Can I Use Retinol for Rosacea?
Finding the right skincare routine can be difficult at the best of times, let alone if you’re prone to rosacea. Finding ingredients that will keep your complexion looking its best can often feel like an impossible task. With that in mind, I can’t blame you if you find yourself a little confused when you hear about how using retinol can help fight rosacea. Yes, admittedly, it doesn’t make sense to use one of the most effective skincare ingredients topically on skin with rosacea, which is known to leave your skin feeling tight, dry, and uncomfortable.
But don’t worry, we’ll make everything clearer by the end of today’s blog post, so if you’re wondering if you can use retinol for rosacea, stay tuned.
Does Retinol Make Rosacea Worse?
The short answer is: No, it won’t, despite the common perception and misconceptions about how retinol works that might make you think it spells disaster. Many people often think that retinol exfoliates the skin, but it actually speeds up the skin’s cell cycle, removing dead skin cell buildup to reveal fresh, vibrant skin and a radiant complexion. This is why using retinol for rosacea can be beneficial for inflamed areas, as they are significantly reduced. However, if your skin is particularly sensitive, it’s best to consult a doctor or dermatologist to ensure you’re using the right concentrate that will benefit your skin and prevent adverse reactions.
Can retinol cream be used to treat rosacea?
Yes, you can, as long as you’ve consulted a dermatologist or medical professional and confirmed that it’s safe to do so. As I mentioned before, you can reduce inflammation or rosacea breakouts by using a topical cream or lotion containing retinol. To combat further potential severe dryness, pair your retinol cream with a serum that’s rich in hyaluronic acid and other moisturizing and skin-repairing ingredients.
The important thing to remember about retinol is that it must be used correctly. To do this, start by using it once a week in your evening routine, then let your skin build tolerance and increase to every other night. If this is new information to you and you find retinol a little confusing, you can read our dedicated blog post on the benefits of retinol for skin care.
Which retinol is best for treating rosacea?
When you first start using retinol to combat rosacea flare-ups, it’s recommended to use an over-the-counter formula. The reason for this is that the amount of retinoids in this product is lower than other more potent medical or prescription formulas.
Try to look for a formula that is lightweight and has the consistency of a serum or oil, especially if there are other moisturizing ingredients in the mix, as this will not only help soothe inflammation on the surface of the skin, but it will also ensure that the skin’s protective barrier is functioning with the right amount of water. This is important because when the skin barrier is weakened, skin damage from free radicals such as pollution, heat, and UV rays can lead to signs of aging, uneven skin tone, and loss of elasticity.
What Should You Not Use on Your Face If You Have Rosacea?
There are a number of ingredients in skincare products that you should avoid if you’re prone to rosacea. Here are some examples of the worst ingredients you shouldn’t use:
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Alcohol
Perfume
You’ll find these ingredients often in skincare products like toners, astringents, and cleansers. To avoid making the problem worse, it’s best to skip the toner and use a gentle, non-foaming cleanser instead.
How to Calm Down a Rosacea Flare-Up?
If you find yourself suffering from rosacea, here are some of the simplest, most effective steps to combat inflammation and soothe irritated skin.
Switch to a gentle cleanser – Make sure to use warm water and gently massage the cleanser into your skin. Once you’re done, dry your skin with a soft towel and pat it gently.
Moisturize daily – In fact, you should moisturize twice a day to ensure that your skin stays healthy, especially if you choose a formula that’s rich in hyaluronic acid and other moisturizing ingredients.
Avoid harsh products – Even the gentlest facial scrub formulas can be too much for the skin. For this reason, you should avoid products like facial scrubs and exfoliating toners.
Use sunscreen daily – It’s extremely important to use an SPF every day, even on cloudy days. This protects the skin from UVB and UVA rays as well as other environmental influences and free radicals.
Test your makeup before applying it to your face. You’ll often find that cosmetic formulas contain a lot of fragrance, which can aggravate rosacea. Test a small amount on an inflamed area of your skin before applying foundation or makeup. If there are no signs of worsening rosacea, you can safely put makeup on your face.
How long does retinol ugly last?
Many people use the term “retinol ugly” to describe the side effects that occur when retinol is first applied to the skin. As the skin builds tolerance, you’ll notice some areas of flaking, mild redness and itching, and your skin feels dry and uncomfortable. You can’t escape the ugly things, you can only fight them off. Some people find that they last a week, and some find that they last closer to three weeks. You can use hyaluronic acid to target and soothe any areas and add hydration to your skin.
Here’s some information about using retinol for rosacea. Remember, if you have questions about using certain skin care products, it’s best to consult a doctor or dermatologist. If you have any more questions about skin care, you can follow us on Instagram.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
