Flushing and Blushing – Acne Rosacea
By Dr Jen Newell

The other day I was chatting natural skincare with a girlfriend who is struggling with acne rosacea. This can be a really frustrating skin concern and tends to appear in adult women in their 20’s or 30’s….just when they think they have gotten past teenage acne flare ups.

Symptoms of Acne Rosacea:

• Flushing, blushing and rosy red nose triggered by heat, spicy foods or alcohol.
  • This flushing can be uncomfortable and leave the skin with a burned feeling.
• Acne-like pimples without blackheads.
  • These pimples tend to occur around the center of the face and are tender, inflammatory nodules that become easily irritated by harsh acne medications.
• Red, irritated and swollen skin.
• Broken visible capillaries around the nose or on the cheeks.
  • These capillaries tend to become bigger and more noticeable the longer you have suffered from rosacea.

Treating acne rosacea has a number of different components. From the inside out, the inflammation needs to be addressed through dietary modifications and anti-inflammatory supplements. This is a very individualized process and can be guided by a qualified Naturopathic Doctor who will take into account the various aspects of your life and health. Each of my patients leaves with a different plan tailored to their unique concerns, lifestyle and contributing factors – this is far from a “one size fits all” approach.

From the outside, the sensitive skin needs to be nourished and soothed and aggressive treatments and topical agents should be avoided (especially those treatments targeting teenage acne).

Topical agents to avoid if you have rosacea:

• Acne products (salicylic acid and benzyl peroxide)
• Tea tree oil
• Anti-aging products containing retinols
• Products containing alcohol

Best topical treatment for rosacea:

• Cleanser
  • Province Apothecary Unscented Moisturizing Cleanser + Make Up Remover
  • Clinical Luxury The Cleanser
  • Osmia Organics Gentle Foaming Cleanser
• Moisturizer and treatment
  • CV Skinlabs Rescue + Relief Spray
  • Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream
  • Odacite Ap + P and/or Ca + C booster serum concentrates
  • Clinical Luxury Super Sensitive Skin Stuff
  • Province Apothecary Face Balm
• Sunscreen
  • Badger Damascus Rose Face Sunscreen Lotion
  • Coola Suncare
  • Suntegrity Skincare
  • Goddess Garden Sunscreen
  • Clinical Luxury The Glow

While the above products are amazing for rosacea care, it can be really challenging and confusing to select the ones best suited for your needs. Again, a “one size fits all” approach isn’t ideal because your skin and needs are unique to you. I am really passionate about helping my dermatology patients weed through the products out there to find the ones that will be the most beneficial and actually help them achieve the results they are looking for. I also often pair down patient’s skincare regimes because more isn’t always better; I think fewer, more potent and targeted products can provide better results than an over complex skincare routine.

If you are struggling with skin concerns like rosacea, I would encourage you to book a visit to create a personalized whole body program that will help you achieve healthy, radiant skin.

Have and awesome day!

Dr. Jen Newell, ND

Dr. Jen Newell is passionate about helping people embrace health, feel amazing and easily incorporate “real” food into their busy lives. Her mission is to make health accessible and achievable, and to inspire patients to live an active, vibrant and healthy life.

Jen has a clinical focus on digestive health, food sensitivities and healthy nutrition; mental health and stress-related illness; women’s health, hormone balance and fertility; optimal aging; and dermatology. She focuses on integrating healthy foods into one’s diet in a medicinal and therapeutic capacity and providing individuals with nutritional support that is easy to incorporate into a busy day. Dr. Newell practices at the Integrative Health Institute in Downtown Toronto.