Rosacea Awareness Month: Gentle Products for Healthy Skin

Everyone wants to look their best, but many of the 16 million Americans living with rosacea avoid skin care products and makeup due to the potential for rosacea flareups. Rosacea skin is sensitive, and choosing the wrong cleanser or lotion might cause an outbreak of red skin, pimples, and visible blood vessels. Fortunately a number of skin care products exist that can help you keep even the most sensitive skin healthy.

1. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Dermatologists recommend that people with rosacea wash their face twice a day, but many patients are reluctant to do so. Scrubbing, hot water, and ingredients in cleansers can all trigger flareups. Soap in particular can be troublesome, as its abrasive qualities can dry skin and strip its protective oils, and it can easily cause a flareup. Most dermatologists recommend a mild cleanser instead, and Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is an ideal choice. It helps the skin retain moisture, and its non-comedogenic formula ensures it won't block pores, keeping your skin clear and avoiding irritation. And it's free of the fragrance contained in many soaps and cleansers, which can often irritate delicate skin.

2. Aveeno Active Naturals Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser

We can't stress enough how important it is to take care of delicate skin. If you have rosacea, you may be concerned about causing a flareup, but leaving your face untouched can cause a buildup of oils and dirt that can easily trigger one. For severe cases of rosacea, consider Aveeno Active Naturals Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser. It's hypoallergenic and contains feverfew, a plant extract with anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce redness and relieve inflammation. Aveeno Active Naturals won't block pores and it's fragrance-free.

No matter what cleanser works best for you, remember to take care when using it. Apply it gently, using a circular motion with your fingertips. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, and gently pat your skin dry with a clean, cotton towel.

3. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

Rosacea can affect your facial skin in different ways, making it dry or oily, but anyone with the condition can benefit by moisturizing daily. Moisturizing helps create a barrier to trap water in your skin, which can reduce irritation and can even improve the effects of clinical treatments for rosacea. But not all moisturizers work the same way, and you'll want a non-comedogenic formula to prevent blocking pores. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides, all contained in CeraVe PM. These help restore the skin's natural barrier as well as bring water to its surface. CeraVe PM's gentle, non-irritating formula is oil- and fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, for a moisturizer that will hydrate your skin and restore its natural barrier without clogging your pores.

4. Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 50+

One of the most frequent causes of rosacea flareups is sun exposure, and it can be a concern regardless of your skintone, and not just in the summer but all year round. Dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen every day before going outside, but those with rosacea need a mild formulation that still protects as well as a regular sunscreen. Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer contains the UV-blocking titanium dioxide and moisturizing silicones like dimethicone and cyclomethicone, ingredients that dermatologists recommend looking for when choosing a sunscreen. It's a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects your skin from both UVA and UVB radiation, and its high SPF 50 defense rating is well above the recommended minimum SPF 30. Despite its strength, it's non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and moisturizes and nourishes your skin even as it protects it.