Facing the Future of Rosacea

As April honors the awareness of Rosacea and Inflammatory Skin Conditions, it's only timely to discuss the changes to our industry and the product development that has happened over the past decade in regards to Rosacea.

Connection Between Gut Health and Inflammatory Skin Conditions

Any person that denies the Gut-to-Brain-to-Skin connection is living in the 1900s and hasn't seen a professional skin practitioner lately! The key word being professional. Our job role as a Skin Therapist has moved in recent years to incorporate a more holistic focus on skin health, understanding the role of internal factors and triggers that contribute to all types of skin conditions—mainly inflammatory ones.

Your gut is responsible for toxin elimination, combined with your liver, gallbladder, and kidneys, to name a few. When a buildup of toxins occurs in your gut, it not only compromises the organ, but it also has an effect on linking pathways—one being your skin. 

The Importance of Microbiome in Skincare

The skin microbiome and the skin barrier work in harmony to protect us! In other words, they work together as the skin’s immune system. We know the skin is our first line of defense against external pathogens. The skin barrier is a physical barrier that ensures that pathogens stay out of our bodies, while our skin microbiome also works to defend against pathogens by outcompeting and killing pathogenic bacteria.

Studies show that if our skin barrier is compromised or weakened, it disturbs the complex ecosystem as we develop inflammatory skin conditions such as Rosacea, Perioral Dermatitis, and many more.

We have seen a huge increase in microbiome skincare in the last decade, but please be aware—some can make your skin worse rather than better. We don't want probiotics; we want certain bacteria spores to help create a homeostasis that allows your skin’s own bacteria—good and not-so-good—to balance and protect. If provided the right environment, it will do this by itself, hence my link to a "less is more" approach (see below).

A "Less is More" Approach to the Way You Treat Your Skin

We've all been there, following a path of self (skin) destruction, trying all the new amazing skincare products that promise the world and often underdeliver in results. Before you know it, you have a 10-step skincare routine and nothing is working. A "less is more" approach to healthy skin starts with LESS! Cleanser, moisturiser, sunscreen, and one product to help reduce the symptoms of the skin condition you are dealing with. Start there and build!

If you want to trial different options, remember your skin cells turn over every 28–35 days (even a little slower as we age), so stick to the same routine for more than 60 days before adding something new. Give it a chance to work on the new skin cells forming, as we cannot alter the ones previously created.

Professional Skin Treatments

You no longer need to suffer with red, inflamed skin, where your only alternative was a GP who prescribed medicine. There are professional, clinical skin treatments that help! I am not talking about microdermabrasion or light and fluffy relaxing skin treatments. It's about bringing out the big guns to support the skin—think Laser Genesis, Capillary and Red Recovery Laser using the latest technology and laser advancements, TCA Peels, Azelaic, and so much more. These treatments target not only the capillary damage that occurs with continual redness in the skin—they also focus on calming surrounding skin tissue, providing a supportive environment for healthy skin function.

Knowledge is power when it comes to treating and nurturing skin conditions! It will never be one simple step to "fix" your skin. Explore a more holistic approach to all elements of skin and body health and watch your entire body function improve to gain results for your skin.

Just remember: barrier function is the key to a strong skin network, and we ensure this with correct cleansing techniques. If you splash-remove your cleanser, use face washers built with hidden bacteria, or use chemicals like micellar water to remove your makeup—you need to address this first!

A simple yet effective cleanse is the game changer to reducing redness and ensuring a healthy barrier.

- Michelle, skinnerd.

If you wish to read more about Rosacea as a skin condition, please follow here.