Inside Out: Flare-Up to Fresh  

Rosacea is a common skin condition, manifesting in facial redness in various degrees. It can be relatively mild, just light flushing, or more intense with small cysts and textured skin (that can be mistaken for acne). It can also irritate the eyes. The cause is unknown, but a number of factors have been correlated with rosacea: genetics, overactive immune system, malfunctioning facial blood vessels, weather, bacteria, mites, hormones, and stress. It tends to afflict those who are fair-skinned.

Fight the Flush

First things first: sunscreen. UV light can exacerbate rosacea, so slather on that mineral-based sunscreen (zinc oxide is also an anti-inflammatory).

Azelaic acid, which naturally occurs in some grains, has a number of beneficial properties: It’s anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, an antioxidant, and a mild exfoliant; it combats hyperpigmentation and prevents widening of blood vessels.

When it comes to rosacea, this cocktail of benefits can help by calming redness, reducing texture, and improving skin tone. Azelaic acid is available over the counter: 10% strengths by brands like The Ordinary and Naturium; higher strengths require a prescription. It can be applied both morning and night, and pairs well with Vitamin C serums. It should not be paired with other “actives,” like retinol.

Time to Call in the Cavalry?

For extreme cases of rosacea that involve bumps and pustules, Ivermectin — yes, lice treatment — can help. Rosacea can be caused by mites on the skin, and Ivermectin destroys those mites: 0.5% strength is available over the counter, but 1% can be had by prescription. Dab a little on your skin at night, then top with moisturizer, like Vanicream Moisturizing Cream.