Rosacea is a complex condition but the truth is that we don’t know exactly what causes it to occur in some people but not others.
To answer the question, we need to look at it from two different angles:
- What causes rosacea in some people but not others?
- What causes rosacea to flare up in people who do have it?
The answer to the first question is, unfortunately, not very satisfying! We just don’t know the reason why some people are prone to rosacea and not others. We do know that it occurs more frequently in certain sections of the population, it’s just unclear why these people are more susceptible to the condition!
Those prone to rosacea include people who are:
- fair-skinned
- women
- between 30-50 years old
- of celtic ancestry
- prone to acne in earlier years
- blonde or red-headed
- blue-eyed
- related to other rosacea sufferers
But that’s not to say that people outside those categories don’t get rosacea; it’s clear, for example, that people of colour do suffer from rosacea. There’s a suggestion that it’s just less frequently diagnosed in people with darker skin because flares aren’t so obvious, or so ‘red’.
Whatever your skin colour or ancestry, it’s important to get any changes in skin tone, temperature and texture checked out by a medical professional, so you can manage your condition.
There’s recent research that suggests the mechanism for developing the condition could be linked to mites, bacteria or an overreaction of the immune system. This still doesn’t completely explain why one red-headed women develops rosacea, while another doesn’t, but the more known about the condition, the better!
The second part of the question - what causes rosacea to flare up? - is a bit easier to answer, but still complicated by the fact that every person who has rosacea will have different triggers!
Having said that, the most common triggers are ones everyone with rosacea would be wise to be wary of. These include:
- alcohol
- spicy food
- hot weather
- cold weather
- wind
- changes in temperature
- hot drinks
- stress
- intense emotions
- irritating cosmetics or toiletries
- medication
- hormonal changes
Finding out what affects your rosacea is really a matter of trial and error; it can be helpful to keep a trigger diary to track how your skin reacts to various things. If you have a glass of wine or try a new face cream, take note of how you react.
Managing rosacea
As a chronic condition, rosacea can’t be cured - but it can be managed! The four key strategies for looking after rosacea-prone skin are:
- Identifying and avoiding your triggers
- Protecting your skin against the sun
- Avoiding irritant skincare
- Keeping your skin in good condition
Balmonds can help with the last two with our range of natural products for sensitive skin! We have four different emollients that are particularly suitable for rosacea and which you can use in combination to keep your face well-nourished and well-hydrated, plus a non-irritant natural shampoo and body wash.
Balmonds Intensive Facial Oil with rosehip, palmarosa & chamomile (£22 for 30ml): great for night-time use
Balmonds Daily Moisturising Cream with shea butter, hemp & calendula (from £13.99 for 100ml): a great neutral unscented moisturiser for daily hydration
Balmonds Cooling Cream with lavender, aloe & menthol (£19 for 100ml): for calming flushed skin
Skin Salvation balm with beeswax, hemp & chamomile (from £7.99 for 30ml): for intensive hydration
Balmonds Natural Shampoo & Body Wash with nettle & chamomile (£19 for 200ml): good as a shower gel or & facial wash for super sensitive skin
