Self-Care Guidelines
Identify and minimize any exposure that triggers episodes of rosacea, such as:
- Sunlight – use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more on your face.
- Avoid drinking hot liquids and alcohol, eating spicy foods, and excessive heat exposure.
- Protect the face in winter with a scarf or mask.
- Avoid facial products with alcohol or other skin irritants (astringents, toners, sorbic acid, menthol, camphor), and use mild cleansers for the face.
- Fair-skinned people may find a green- or yellow-tinted makeup helps to hide redness.
- Cool compresses, gel masks, and central face massage may be of some benefit.
- Benzoyl peroxide may help some people but can also be easily irritating to the skin.
- Nicomide T is a combination of a vitamin (nicotinamide) and zinc available in cream and gel form, which may be helpful.
Eye rosacea can be treated with warm water compresses 2–4 times a day followed by gentle cleaning of the eyelid rims with baby shampoo on a Q-tip® and application of the topical antibiotic bacitracin/polymyxin B (but discontinue this if there is any worsening, as there can be rare allergic reactions to bacitracin).
When to Seek Medical Care
If you have severe changes in appearance or symptoms that interfere with your daily life, you should seek care. If you have severe, persistent flushing, there are other possible causes of flushing requiring laboratory tests; see your doctor.
Signs and Symptoms
