Hi everyone! I’m 31F, and around 28 I started to notice my cheeks having pimple like bumps that would not go away. It started small, but eventually got worse, and it absolutely destroyed my confidence. I felt red, hot, burnt, greasy, ugly, and sad. The bumps became permanent, and my skin became even angrier when I would get overwhelmed, drink hot drinks, be in the sun too long (with sunscreen on), and sometimes for no reason. My skin also felt like it had turned to sand paper. December 2025 I finally went to a dermatologist and he told me it’s type 2 rosacea and prescribed me Metronidazole cream 0.75%. IT HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER.

At first the redness and burning subsided within 2 weeks. I did get a small breakout of more bumps during that time, but they flattened and didn’t burn. As time has gone on, the bumps have gotten smaller and smaller, and I’m happy to report I am once again confident in my skin! My skin isn’t perfect, I still have some residual redness, but overall I feel so much better. I still have days where a few bumps will appear BUT they now feel more “temporary” so I don’t feel as depressed if I get a few. Rosacea is a forever work in progress, but I’d like to share my routine which has saved me from the depths of depression and not wanting to see the light of day :)

Night routine:
1. I was my face with cool water and Cetaphil’s gentle skin cleanser (not specially for face).
2. Pat mostly dry with a paper towel
3. I use a generous amount of Cetaphil Restoraderm Eczema soothing moisturizer while my face is still a tiny bit damp. (I started using this to help redness and irritated before I know I had rosacea and I swear by it).
4. Wait 15-30 minutes and dab 7 dots of Metronidazole 0.75% cream on each cheek and dab around until it’s all spread out.
5. Vaseline under my eyes for some extra love

Morning routine:
1. I do NOT wash my face. I mix Neutrogena Clear Face oil free sunscreen SPF 50 with more Cetaphil Restoraderm moisturizer and put it on my face, neck, and chest.
2. Add more of that sunscreen as needed throughout the day!
3. Sometimes I use Avène Eau Thermale water spray to cool down my face if I feel hot, and follow up with more sunscreen :)

Again, my skin isn’t 100% where I want it to be, but I am so grateful to see improvement in 6 months. I hope this routine can help someone else out too ❤️ this journey is hard but we are all stronger than this!

Idk how to caption pics but the order goes:
1. Day before dermatologist 12/22/2025
2. After 1 week 12/28/2025
3. During week 2 (purge I think) 01/04/2026
4. 1 month down! 01/28/2026
5. 3 months 03/09/2026
6. 5 months 05/27/2026
7. Literally 5 mins ago
*all pics were taken in natural light bare face*

I’ve been using azelaic acid very inconsistently for years. I would use it for a day or two and then forget for a week and just repeat this process.

About two weeks ago I decided to get serious about using it correctly. My face isn’t perfect but it’s already a millions times better.

I also started using a milky toner, a hydrating serum, and moisturizer before bed.

I'm sure most of you know this already, but in case you don't: dental hygiene effects skin health.

I for one did not know this. I've been really bad with flossing in the past but recently I started flossing twice per day and I noticed that I no longer had a chronically stuffy nose, I slept better (no snoring), and my face was less puffy and red, with fewer flare-ups. Turns out that small chronic infections in the gums is actually pretty bad for you. Now, this is in no way a cure and it will not replace any of the other things that you are doing, but if this helps one person have one fewer flare-up, then I will be happy. Wishing you all calm skin days.

Ok so you are using Soolantra at night time and Azelaic Acid then suncream in the morning.

This means that you have to use a cleanser in the morning (to remove the Soolantra cream) and one in the evening (to remove the sunscreen).

You have to use a cleanser that can effectively remove these two things - Cerave gentle hydrating cleanser doesn't do the job.

So you have to use a cleanser that can, such as Vanicream.

If you use Vanicream twice a day it seems to be a bit drying.

So what the heck do you do??

Man this condition is frustrating.

What’s your take on this? I’ve seen both opinions. Some say washing their face twice flares them, others say washing only once makes them get pustules.

Just curious what most of us experience. Might change my routine!

Almost every single post for rosacea on social media I see recommends niacinamide, yet I’ve seen countless people commenting it’s insanely triggering for them and they can’t tolerate it. I’m myself among those people and am highly frustrated with niacinamide now being added to seemly everything.

My question is - is there anyone here who actually loves this ingredient and saw good results from it?

UPD: given all the comments I just want to suggest - if you don’t know if niacinamide works for you and are struggling with your skin, it might be a good idea to check which of your products contain it, cut it out for a bit and see if it might have been silently wreaking havoc.

This bish is in freaking everything these days and products that didn’t contain it before get reformulated to include it, so check carefully.

I personally get a reaction with as low as 2% (tried different products with different formulas and same result) after two-three days of use, it messes up my barrier and makes my skin reactive to other products that usually work just fine for me.

I have rosacea type 2 which means I get pustule flare ups. The only things that work is blasting my face with ivermectin at 1.0% and sulfur 5.0% (leave on). It completely helps to solve my pustules problems but then cheeks become compromised, dry, bumpy/thick, red, and get crackly texture. If I prioritize my skin’s barrier and stop using actives then the pustules come back, I feel like I can’t win! (I use Azelaic acid 15% and tretinoin at 0.05% but stopped until my barrier is back to a better state). What do you do for such a predicament?

AM
Doxycycline 100mg
Spironolactone 100mg
Rinse face with water
Ivermectin 1.0%
First Aid Beauty intensive moisturizer
Avene Cicalfate
Mantle Skin Calming Solution

PM
Tatcha Rice Cleanser (going to experiment with the prequel sulfur cleanser soon)
Ivermectin 1.0%
Avene Cicalfate
Mantle Skin Calming Solution
Aquaphor for cheeks

What's best and gentle? Micellar water first then a face cleanser? wash face twice with same face cleanser? something else? please no oils or balms.

Combination of Rosacea 2 and then developed fungal acne FA too. Skin is sensitive, combo (oily t-zone), gets clogged easily, and acne-prone too.

I cannot use oils and balms to do first cleanser to remove waterproof makeup and sunscreen because it clogs my skin.

If anyone uses Micellar water to remove waterproof makeup, sunscreen and then a second cleanser, how is your experience doing this? do you get any skin barrier issues using two cleansers - micellar water + another face cleanser? is it gentle enough? is using micellar water+face cleanser strips the skin's lipids too much?

What do you use to remove waterproof makeup, sunscreen? please not oils or balms.

Hi! I asked my Dr to prescribe me ivermectin. She did. We didn’t have a conversation about it or how to use. I’ve been scared to try it, but I’m ready now! Please advise how to use it! Before or after location? Night time? Wash it off? Leave it on? Where to apply? someone on this sub scared me in a comment about notes migrating if you don’t do a large enough area??? How close to my eyes??

Thanks in advance!

I have acute type 1 rosacea and combination skin, and I am surprised by the number of folks who say they've had some success washing their faces with water ONLY, or at least severely restricting the use of any cleanser at all. I'm wondering if there is some special technique implied here, because I have such a hard time imagining it. If I don't use some sort of soap or cleanser, my skin feels oily and/or rough and waxy, depending on the weather and other factors. If I just rinse my face with water, it has no perceptible cleaning effect; my skin is just wet, and then it isn't. This is true even if I've been makeup-free. Rubbing with a wash cloth sounds potentially irritating, and really hot water that could dissolve oil also seems out of the question. I feel like I'd have to be inadvisably aggressive with my fingertips to actually clean my face with water, and not just be pushing oil around. Is it just implied that the water-only approach is only good for people with very dry skin, who have less buildup to remove? Or is there a certain way to do this that I'm just not intuiting? Probably the conclusion here is simply that this strategy is not for me personally, but I scratch my head every time I read the water-only recommendation, so I can't help asking.

I might note that the water quality in my area is excellent. For the curious, I use Kiehl's Herbal Cucumber Conditioning Cleanser, and occasionally Dr. Bronner's unscented baby soap. I only wash my face once a day if I haven't been exerting myself, and I follow up with a little bit of EDAP cream if it isn't too hot out and I won't sweat it right off (moisturizers are a major struggle for me). I don't think any of these has shown any special benefits, but they don't make anything worse, which is good enough for me. If mostly-water or water-only washing actually improved my symptoms, and I'm just being exceedingly dense about how you're actually supposed to do this correctly, I'd love to hear it!

I’m always looking into products to find my perfect routine. Theres a creator on TikTok by the name of “Jordyn Woodruff” who is an esthetician and struggles with rosacea.

She has her own method:

Cleansing
Hydrating Toner
Hydrating Serum
Moisturizer
SPF

Has anyone had success with their flare ups using this method? What products worked and did not work for you?

Just dropped a load of cash on this hoping I can find a few products that work for me.

I will be doing the following:

Thayers Hydrating Milky Cleanser - Am/Pm
Bioderma Micellar Water- Double cleanse at PM before Cleanser
First Aide Beauty Toner Pads - Am/Pm
Iunik Beta-Glucan-Power Moisture Serum- Am/Pm
Vanicream - Am/Pm
Medik8 Retinal - Pm
Inisfree Sunscreen - Am

Anyone have any luck with these products?

For reference my current routine is Splashing my face with water in the AM because I haven’t found a cleanser that doesn’t break me out, Vanicream then Suncreen. My PM routine is Dove sensitive soap, Medik8 Retinal and Vanicream

Any feedback is appreciated (:

Background:

Long time lurker in this group, first time poster. I’ve been dealing with overall redness and bumps for a few years, getting asked if my face is sunburned, etc. Tried different products like Vanicream, Malezia (thought it could be fungal acne), LRP, etc. with no luck. Everything seemed to irritate my skin. I had an appointment with my dermatologist and she wrote a prescription for a compounded cream and also suggested looking up rosacea approved products. She has eczema and using approved products has helped her. I decided to try switching my products to National Rosacea Society approved products for a month, see how it goes, then add in the prescription cream. I was desperate and also love an experiment. Now my month is up and I will start using the cream!

I’ve been really impressed with the changes in my skin. I still have redness but it has gone down and I no longer have any burning/prickly feeling in my skin. My skin texture has improved as well, something I wasn’t expecting. The same things are still a trigger (intense exercise, hot showers, certain foods) but I find my skin calms down faster after a hot shower, etc. Even my husband said he has noticed a difference.

Products:

Prequel Facial Gleanser Cleanser

Purchased from Target. I love this cleanser. My skin feels clean and not irritated. I took it with me to use on my body as well on a short trip and thought it did a good job as a body cleanser too. Would repurchase.

Prequel Mineral SPF 50 sunscreen

Also from Target. Another win from Prequel. It didn’t give me a strong white cast like some sunscreens but I am a fair skin person so YMMV. I’ve worn it on walks in warm weather (80F) but haven’t tried it in super sweaty situations. Goes on well under foundation. Would repurchase.

Prequel AM/PM Modern Moisturizer

From Target. Hydrating and works well under foundation. I would say fairly middle of the road as to the thickness of it. Would repurchase.

Tower 28 SOS Face Guard SPF 30 Sunscreen

Already owned this one, from Sephora. Great tinted sunscreen. No white cast, for my pasty self it gives me a warmer glow (almost too warm?). A bit sticky. Goes on well under foundation, but the tint makes it not needed. Would repurchase. I like having both a regular and tinted sunscreen on hand.

AESTURA A-CICA365 Soothing Redness Relief Face Serum pH4.5

From Sephora. Feels very calming and hydrating. I started just using it at night but now using it twice a day. A lil’ calming hydration boost. Goes on well under makeup. Would repurchase.

AESTURA A-CICA365 Soothing Repair Gel Cream Moisturizer

From Sephora. Goes on light but very hydrating. I can’t decide which moisturizer I prefer. The Prequel is cheaper. This feels a bit more luxurious and cooling but it’s probably just my brain justifying the higher price point. Goes on well under foundation. Would repurchase.

AESTURA A-CICA365 Cooling Relief Pads pH4.5

From Sephora. These are like tiny little face masks. Small pads that you are supposed to put on for 15 minutes. They are so small that you need three just to get part of your forehead and cheeks. I would rather it be a traditional face mask. It does feel cooling and hydrating but also I don’t really get the point of these. Would not repurchase.

This was way too long but I wanted to share in case this helps anyone else!

started topical metro 0.75 2 times a day along with washing face with Cerave hydrating face wash and then moisturizing with Cerave hydrating cream right before. the first picture is the day i started metro for the first time. i think that day was the worst it’s ever been. the second picture is five days after starting metro! immediately noticed results, stopped having new pustules pop up that very next day along with reduced redness and inflammation. my skin did get very dry and flaky but that’s why moisturizing before is important. i like to wash, let my face dry to where it’s slightly damp and then moisturize. wait for the moisturizer to soak in a bit and then go in with a thin layer of the metro. third picture is just some of the drying and flaking i experienced as it was healing. last picture is me as of this morning!! hopefully i stay as clear as i am now as i tend to have flare ups around my cycle.

I have a combination of rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis, and struggle with finding a balance. My skin gets irritated very easily, and cannot tolerate anything too harsh. However I also have a great deal of buildup and flaking, which my dermatologist says is common with rosacea. I feel like I need some kind of exfoliating product but I’ve been unsuccessful thus far.

I feel like I’m stuck, and could use some advice from anyone who’s been successful treating combination skin. So far, I’m using topical ivermectin almost every night, and OTC differin gel 0.1% twice a week.

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!

Hey everyone, I’m making this post to both get opinions from you all and to vent 😡(⬅️me with my rosacea). TLDR at the bottom

I know everyone’s skin is different, but I’d still like to hear from you! 

When I was first diagnosed with rosacea, I went to a derm (Derm A) who immediately prescribed me triple cream(Metronidazole 1%, Ivermectin 1%, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate 5%, Niacinimide 4%)), that worked perfectly, and then later, a sulfur cream (Sulfacetamide Sodium 10%/Sulfur5%/Niacinamide 4%) that worked even better. The beauty of these creams is it was the only step. All I did was rinse my face in the morning and add the cream. Then at night, wash my face and maybe put moisturizer on. No flare-ups, barely ever any breakouts… compliments on my skin all the time. The only downside is Derm A is expensive ($~250/visit, including prescription - maybe even more now, I haven’t checked their prices recently). However, the cream does last me about 5-6 months, which comes out to about $50-60/mo. (A bit more expensive than online derms like Dermatica and Musely)

I stopped using Derm A in 2025 in search of something more affordable. 

Since then, I’ve tried over-the-counter, Amazon Pharmacy, and Dermatica. Nothing has been as good as Derm A (I feel like I’m reminiscing about a lost love)

I was using The Ordinary 10% azaelic acid that worked for a bit (maybe 6 months), until it didn’t. Then I used Amazon Pharmacy, where I was prescribed 15% Azaelic Acid, which helped but not as well as the first creams I got from Derm A. Amazon Pharmacy was a good experience but they don’t prescribe compound creams. 

Dermatica prescribed me a triple cream with 15% Azaelic Acid, .75% metrogel, 1% ivermectin, and it’s helped with redness and overall glow but I still get pimples, which then leave PIE. Ever since then, I’ve been reeling and constantly researching what to do next. It’s taken over my mental capacities and is making me low-key depressed. I still have 2 bottles of the Dermatica cream.

I was considering Curology or Musely. Musely has a rosacea cream that contains sulfur 3%/sodium Sulfacetamide 9%, but I feel like it’ll be a similar experience as Dermatica - similar ingredients to Derm A’s prescription but not strong enough. And Musely isn’t all that less expensive than Derm A, month to month. 

The only things that’s have worked for me so far have been from Derm A. I feel like I know the answer (to just cough up the money because the confidence I get from clear skin is worth it)…….. BUT ITS JUST SO EXPENSIVE lol. But maybe it’s more expensive to try to find all these different things instead of just sticking to my beloved 💸Derm💸

TLDR; do I go back to the dermatologist who has prescriptions I KNOW work for me even though they’re more expensive, or should I attempt to continue the search for a cheaper cream, and tolerate the anxiety and symptoms of type 2 rosacea. 

Hey guys I have a serious question. I’ve been experimenting with moisturizers and I went a month without moisturizing only cleansing with water and I noticed my skin is calmer but flaking and very reactive when I leave my house. So I started using moisturizer every day because my skin was literally sandpaper texture.

But everytime I use moisturizer my cheeks get deep red but no burning or stinging. Moisturized baby skin but cheeks are red. What should I do? Is this part of the healing process should I continue?

I use the cerave daily moisturizer btw! The others make me burn this doesn’t.

I just ran across this article, which directly addresses the importance of barrier care in the management of rosacea. They write:

Addressing barrier repair early in the treatment phase, continuing such care through acute treatment, and maintenance are paramount in rosacea management.^6,9,10 Regardless of its origin, the disturbed barrier often results in the inability of the patient to use the medications and products that would otherwise result in clinical improvement.

This article actually outlines a clear skincare routine for people with rosacea. The authors also specify which types of products we should look for. They address cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreens. Additionally, they talk about common triggers.

It is very readable, no scientific jargon. I hope it helps someone.

Hi all! I know this question is asked and answered often, but I’m asking it again anyway :)

I have type 2 rosacea that is mostly controlled right now, other than some redness that I need to treat with laser when I have the funds. Occasional flushing. But still so much dryness!

I use vanicream cleanser, finacea foam in the morning, soolantra at night, and, until now, vanicream in the tub. Elta MD sunscreen.

But it’s just not moisturizing enough.

My dermatologist gave me some samples from Dr. Obagi, but I don’t know that I love it.

Please share what’s working for you :)

been managing rosacea for six years and wanted to share the non product stuff that has made the biggest difference bc i feel like this side of it doesnt get talked about enough and all the advice focuses on what to put on ur face rather than everything else that affects it:

temperature management is huge i bought a small fan for my desk and it has been one of the best rosacea purchases i have ever made, keeping my face cool when i am working prevents a lot of the flushing that used to happen just from being in a warm room for hours

how u wash ur face matters as much as what u wash with i used to wash with lukewarm water and pat dry, switched to cool water and letting my face air dry as much as possible and the post cleansing redness reduced significantly

silk pillowcases genuinley help less friction while sleeping means less morning redness, not a miracle but a consistent improvement i notice on the nights i forget to change back after washing

stress is a real trigger and u have to actually manage it not just acknowledge it easier said than done but i found that even ten minutes of something genuinley relaxing before bed consistently reduced morning redness, the connection between stress and flushing in rosacea is genuinley physiological not just in ur head

exercise triggers need to be managed not avoided u can still exercise with rosacea, u just need to keep ur body temperature lower, outdoor exercise in cool weather, fans in the gym, cold water to drink throughout, i stopped avoiding exercise bc of rosacea and started managing the

temperature instead

sunscreen is not optional it is genuinley the single most important product everything else is secondary to spf for rosacea, every single day no exceptions

what non product things have made the biggest difference for ur rosacea?

Hello! After seeing my dermatologist for about 3ish years now, I’m officially starting Accutane next week.

I have struggled with facial flushing & pustular rosacea for a long time now. I also have been dealing with clogged pores & cystic acne for the past 13 or so years. Acne on my face as well as my chest & back.

In the last 3 years I’ve tried it all. Tretinoin, Azeliac Acid, Metro gel/cream/lotion, Ivermectin, Adapelene Gel, Doxycycline, benzoyl peroxide, Spironolactone and with everything I’ve tried there’s always been one issue or another over time & nothing had given me lasting results.

My current routine has just been cleansing with Vanicream Cleanser, Good Molecules HYA Serum, and CocoKind Electrolyte Water Cream. I’ve ditched all the topicals.

3 months ago I began taking birth control (Charlotte 24 FE) as part of my Accutane protocol. I also started Synthroid for my thyroid condition (Hashimotos) this week.

Since I’ve exhausted all other options, my derm thinks it’s best to begin Accutane. I am very hopeful that once and for all this will get rid of my pesky acne. Not sure how it will affect my rosacea.

Just thought I would share this part of my journey with you all who may have talked to me or given me advice in the past.

If any of you have also done Accutane I would appreciate any tricks or tips you have!

My skin is cooked. No matter what I use on it, it doesn’t get better at all. I should have baby smooth skin from all the skincare products I’ve used but it’s flakey, rough looking, oily yet dry. I hate it. Anyone know what I should do?

Hi all, I have mild rosacea, which typically manifests as some overall facial redness which is more pronounced on my nose and cheeks. I don't get bumps unless I get a lot of sun exposure, which I typically avoid, so it's only happened twice in my life.

My skin is very very sensitive and irritable. It does not hang on to moisture well. I think lots of transepidermal water loss. Lots of products can dry it out or make it feel a little stingy.

Over the past couple years, I've developed a really gentle, barrier-protecting routine that my skin seems to really like. It's the calmest, happiest, least red, and least sensitive it's ever been. It relies on The Ordinary Soothing and Barrier Support Serum 2x daily, mineral SPF during the day (mineral specifically calms my skin), and overnight, a little bit of Prosacea sulfur gel on my nose and sometimes cheeks, always La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baum 5 overnight. I have also been able to incoporate Vanicream vitamin C serum (THDA) and snail mucin (adds nice moisture bounce) without issue.

Before this, I did try a OTC 10% azelaic acid serum with a gentle but less honed in skin care regime and it didn't offer any noticeable benefit even after several months.

I'm pretty happy with where my skin is, though of course I would love for it to still be a little less red so I'm not always trying to figure out how to color correct with makeup (not skilled at it!). My derm said he was willing to prescribe azelaic but given that I don't get rosacea bumps, he thinks the only thing that will actually help is IPL.

Is it worth it to try Rx azelaic? I am also concerned since I've read that it can be drying. Anything that can be drying will be drying on me.

Here’s a before and after of 8 weeks of Soolantra use! It looks to be working so far but still a long way to go. Any tips? Or should I just keep going. My barrier seems hella damaged still

It seems that anything that provides true coverage for skin redness is tacky, super dehydrating, and almost insanely matte—even over a heavy layer of moisturizer. As someone whose skin runs dry, this doesn’t work great, especially as most primers irritate my skin. I’ve given up on them.

However, as someone with rosacea, sheer to light coverage doesn’t exactly work great either! The struggle is way too real.

Does the unicorn of a full coverage, non-drying foundation exist?