Rosacea: Why is my face broken out? I am 54!
Today’s conversation about “I have Rosacea, what can I do?” is a post sponsored by Galderma Laboratories, L.P., the maker of Soolantra® Cream, on a rosacea treatment. I have rosacea and I know that many of my readers do as well and will find this information useful.
I have rosacea. It’s a condition that makes my peaches and cream complexion appear to have bumps, pimples and redness. While for me it comes and goes, rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that doesn’t go away without treatment. It’s really annoying as I have spent my entire life protecting my skin from the sun to keep it nice and reduce wrinkling…and now I have this skin condition that looks like acne (it’s not)!
Rosacea Stats*
- 1 in 20 Americans (16 million) are affected by rosacea (wow, that’s 5%!)
- Many rosacea suffers feel low self-esteem (75%) and embarrassment (70%)
- Nearly half (49%) of rosacea sufferers think they have acne (get diagnosed!)
- Even professional interactions can be affected, 60% of those surveyed agreed
* Stats gathered from the National Rosacea Society (NRS) and Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
Rosacea Triggers
- Sun Exposure: Make sure to wear your sunscreen (at least 30 SPF). I found that long rides in a car, with the sun beating on one side of my face, really leads to rosacea flare-ups.
- Certain Foods: Common ones include red wine, spicy food, hot liquids, cheese, and chocolate. (I haven’t found that food triggers my rosacea necessarily but on the other hand maybe I just don’t want to give up red wine, cheese or chocolate! Keep a food journal to figure out what food triggers you may have.)
- Skin Care Products: (I found this one to be a big one for me.) Avoid scrubs and products with too many ingredients (this was a surprise!). Products with alcohol, witch hazel, fragrances, and mint oils are irritants for many people with rosacea. Wash your face with an alcohol- and fragrance-free cleanser, rinse with lukewarm water, and blot dry with a soft cotton towel
- Family History: If you have rosacea, it is a high likelihood that other members of your family do as well. While anyone can get rosacea, those with fair, peaches and cream skin and from Eastern or Northern European descent tend to be more likely to have rosacea (I am all of these)
- Weather and Temperature: Both hot and cold, can be a rosacea trigger when it comes to weather, fire, and water temperatures (Yes, I notice this especially with cold!)
- Exercise
- Stress
- Demodex: Everyone has Demodex mites on their face (EWWWW!) Researchers believe that Demodex appear in greater numbers on the faces of people with rosacea.
I have rosacea, what can I do?
One thing I am doing is considering my rosacea triggers and work to control the triggers that I can.
Another thing that I am going to start doing is stop just CONCEALING my rosacea with makeup and start trying to HEAL my rosacea. I am excited about asking my dermatologist about trying a FDA-approved topical treatment that I can use once daily called Soolantra® (ivermectin) Cream, 1%. It is formulated to provide treatment of the bumps and pimples of rosacea, and for many is a powerful tool to fight this annoying condition.
These before and after photos from the were motivating for me and got me excited to ask my dermatologist if I could give Soolantra Cream a try:
While the mechanism of action of Soolantra Cream is unknown, ivermectin, the active ingredient in , has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic properties. With Soolantra Cream’s unique approach, the anti-parasitic qualities of ivermectin may be linked to the death of Demodex mites, which are thought to play a role in rosacea-related skin inflammation.
Do you suffer from rosacea too?
Download the Soolantra Cream Savings Card and get instant savings on your prescription and refills. And while you’re there, also grab the Patient Toolkit: printable rosacea trigger info and a discussion guide to take with you to your appointment.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Galderma Laboratories, L.P., the maker of Soolantra® Cream.
Important Safety Information
Indication: SOOLANTRA® (ivermectin) Cream, 1% is indicated for the treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea. Adverse Events: In clinical trials with SOOLANTRA Cream, the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≤ 1 %) included skin burning sensation and skin irritation. Warnings/Precautions: Not for oral, ophthalmic or intravaginal use.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit WWW.FDA.GOV/MEDWATCH or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
All this is good to know, I don’t think I have rosacea but I do have dry red patches on my face. I think all of the tips on the triggers would help anyone concerned about their skin. Thanks!
im lucky i do nto suffer that yet and will be 60 soon so i do have skin cancer and then the weather herw is touch on the skin
Thanks for the info sound like good advice
Interesting article and very informative, especially the part about the mice on the face
great information! I will have to forward this to my mom this may help her! Thanks!
I really hope that the cream helps you. My husband and daughter have several skin problems but have never been diagnosed with rosacea. I do have a niece that has it. The flare ups are really bad at times, but I never thought about weather affecting. For her, foods really make a difference.
I have a friend I am going to pass this information on to. Like the comment above, she thinks and has been told she has acne. After reading this, I’m going to show it to her and see what she thinks. Sure sounds like her condition.
I remember reading a long time ago that rosecea is skin mites. that to get rid of them I think they said the natural cure was Apple Cider Vinegar, Like braggs or tea tree oil..
Ok I found of the articles and try it
growyouthful.com/comment-ailment-remedy.php?remedyNo=32&ailmentNo=64
rosacea-support.org/just-how-do-you-kill-demodex-mites.html
Thanks Diana! Very interesting. I used Apple Cider Vinegar to cure my GERD!
I have gerd too.. on prilosec type stuff.. omeprezol. Not working well though.
How are you doing with your ACV for Gerd?
Avoiding all the food that make me ill now makes for boring meals..
Diana, Here’s an article I wrote on my experience. My GERD is all but gone, I take no medicine anymore. I feel the ACV stabilized me and I was able to move on. https://stillblondeafteralltheseyears.com/2011/06/natural-remedy-apple-cider-vinegar-for-gerd-how-i-stopped-taking-proton-pump-inhibitors-ppi/ The Chief Blonde
It won’t let me leave a reply on the article.
Wondering, can you drink coffee? What did you have to give up to make htis work on the ACV for GERD?
My issues were eggs, coffee, cheese (still is on the cheese) anything that had been preserved and anything with toxins. The eggs that are not organic I get sick on,, the eggs that are organic I don’t get sick on.
As for the location of the organic ACV- you can get it anywhere.. Braggs ACV with the mother in it. You can buy it online at several stores. GNC, Whole foods. Most vitamin shops have it too.
I had tried the acv before I went to the doctor about my GERD, more like everything made me vomit. I am up to two 20mg omeprazole a day now and not happy with using and it doesn’t always work. Sometimes I have to take another mid to late afternoon. Which I don’t get since I gave up spices and spicey foods all together a long time ago to live with this.
Wondering if you have also tried enzymes> I heard they can help.
So did you try the acv while still on the omprezole?
or did you just switch all together?
Thanks..
Some people stay on meds while taking ACV. I think I went off and then started doing ACV, can’t remember. (consult your doctor before going off any medicine).
I did not do anything other than what the article says. Just that. I still drink my diet coke (and Walt drinks his coffee). I did not used organic ACV, just regular Heinz (no mother or anything). I just did exactly what I wrote.
My GERD was so bad that I wanted my doctor to take out my esophagus. I know do NOTHING and I have never felt better. I can bend over again. I can eat. I feel normal. IT’s so great. Good luck to you on your journey. The Chief BLonde
Thank you! I will give it a go!
It’s worth trying.
At worst I go back on my omeprozole. At best life begins again! 🙂
Thank you for sharing.
Best post ever!
I was lucky and grew out of it. (or something…)
I have the red but not the breakouts good info though
Use gentle skincare to see if your skin calms down.
Thank you for sharing. I am lucky that I have never had that problem.
I had rosacea when I was younger and I still have a lot of “red” in my face but I don’t get the painful breakouts anymore. (I’m 48.) Glad you found something to help because I know from experience how stressful it can be to feel like everyone is staring at you even if they aren’t.
I do not have Rosacea but I do deal with adult acne therefore I know how embarrassing it can be and acne is also painful. Did that say we all have these mites–yuck, wish I hadn’t read that, anyway. I am glad this helps Rosacea and will mention to my friends that have it.
That was interesting. I know several people who have suffered with Rosacea.
Interesting article. I think I have been suffering as well. So I will have to try this.
I have rosacea too. This cream looks like it might help and I will talk to my dermatologist about it.
We like to use Equate’s version of Aveeno – works well for problem skin.
I only want to go with meds with great reviews.
I like the Equate version at Walmart of Aveeno.