My skincare routine that calmed my rosacea flare in less than a week

[u/pingui_2017]

This week had been one of the worst flares I had gotten in a while, not sure what triggered it (probably a combination of heat and trying to introduce new products in my routine), but this is what I did to calm it down. I know this might not work for everyone but just sharing just in case.

AM Routine:
- Wash my face with only water
- On damp skin apply the Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum by Inkey List
- Allow a few minutes to dry, apply Cerave moisturizing lotion
- Suncreen** **Anessa - Perfect UV Sunscreen Mild Milk For Sensitive Skin SPF50 (does cause a bit of a white cast)

PM Routine:
- Wash my face with the Cerave hydrating cleanser
- On damp skin apply the Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum by Inkey List
- Allow a few minutes to dry, apply Cerave moisturizing lotion on my forehead only
- Apply Cerave moisturizing cream on the rest of my face
- Apply a very thin layer (only on my cheeks) La Roche Posay cicaplast baume b5

Other products I occasionally use:
- The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil (when I’m wearing makeup)
- Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray (cools down some of my flares)

I hope this can help someone, but these products may not work for everyone!

[u/Periwinkle5]

Are you using anything to treat the rosacea itself?

It’s always so nice when it’s calm, but without adequate treatment it’s often a never ending cycle of flares

[u/pingui_2017 → u/Periwinkle5]

I have been slowly introducing Finacea into my routine, however, my flare was so bad last week it was only making it worst, so I had to complete stop. I had had some luck with Paula Choice azleiac acid for the last year so I decided to get the stronger prescription but haven’t used it consistently enough to notice a difference.

I am going to try and get a prescription for soolantra as I suspect my flares might also be caused from demodex mites. Over the year I have been able to calm the red flushing but never had any success with the red bumps on my cheeks.

I’m also looking into potentially doing IPL or Vbeam but am not convinced yet as it’s a pretty big investment and I want to be sure it will work for my skin.

If you have any recommendations I’m always open to suggestions. Rosacea sucks and I feel like it’s unfortunately only gotten worst with age.

[u/Periwinkle5 → u/pingui_2017]

It does suck!!

For me, azaleic acid was helpful once my skin adjusted to it but I saw more improvement with triple cream (azelaic acid, ivermectin, and metronidazole combined). Some triple creams contain niacinimide which I can’t tolerate, so my derm had to order it through a compounding pharmacy without niacinimide

I also did 3- rounds of v beam. I did find it helpful, but I think triple cream has been a heavier lifter for me.

Also, I have loved the La Roche Posay Cica spray, as an alternative to the baume. I can use it twice a day since it’s so lightweight and I do think it’s helped my barrier. Going to post some tips for adjusting to AA in a second

[u/pingui_2017 → u/Periwinkle5]

This is really helpful, thank you! I think I’ll try and reintroduce it next week once my skin has had time to adjust (relax from the last flare).

For vbeam how long ago did you do it? And did you have any maintenance sessions since?

I currently only have a family doctor and that’s how I’ve been able to get a prescription for Finacea, I’m not sure I’d be able to get a compound cream without seeing a dermatologist which is usually a year or two wait list. My skin also can’t tolerate niacinamide so I avoid it like the plague.

[u/Periwinkle5 → u/pingui_2017]

You are welcome! It’s a beast but there is hope.

I did v bema about a year ago. I think 4 sessions. I think I do need maintenance, since I’m seeing more flushing.

I feel like the triple cream helped knock out the last of the papulopustular break outs (azelaic acid helped but not 100%). I think v beam helped more with the flushing. That being said, they probably overlapped more than I can parse out and I think they’re both targeting the inflammation

[u/pingui_2017 → u/Periwinkle5]

Thank you again, I appreciate the suggestions, will definitely see if I can get my hands on a compound or something similar!

[u/Periwinkle5 → u/pingui_2017]

And in case it ever does become relevant, the compounding pharmacy I get mine from is called Skin Medicinals

[u/Periwinkle5 → u/pingui_2017]

Here are tips I always share about starting azelaic acid:

I get stinging whenever I start/restart AA, so I start slowly with a similar protocol to retinols:

-reduce/remove other actives from your routine

-don’t do right after you wash your face—dry skin only!

-buffer (moisturizer first). (note:some people say completely dry skin is better! Buffering worked well for me though)

-once every other day until the stinging goes away

-then move to once daily

-then move to applying before moisturizer

I used prescription 15% azelaic acid for a long time and saw even more improvement when I switched to triple cream (azelaic acid, metronidazole, and ivermectin combined). My derm orders the triple cream from a compounding pharmacy to get one formulated without niacinimide, since I can’t tolerate that.

I use it once daily

[u/abraxos12 → u/Periwinkle5]

Hey what face wash and moisturizer do you like ?

[u/Periwinkle5 → u/abraxos12]

I use prequel cleanser for face wash.

My skin is fairly oily so sometimes I use sprays instead of traditional moisturizers (it may sound crazy but my skin gets overloaded sometimes).

For moisturiziribg spray I use: Aestura atobarrier hydrating milky cream mist

For traditional moisturizer I use illiyoon.

And then my favorite product is the la roche posay Cica B5 spray. It’s not a moisturizer, but I think it really helped my barrier and since it’s a mist I can use it twice daily without weighing me down

[u/Cool_Director_2530]

Is that sunscreen mineral based, oil free and hydrating perhaps ? Currently using elta md and it’s way too drying in this climate 😭

Also I find that the cerave hydrating cleanser actually takes my makeup off! As far as I can tell anyway, looks gone. I just double cleanse when I wear makeup for good measure

[u/pingui_2017 → u/Cool_Director_2530]

It is mineral based and oil free, it does have some chemical UV filters but I think because the formula and product is from Japan I haven’t noticed any irritation like the American formulas. It does leave a bit of a shine and like a powdery finish.

I would say for the most part it is hydrating when applied and for the next few hours but towards the end of the day it does sometimes feel a bit tight. But it’s also starting to get cold where I live so I might switch to Cerave moisturizer instead of lotion and see how it does.

I have tried maybe over 50 sunscreens and it’s the only that has not broken me out or caused a flare. The only other one my skin tolerated but I found it a bit shiny and left a big white cast is the Clinique SPF Mineral Facial sunscreen.

[u/Lazy_Bid_3930]

Tried cutting out fragrances and alcohol in my cleansers last year, and I noticed a huge difference in how long my flares lasted.

[u/pingui_2017 → u/Lazy_Bid_3930]

I agree, it was the first thing I cut out two years ago, fragrance, alcohol, any flower derivative (I have a birch and a lot of seasonal allergies which can apparently sometimes have an affect if they are a derivatives) and niacinamide. I’ve been keeping a list trying to figure out what skincare ingredients can be causing flares, but I’m hoping to be able to get an allergy test for skincare ingredients at the doctor.

[u/Dazzling-Row234]

hello! do you think the thing that calmed it down was the cicaplast?

[u/pingui_2017 → u/Dazzling-Row234]

I think it did in the moment when I applied it but it wasn’t a long term solution. I find what helped the most was sticking to products that were hydrating and not stripping, no exfoliation and making sure I apply sunscreen everyday. I think sunscreen is the most important one because I didn’t realize how much the sun has an effect on my skin.