4 Tips for Managing Acne and Rosacea

If you have skin prone to acne and/or rosacea, then you’re familiar with the inflammation and outbreaks that mark these conditions. Follow our 4 tips for managing your problem skin and you’ll be ready for anything.

1. Cleanse – The watchword here is gentle, gentle, gentle.  You want to clean the skin and clear away dead skin cells, not strip the skin of its oils and stimulate more oil production.  Choose a cleanser that is pH neutral.  Avoid alcohol based cleanser and alkaline bar soaps.  Try La Roche Physiological Gel or La Roche Posay Rosaliac Cleanser.
2. Moisturize – This one may seem counterintuitive, because excess oil contributes to inflammation and eruptions. But dryness (sometimes caused by acne meds) also can make your condition worse.  So do moisturize with a light, oil-free noncomedogenic moisturizer.  Ingredients to look for include glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, and dimethicone (a silicone based lipid).  The La Roche Posay Toleriane line has been created specifically for oily skin. If rosacea is your bugbear, look for a moisturizer containing ceramides. La Roche Posay Rosaliac Cream SPF 15 is a humectant which soothes redness.
3. Protect – Overexposure to UV rays will exacerbate acne and rosacea. You might find that a physical sunscreen will be more well tolerated than one that is chemical based.  Today’s physical sunscreens, feature ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, but don’t whiten the skin as the sunscreens of yesteryear.  Physical sunscreens now feature microfine particles, and sit on the skin beautifully without making you look like a mime.  I love Keys Solar Rx SPF 30 and Colorescience’s Sunforgettable Powders and SPF Primers.
4. Cover – Finally, there are lots of healthy ways to mask flare-ups. Mineral products, containing silica, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide, cover redness and give a smooth matte finish.  I recommend  Colorescience Primers which really go the extra mile for your skin, camouflaging breakouts or redness while moisturizing and offering SPF 20 ultraviolet protection. Let Me Be Clear Primer SPF 20 helps manage acne flare-ups: Colorescience Skin Mattifying Primer SPF 20 soothes with anti-inflammatories.