Another common question about skin from our clients is 'why does it look red'.
The appearance of our skin is a reflection of overall wellness, so when skin is red and irritated, we try to identify internal as well as topical approaches to help it look and feel better.
That’s why it’s important to look at everything we’re doing to help reduce skin redness especially at this time of the year when some of us start partying hard. Here are seven tips to help.
1. Use topical skincare products that contain antioxidants to help combat free radical damage, anti-inflammatories to soothe irritated skin and hydrators to help strengthen skin’s barrier function. Because exposure to UV rays can irritate rosacea-prone skin and cause flare-ups, be sure to use a day moisturiser with broad-spectrum sun protection every day regardless of the time of year.
2. Use a mild cleanser and avoid products that can over exfoliate, dry or irritate the skin. If you must cover-up, it is helpful to use a makeup primer with a green tint, which will offset redness.
3. To help soothe from the inside out, 'eat' your water. What I mean by this is to get your water in ways other than by drinking it. If you eat food containing vitamins and protective phytocmeicals, they help you stay hydrated naturally. These are especially prevalent in brightly coloured fruits and vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes and broccoli. They are packed with anti-oxidants that will help protect cells from environmental damage that can further irritate rosacea-prone skin.
4. Lower the 'hot' spice levels in your diet. Hot spices, with all varieties of pepper including black pepper, white pepper, cayenne, red pepper, pepper flakes, chili powder and paprika can trigger inflammation. Try fresh or dried herbs and 'cool' seasonings like ginger to add extra flavour to your meals.
5. Certain other foods and drinks can cause rosacea and redness-prone skin to flare up. For many, it can be cheese, citrus and alcohol. For others, it's not. Make sure you take note if redness seems to occur after a certain type of food or drink.
6. Avoid high temperatures! (This includes heating in winter).
7. Reduce your stress and focus on your emotional wellbeing. Go for a mindful walk. Integrate yourself into a positive social environment and try to tune out negativity. These efforts will nurture the psyche and in turn, affect your skin’s outward appearance.
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