Many rosacea sufferers are looking for help to reduce the redness of their face. This is one of the first rosacea symptoms that people might notice. What treatments have fellow rosacea sufferers used to hide the ruddiness and angry face that sometimes accompanies rosacea ? I’ll go through what I see as your current best options.
Feel free to leave a comment at the bottom with your top tips too.
eucerin redness relief
Eucerin Redness Relief is a new range of products from Beiersdorf that contains an extract from Licorice called Licochalcone. The reviews from members of the Rosacea Support Group are generally pretty good. There is also some published evidence that it might help with reducing the appearance of a red face.
acne cover lotion
This particular product is really an acne product, but my personal experience is really positive. It contains sulphur and has a strong ability to cover lesions. I’d see this product as best suited to outbreaks of papules and pustules and possibly also for general larger areas of redness. For more information see Linda Sy’s Acne Cover Lotion. This product might not be suitable for the more sensitive skin types.
tinted sunscreens
It seems to me that tinted sunscreens are still underrated as a rosacea treatment. My favourite, that I continue to use every day is Linda Sy’s Tinted ZincO Cream. As well as offering protection from the sun and elements it can cover redness quite well. More reading here: Rosacea & Sunscreen articles.
short course steroid creams
In short stints, low dose steroids can help calm a red rosacea flareup. This should be viewed as a last resort, though.
However, I believe that when circumstance requires it, a short-term course of low potency non-fluorinated topical cortisone, on the face of non-rosacean, is not out of the question. There are times when it is important to control an acute condition as soon as possible, to prevent progression or complication and to give relief to the patient. Once this is achieved, a responsible physician will: 1) attempt to find the cause of the condition and treat it accordingly and 2) convey the message that cortisone cream should be discontinued and not be used long-term due to its many side effects such as peri-oral dermatitis, steroid addiction, steroid induced rosacea, skin atrophy etc.
As for rosacean skin, it is definitely a good idea to use all other
alternative topicals or oral medications available, rather than use
cortisone. This is, as you know, due to the highly excitable reactive skin and vasomotor instability of rosaceans.Dr. Linda Sy, RSG Message 22628
You’ll get different answers from different doctors AND group members! My own experience with patients has been that if you use a low potency non-fluorinated topical steroid, short term to alleviate symptoms, it is ok.
Steroids should be used with care as over the counter steroids can cause steroid induced rosacea.
If you think you are suffering from steroid induced rosacea you might find this post from Dr. Linda Sy MD helpful: treating steroid induced rosacea.
IPL
IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light is perhaps the best known treatment for a red face. Recently there have been a couple of studies published that were able to prove that IPL is effective in reducing rosacea associated erythema (redness). A couple of great papers are Measuring Erythema (red face) after IPL and IPL is excellent for rosacea (and inded a 2007 followup also IPL excellent for treating red face and broken blood vessels).
I’ve collected a set of 16 items (at the time of writing this article) that are a great place to start if you are interested in IPL. See the IPL Articles category.
KTP Laser
There is some good published articles suggesting that the KTP Laser (KTP stands for Potassium Titanyl Phosphate) is also a good choice for a facial redness. This laser is not talked about much in the online rosacea groups, but the published articles look promising. Have you had experience with this laser ? Please leave a comment below.
- ktp laser good for red face and facial vessels
- treating rosacea with the KTP Laser
- KTP Laser and facial telangiectasias
eredicane
How about if your redness is related to flushing ?
Eredicane is an OTC non-FDA approved treatment containing Magnesium, Passion Flower, Valerian, Vit B6, Glycine, Glutamine, Primula Officinalis and Taurine. According to their web site, eredicane works thusly ;
Fight Blushing With the Body’s Own Building Blocks
Eredicane’s main ingredient, GABA, is one of the nine essential amino acids found in the brain. GABA inhibits neurons in the cells from firing, thus diminishing the excitatory messages reaching the frontal cortex of the brain.
In essence, GABA lowers the excitatory level of the cell that is about to receive the incoming information, therefore helping to prevent the onset of the sensation that causes blushing.
But does it work ? A long thread over at ESFB, `Has anyone tried “Eredicane??”‘ is inconclusive, showing mixed results.
cutanix drl
Unfortunately Cutanix is not currently available. Some members of rosacea-support have found DRL to help their facial redness. It is believed that the FDA has objected to the claims made by the packaging. No information is yet available on if or when DRL will return to the market. I love this product so personally I’m looking forward to it becoming available again. As some background you might like to read the Cutanix Articles on Rosacea News.
When it isn’t Rosacea
Finally, before launching into some treatment for rosacea, it might also be worth exploring the possibility that your red face isn’t actually rosacea. One good place to explore this further is red face: when flushing isn?t rosacea.
Give Us Your Feedback !
How have you tackled your red face ? Leave a comment a below and let everyone know your top tips.
44 comments ↓
Elidel has worked great for me, too.
Permethrin cream is working wonders for me. Takes a while, but i’m getting there.
The combination of Singulair with Zantac and Reactine taken daily works wonders for my facial redness. Red Light Therapy has made a tremendous difference as well.
I doubt eredicane would work. GABA does not cross the blood-brain barrier unless modified (i.e. with niacin, as in picamilon).
Clonazepam increases GABA, and does decrease redness.
However, I doubt that eredicane would be able to elevate GABA levels in the brain, like clonazepam does.
If you’re interested in GABA, look into its derivatives such as picamilon and phenibut.
I am 35 and first developed rosacea symptoms at 12.
Perhaps because of the times, I was told by a doctor that I had “problem skin” and that the problem would go away after adolescence had wreaked its chemical havoc. It didn’t.
Then, in my early 20’s, I went to a suite of dermatologists, who mis-diagnosed the redness as excema–and I was given cortisones that made my skin feel less itchy, but no less red. When I complained, one Sydney specialist told me that I was a “back office girl” (I am a writer) and I didn’t need to worry about my face, because I wasn’t
actively dealing with the public. This level of insensitivity sounds positively Victorian, but it was common enough then.
But by this time, my skin was only getting worse, and I could notice little bumps and lesions in addition to the usual
redness. It was some time before I went to see another dermatologist. I had since moved to the States, and I was incredibly relieved to be told that I had Rosacea, because for the first time, “the redness” (that everyone loves to point out, as if you were unaware of it) was not some alien condition that I alone suffered.
I’ve been using Finacea for two months, and have
seen a large improvement on the small bumps. As for the redness, it has calmed down in tone from a crimson rosella
red to a fainter blush. I’m not sure if other sufferers do this, but one begins to distinguish between various shades of red as a painter might, constantly monitoring the face for slight differences or improvements. As a result of Rosacea, red was always my least favourite colour–when I look at a red painting or sit in a red chair, I begin to feel an increase in temperature, and my face feels as if it is burning up.
I know I sound mad.
Anyway, I will continue to use the finacea–even though it feels as if I have reached a plateau, and that no more red can be got from my face, which probably means that I will be using tinted moisturisers and cover-ups for an extremely long time. But as Ned Kelly said: Such is Life. I mean,
it could be worse.
Shiralee
i hate rosacea! i hate it
i secretly think it has something to do with the fact that I am also extreem hyperthyroid……
it has taken over my life and made me crazy
Shiralee:
Your comments about montoring your skin color and temp., and the remarkable ignorance of friends and others in stating the obvious, are quite familiar to me. You do not sound mad at all. I find that the self-consciousness of rosacea is enhanced by the guilty realization that the condition is not as medically serious as others.
I have tried various mediations, with no real results. I have found some improvement with IPL treatments using a low to medium setting. Not cheap; about $500 per session.
Best to you.
Jay
why god why. why cant they find a cure
The sad thing is, I am a nurse and I can’t even afford to go to a dermatologist for help for this chronic condition. Even people who work in health care can’t get the help they need. I have tried every OTC and makeup trick in the book. I hate it and I get so tired of people saying things to me about my red face. Legitimate treatments should be available over the counter. Granted, it could always be worse, but rosacea is socially crippling.
I have had my rosacea under semi-control for about a year now. Unless I do something extreme this keeps my face nearly rosacea free. I drink only some wines (I have noticed Merlot makes my face feel hot, so I don’t drink that anymore), exercise and live in extreme weather temperatures. If I feel my face flushing (warming up or reddening I do something immediately for cool it down…roll a glass of ice water or a bottle of cold beverage over my face, put a cool, wet cloth over my face, go outside if it’s too warm inside or inside if it’s too hot outside.
My routine:
wash face 2x daily (day and night, using a clean cloth) and cetaphil gentle skin cleanser
apply a thin layer of metrogel 1 (once a day unless my face feels warmer than usual)
apply bare escentuals skin rever-upper (a vitamin cream)
apply a facial sunblock (I use B Kamins Bio-maple)
My make up is bare escentuals mineral wear
I try not use hair spray or anything that might spray alcohol on my face…when I do this I am back to square one and have to clear my face up again…
This might sound like a lot, but it only take a few minutes a day and it gives me much less anxiety about my skin. The key is if you feel your face flushing, cool it down right away.
Good luck!
Hi
I want to know about ultra vpl treatments
Pete
I’ve had good luck taking Horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) extract (Venastat is one brand). It does take several weeks to see a difference, and you have to keep taking it, but I no longer have a bright red face after exercise, and feel a bit more normal. Here’s an article on the venous support claims…
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/horse-chestnut/NS_patient-Horsechestnut
I am considering Levulan PDT treatment to remove keratoses on my face. I have had two surgeries to remove pre-cancerous lesions. I also have Rosacea and wonder if this treatment will aggrevate the Rosacea condition on my cheeks. Can anyone out there help with their comments?
Hi Ann,
Here are 2 news items that relate to rosacea and PDT. I hope they are interesting for you.
http://rosacea-support.org/pdt-shows-promise-for-rosacea.html
and
http://rosacea-support.org/be-careful-with-levulan-aminolevulinic.html
I think PDT can be good for rosacea, but maybe not for everyone.
davidp.
Thank god i’m not on my own!
I am sixteen and have had ‘a red nose’ and slightly red cheeks since i was about 12/13 now and it is so embarassing because it seems no one else has it. it goes especially red when i blow my nose. after this researching i’ll go the doctors and hopefully get it sorted!
thanks for the site.
I believe that my permanent facial redness is the result of my sensitive “fight or flight” response and my having grown up with a sense of powerlessness. Significant others who delight in calling attention to my facial distress only worsens the condition. Finding my spiritual base has helped me stay calm and has lessened my flareups; losing control only worsens my rosacea.
Carol: Have you asked your doctor about beta blockers, like Atenolol, to greatly curb the “fight or flight” response? It works perfectly for me.
Hi, my name is Michelle…Im going on 18 next week and ive had Red cheeks literally my WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE! Since i was a little baby my cheeks have been Red…my doctor told my mom that it would clear up by the time i was 3, and nothing…then she said i had eczema and gave me medication for that…and still nothing, that medication actually made my face really hot, and irritated…since then i have yet to see another dermatologist…they all tell me the same thing…”Just use this medication and you’ll get better…” I dont go to them anymore, i decided that even if the Top Dermatologist in the WHOLE WORLD said there is’nt a cure for “Rosacea”…I know there’s someone bigger then him that can heal me…Nothing is impossible for God, even if u feel like your the only person in the world with Red Cheeks or whatever, your not and just know u were created in God’s image…I dont care what any Dr’s say i KNOW my Redness WILL clear up…its just in Gods timing…and when it does i will post pictures for everyone to see! Your not an alien, your not the only one in this world with red cheeks or a red nose or whatever it is…your not alone in this…There is a cure.
I wonder if we all took some of the money we throw at facial products, dermatologists, laser treatments, medications and herbal solutions and donated it to rosacea research if we’d finally have the financial power to push through and find a cure.
Just a thought.
I have had very rosey cheeks (not rosacea) since before I can remember, I am a 20 year-old male and through out my teens I tried everything and anything to clear it up, but nothing would work. I tried prescription topicals and had 5 expensive IPL laser treatments, all which had no effect what so ever on me. I have been using the ‘Eucerin redness relief daily perfecting cream with green tint’ for about a year and nothing has worked better. I also found that oxymetazoline HCL .05% works well…you can find it in the average nasil spray at CVS. Never forget, confidence and self esteem are sure ways to calm your skin. Stress was absolutely a factor for my flair up’s in day to day life. In the mean time, try the Eucerin and oxymetazoline products.
Have you ever heard of ZenMed?
Is it really work?
whoever is suffering from rosacea,needs to undergo ipl treatmentsi.e photo facial to reduce the damn redness.
WHY GOD WHY ??U HAVE TO DO THIS TO US
??
i am 37 years old and have suffered from rosacea since i was 22 i have tried almost every cream and antibiotic you can think of, some seem to work for a short term and then the redness appears with a vengence and i’m back to sq 1. has anyone tried the creams from rosacea care if so have they had any good effects?
I’m glad I found this site, it has helped me finally go to the dr to find out if I have rosacea or not. I used to think it’s just dry/sensitive skin but I’ve been dealing with this since my early 20’s and I am now in my middle 30’s. I’ve tried Good Skin’s All Calm and it only takes a little redness away. So I’m hoping my dr can come up with a good regimin for me.
Im using accutane low dose. And my face got very red and i have a tendancy to flush now. Hurts too. My god why???
I am 19 n have suffered from redness since i was 12. it drives me mad i like going to the sauna but it puts me off going because when i come out i look such a bright color. i am delighted that i saw this because i hope to find a cure. i used to get that green cream you wear but did not find it that much help. what would people recommend?
I’m mid 30’s male in aust. and only now just coming to terms with the fact I too have this thing, this red horrid thing. Playing footy was fine, people just thought I’d been kicked in the head a bit . . funny I guess, but now I have to just waist away, no gym for me or I’ll look like I’ve been kicked around the head. Still I should count myself lucky, mine isnt so bad, flares up bad but mostly remains hidden . . for now. Thanks to you all for your story.
An acne sufferer from 17, I used ro accutane (isotretinoin) on and off for 20 years - low dosage for the last 15. It worked wonders and kept the acne under control but now I’ve stopped i have patches of facial rosacea - sore red thin flaky skin and acne came back too. I stopped the roaccutane as allegedly it is connected with thinning bones and i had developed osteoporosis.
Hi, i have had facial flushing for several years and it seems to be increasing. Last summer, i went to a beauty therapist who said they treat rosacea. I had 6 to 8 glycolic acid peels which seemed to improve my skin condition and any pimples, acne etc. but still the flushing continued. Besides the fortnightly to monthly peels, i had to purchase expensive skin care products (cleanser, renewal cream, moisturizer and Spf. It was all getting too expensive and NOT working wonders either!
I am now on the hunt for new skin care products. I have sent off for Zenmed Rosacea Support System which i have not yet received. In the meantime i am trying Clinque’s Anti-redness cleanser …so far so good!! It can seem like an endless search for the right skin products. It’s important to only use products, foundation, etc, that are oil-free, fragrance-free, preservative free and rubbish-free, etc etc.
Good luck to all of us…we’re gonna need all the help we can get!
xx
THERE IS NOTHING OUT THERE THAT REALLY WORKS! I HATE TO SAY IT!…BUT its’ TRUE!. I HAVE TRIED CREAMS< LOTIONS< IPL, PHOTODERM, LUMINS, LASERS…EVERYTHING! NOTHING WORKS!.
I HOPE THE SANSROSA WILL WORK. I HATE THIS! IT”S AFFECTS EVERYTHING..MY WORK< MY RELATIONSHIPS.EVERYTHING!
ANYONE WITH GOOD AD-VICE???
im 16, male, have been suffering with this “red cheek” thing from the day i was born into this world. (everyone said when i was born i had little red cheeks which i guess was fine at the time)
its tough. i belive what made it worse was that it became always on my conscience, becuase people started constantly asking me about it. and now if i ever see or meet someone new, i already know the first thing theyre going to ask me.
as i grew older it never really bothered me, because no one asked me about it becuase it wasnt really red and only appeared when i was cold, hot, ect. but as soon as i hit middle school, its like my condition went on steriods and just exploded. i then always had a solid RED color on my cheeks, and i mean always. i did notice somedays when i was waking up for school ,i looked in the mirror, and my cheeks were normal! regular white skin color! but as high school came around the corner my redness stayed on 24/7 and i mean literally!!!
i went and am still going through hell in school, and any other public place. the thing about my condition is that my cheeks are ALWAYS ALWAYS red, if not dark red, then a pinkish red. and then it just gets worse if someone states “why are you red?” i mean well why are you white? the answer is obvious for you and me “I DONT KNOW!” staring even triggers flares that last what seems like forever.
i have tried eredicane, and it did help, made one side of my cheeks less red than the other, thats better than nothing so its something you should try.
this condition could truly become worse but im praying that it wont.
HERES SOMETHING I WANT EVERYONE TO READ:
even though we have this minor condition that seems really bad, there are worse things in this world. like people who have no legs, arms, and just millions of things that i dont really want to get into right now. what we have is just a “color” difference in our skin. we are still capable of everything in this world.
so you should be thankful to god for the fact that you are healthy and strong, and alive. go look at yourself in the mirror from head to toe, and say, “Thank you GOD for everything you’ve given me!”
and be thankful for the blessings youve recieved, becuase there are millions of people out there who would rather live a normal life with red cheeks than be immobile, or sick with a disease.
i believe this is more of a mental issue, than a physical one, imagine what youre capable of if you just put your mind to it…
so just start thinking of this positivliy, and you’ll feel alot better. if you cant stop the redness, then stop the pain you feel inside from it. your life will be much better.
and one thing about dermatologists, theyre out to make money to live, not to care for someone who just cant accept thier red cheeks or face.
and just forget about it, we will all die one day so dont do what i did so far ,(kept thinking about my red cheeks) becuase once youre old, thats all you will have to show and remember for yourself and your life.
besides we will be with God one day and he will tell you why you were made like this. UNTIL THEN DONT WORRY ABOUT IT! worry about going to heaven not about your soon to be corpse.
the best CURE is ACCEPTANCE!
goodbye and goodluck! godbless!
I agree with max–I was wandering about on a hot day in los angeles with my red face, and turned around and saw a young man at Starbucks having a coffee. The entire lower half of his face had obviously been blown off and he had healed over but had a huge cavity below his nose, no real mouth.
But there he was, sitting outside, having a coffee. What an inspiration–he was brave enough to just sit there and who cares? Wow–i was impressed.
Whenever I feel sorry for myself, I think of him and I am inspired. Don’t let other people’s judgements put you in jail. You have a face!! That’s actually pretty impressive.
That is an interesting story about the starbucks guy. That could be the guy who tried to shoot himself after being indicted for a horrible crime, but he messed up his attempt. On the other hand, if there is something to do besides avoid every single thing that people experience everyday, like the sun, heat, cold, spices, beer, excercise, what else? cabbage?
Well, I want to find out what that is. My aahhah moment came when I read about the demodex mite that normally/always live in our facial hair follicles, including the eyelashes and brows, whiskers, etc. And, I read about the permethrin cream treatment for scabies (just a super mite) and bought the only permethrin solution I could afford, which is a dog shampoo containing…… PERMETHRIN. I diluted it, left it on my entire body and face over night and then continued to use to clease my face several times a week. You know what, that fiery itchiness you can get after overheating, stopped. I think because those nasty little demodex mites had died and were no longer thrashing and screaming when my sweat glands went into overdrive. I mean, think of it. Families of these little mites, living, eating and excreting INSIDE your facial hair folicles, 24/7!!! Pretty graphic, huh? AND, my pore size actually decreased too! Must have been extended families living in there. YUCK!!! So, now, when I forget the permethrin cleansing and cream, I get reminded and I say, OH Yeah. those guys…..
One more comment from the crazy person who uses dog shampoo. I am NOT saying that my treatment is a cure, because there isn’t one, and any permanent redness, the capillaries and pustules, will not melt away. But I am saying that the mites can definently
take advantage of the situation and exacerbate things.
My face flushes. I get what I thought was middle age acne, I’m 49, supposedly not to peri-menopause yet. I break-out and my doctor finally gave my an antibiotic Doxyciclene to try. It cleared it up after about 2 weeks, but when I stopped taking it, it came back. It starts with an itchiness under my chin area and goes up my face. Any thoughts?
Also, I find if I keep it moist, the outbreaks come less often. I use Udder Cream. You can buy it at WalMart. It’s in a tube with the other creams. My doctor said keep it moist but NOT with a lotion. Only a cream.
Hi There
I’m 32 and have tried this recently and it has worked wonders:
5 X courses over 3 months of IPL laser (you will need to take the day off work as the laser really blasts the skin)
Eucerin Day lotion - 2 pumps applied to the face in the morning and it is perfect cover for the day
NO Branded Shower Gels or any other potential irritants
Results:
The condition is liveable with and I am much happier
Good luck!
I feel your pain. My rosacea flares up when I have a glass of wine, a bottle of beerm, too much food or when I get hot. My face goes so red, it almost has a purple colour. Sometimes it seems to flare up for no reason at all. About 4 years ago I tried the laser treatment & it made it worse. It got to the point where I felt like I had 3rd degree burns all over my face. I could hardly touch it. I tried every cream imaginable, mostly prescriptions and finally asked my Dr. if I could try tetracycline. It cleared up all of my outbreaks & now I just take one tablet a day. I still flush really badly, but it is not constant - only with my original triggers. I also found that when I started using Cetaphyll cream the sensitivity improved 100%. I’ve been following this regime for a couple of years now & it is almost tolerable. Not a cure & I still hate it when I have a glass of wine and everyone stares at me like I have some terrible comunicable disease. I sure wish they would do some research to find the cause.
Good Luck everyone!
Hi everyone… I usually never post on sites, but I feel compelled to share here. I have mild flushing episodes fairly regularly .. triggered by .. heat, exercise, sun, wine, LIVING.. you know.. pretty much anything, (and, yes, probably cabbage too!).
Here is what has worked for me, in the hopes that it may help some of you (and I welcome feedback if it does / doesn’t):
1.) “Eucerin Daily Perfecting Lotion SPF 15 with green concealing pigments”. (works great… moisturizes very efficiently - which is my MAIN objective - AND - if you apply it with care, blend in, and then wipe off excess with a kleenex.. it looks nice, and absolutely does help conceal the redness. You must blend it in well though, or you may look like a Martian under an Earthling disguise.
2.) Another little secret trick. When I feel my face getting hot / red… I quickly apply some of this: “Korres Face & Body Yogurt Cooling Gel”. (It is hard to find.. you will have to Google carefully.. I believe it is from Greece.. but I ordered it online.. so just search!) It honestly works within minutes, to cool your face down. Not sure if it reduces redness, but it does help cool. (Great for sunburns too!! - which I believe is what it was originally produced for)
3.) Lastly, I use PurMinerals “Pressed Mineral Makeup” foundation powder. This is probably the most important product in my regime. (Remember to re-apply it throughout the day / evening, and especially when you feel your face getting warm or flushed.. it does wear off.)
Good luck to all of you. (Fair-skin, be fair indeed!)
Take care and all the best.
ps… HSN (Home Shopping Network) carries the Yogurt Cooling Gel! Easy enough. (at least in the U.S.) Like I said, it may not address the redness, but it does address the heat flush. Worth a try, and it certainly feels good. Moisturizes too.
Reading all of this has left me extremely depressed instead of feeling like I have something to work with. Everything I read is contradicted. I can’t find one treatment where the majority of people have said something helps
Don’t be depressed
It is a pain in the ass having this condition - I know -
but the bottom line is there is no miracle cure but technology can help
Go for the IPL - it DOES WORK -
Go to a top of the range place not some back alley doctor a proper demotologist
It will cost at least 100 a go but it is well worth it
You will look terrible after each session for about an hour and then you will feel your skin healing so stay in the car and go for a long drive before going home
Get Eucerin day green tinted cream - a couple of drops in the morning after a coldish shower and it will last all day
Avoid red wine but I drink lots of beer with a few glasses of water in between and its no problem
Don’t get too stressed - its just a condition that is somewhat treatable - better than a lot of other people
Take care in the sun, drink lots of water and no need for all these magic lotions and potions as they simply don’t work
I’ve 15 years experience so I know what I’m talking about
take it easy
I have had intermittent facial flushing throughout my life; it did not seem to be rosacea. Now it appears the cause is food intolerance - Salicylate Sensitivity. There are many, many things you can’t eat/apply - do internet search for details.
Rosacea could b very well treated by using doxycycline tablets.Use it daily . It works well. Apply moistuirisers daily
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