7 Skincare Tips for Taking Control of Rosacea

While Rosacea cannot be cured, it can be successfully managed through a combination of medical treatments and customized skincare routines. Treatment plans include topical or oral medications that are personalized based on your specific symptoms, skin type, and flare-up triggers. Gentle skin care helps reduce irritation and flare-ups and improve treatment results.

The right skincare routine is key to controlling Rosacea. Below are some skin care tips you can follow:

1. Use Rosacea-Friendly Products: Avoid ingredients commonly irritating the skin, such as alcohol, fragrance, menthol, camphor, sodium lauryl sulfate, glycolic or lactic acid, and urea. Instead, look for “sensitive skin” and “non-comedogenic” labels, creams instead of lotions or gels, and fragrance-free (not just “unscented”).
2. Test New Products Before Use: Apply a small amount behind the ear or jawline. Wait 24–48 hours to check for a reaction.
3. Gently Cleanse Twice Daily: When cleaning your face, use fingertips only — no washcloths or scrubs. Choose a mild, soap-free cleanser, rinse with warm water, and pat dry with a clean, soft towel.
4. Moisturize After Cleansing: Apply medication first (if prescribed) to fully dry skin to avoid stinging, then a rosacea-friendly moisturizer. Moisturizing restores hydration and lipids, reduces stinging and dryness, and enhances treatment results.
5. Protect Your Skin from the Sun: Sun exposure is a major trigger of Rosacea. Protect your skin from the sun by using mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) with SPF 30+, choosing “fragrance-free” and water-resistant formulas, wearing wide-brim hats and UV-protection sunglasses, and staying in the shade when possible. Dark skin tones? Try a tinted or micronized mineral sunscreen to avoid white cast.
6. Be Gentle with Your Skin: Avoid rubbing, scrubbing, or massaging, avoid exfoliants and harsh tools, and use fingertips only for application and cleansing.
7. Use Gentle Makeup (If Desired): If you want to wear makeup, use gentle, non-irritating products. You can use yellow-tinted concealers for discoloration and green-tinted concealers for redness. Powder-based or water-based makeup is preferred. Most importantly, always test your makeup product before full application.