Beauty Collective - Rosace debunking myths
With the amount of stress many of us are under right now thanks to #lockdown itโ€™s likely those of us who suffer from rosacea have been susceptible to a few facial flair ups. The thing is so many of us (including those who are currently living with rosacea!) Are either blissfully unaware of the skin condition or totally misinformed! Well, we are here to change that and separate fact from fiction by debunking 11 myths about this skin condition. So read on to understand whatโ€™s true and false and start establishing whether it might be rosacea you are currently suffering from yourself.

โ€œRosacea is just blushing skinโ€


FALSE
If only this was the case! You would never need to bother applying blush again, would you? Sadly, rosacea is a lot more sinister than facial flushing! Other symptoms include pimple like breakouts, enlarged pores, visible broken blood vessels, and at worse your skin can burn, itch, swell and throb!

โ€œIt can be triggered by stressโ€


TRUE
Stress and anxiety can indeed cause rosacea symptoms to worsen, nooooo! So some stress management techniques will be imperative (we could actually all do with some of that right now!) Make sure to get plenty of rest and practice mindfulness as this can really help combat the stress-inducing effects of negative thinking which letโ€™s face it, we all are likely to be having a little of that right now!
There are several methods for increasing mindfulness a few of which include, mindfulness-based stress reduction, meditation, and yoga. I have to say I am a huge advocate for yoga, which is so easy to do from the comfort of your own home! If you donโ€™t know any yoga moves but would love to give it a try, fear not! There are some great yoga apps and YouTube videos you can follow. And while my kids are being home-schooled, they are loving starting their day with Cosmic Kids Yoga too! Win win for all!
And donโ€™t forget to practice deep breathing when you feel anxiety creeping up.

โ€œRosacea can be caused by poor skincare choicesโ€


FALSE
Rosacea is in fact a vascular and inflammatory condition and while your choice of skincare isnโ€™t the cause, over cleansing and exfoliating with physical exfoliators can actually worsen symptoms.

โ€œIt can be triggered by extreme temperatures and sun exposureโ€


TRUE
Unfortunately, sun exposure is the most common trigger for rosacea. While we all love long days at the beach, if you suffer from rosacea your skin sadly will pay a price. Not only can sunburn make flare-ups even worse, the heat from the sun can also increase your body temperature which in turn dilates blood vessels and triggers inflammation. So limited sun exposure as well as wearing SPF is the way to go.
Beauty Collective - Phytomer - Sunactive Protective Sunscreen Dark Spots - Signs of Aging SPF30

โ€œRosacea is contagiousโ€


FALSE
While experts are still trying to determine the exact cause of rosacea, we do know that there is no evidence to say that it's an infectious skin condition. So, fear not, if you, a friend or a family member have rosacea, you can't pass it on by touch, sharing cosmetics, or spending time around each other. Phew.

โ€œYour cup of coffee can cause rosacea flare-upsโ€


TRUE & FALSE!
Itโ€™s ok, calm your farm, you donโ€™tโ€™ have to forgo your morning hit of caffeine just yet as no it isnโ€™t actually your cuppa which is triggering the flare- ups but rather the thermal heat they omit. Cold cup of coffee anyone?

โ€œRosacea is a skin condition for only the over 50โ€™sโ€


FALSE
While the peak ages for rosacea sufferers are between 30 and 60 years, you can get rosacea at any age! In fact, teenagers as young as 18 have been diagnosed.

โ€œRosacea is caused by alcohol and hot foodsโ€


FALSE
While drinking alcohol and eating a spicy vindaloo can indeed trigger facial flushing, they are certainly not the cause of the condition. In fact, someone whoโ€™s never even had a drink in their life can just as easily develop rosacea as someone who enjoys spicy food and wine or two each night!
All that said, hot and spicy foods are however rosacea triggers for some, so itโ€™s best to steer clear from things like horseradish dip and hot sauce when you're drinking alcohol as heat dilates the blood vessels in the skin, and since hot foods generate heat, peppers are a big no-no!
And while alcohol might feel like a necessity for some (I hear you), sadly that glass of wine or three can potentially worsen your facial redness! While Iโ€™m not necessarily saying cut it out completely, you should cut down on the amount consumed while you are experiencing a flare-up. I promise you will notice a difference in your skin.

โ€œRosacea is the same as acneโ€


FALSE
One of the most common signs of rosacea - bumps and pimples, is also one of the most common causes of confusion about the skin condition! Why? Because itโ€™s often mistaken and then misdiagnosed for acne! Unfortunately, while the two share similar symptoms, including pustules and papules and even redness (although in acne itโ€™s isolated to the pimple or lump) acne, has a different underlying cause and needs to be treated very differently. Many ingredients used in acne specific products such as salicylic acid, vitamin A and exfoliators can cause irritation in rosacea-prone skin resulting in dryness, sensitivity and intensifying redness!


โ€œMakeup makes rosacea worseโ€


FALSE
No one with rosacea wants to be told they canโ€™t wear makeup because itโ€™ll only exaggerate the skin condition. And not when the stress of having to face people without wearing a mask of makeup to conceal symptoms can actually trigger a flare-up! You do however need to be mindful about what you are putting on your face! Ensure you steer clear of chemical formulations and instead sick to a range of โ€˜breathableโ€™ products formulated with skin nurturing ingredients that are going to enhance your complexion, not clog up your pores and irritate skin even more! Mineral Makeup should be your go-to! And we LOVE ELES Cosmetics Luminous CC Cream 20, rather than covering up your redness with a thick layer of concealer and foundation, this lightweight, oil-free colour correcting cream helps visually correct redness and even out skin tone. Whatโ€™s more itโ€™s SPF 20 so will also help shield sensitive skin from sun exposure which can aggravate rosacea. To learn about the top 10 makeup tips and products to conceal rosacea click here.
ELES - CC Cream 20

โ€œYou can totally rid yourself of rosaceaโ€


FALSE
While you can control rosacea so you speak, you, unfortunately, canโ€™t eliminate the skin issue altogether because there is no cure. Skincare can however reduce redness and other associated symptoms keeping the skin condition at bay, you just need to choose your skincare wisely. Opt for products specifically designed to counteract the condition. We highly recommend Pevoniaโ€™s best-selling RS2 line - created by world renowned dermatologist, biochemist and a pioneer in advanced organic skincare, Dr. Sylvie Hennessy, the line was designed to specifically treat rosacea. Formulated with the purest, most natural, nurturing ingredients including Green Tea, Chamomile, Liquorice, Allantoin, Vitamin E and Rose Essential Oil all the products in the range help strengthen capillaries, desensitize, decongest, soothe, and hydrate the skin while rendering it evenly toned and visibly calmed!
Beauty Collective - RS2 line

If you are suffering from facial redness and want to understand more about the skin condition and how to combat it, you can read more here.
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