.uk or book online.
Written for you by: Kate, Face the Future
Image source: freepik.com
