Are you suffering from red, inflamed or itchy skin? Dry scaly patches perhaps? Or pustules even? If you answered yes to any of the above, you could be suffering from one of two inflammatory skin conditions – rosacea or eczema, but before being able to treat it, it’s important to understand which one you have!

From intermittent flare-ups to skin redness and irritation, both rosacea and eczema can be easily confused, yet both disorders have a number of different triggers and therefore need to be treated in different ways.  But how exactly are you supposed to diagnose which of you two you might have? We talked to Beauty Collectives’ Director of Education to find out everything there is to know about the two.

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is one of the most common inflammatory skin conditions which unlike eczema mostly affects the face. Rosacea typically occurs in adults over 30, and while more common in women, men who suffer from the disorder tend to experience more obvious symptoms.

What are rosacea symptoms?

Signs and symptoms of rosacea include facial flushing which may resemble a blush or sunburn. This can be persistent. This redness mainly occurs on the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin and tends to come and go. It can also be accompanied by a sense of heat, warmth or burning.

Occasionally rosacea causes papules and pustules to appear which can be confused for acne. And for many people with rosacea, prominent small blood vessels called telangiectasia become visible on the cheeks, nasal bridge and other areas of the central face.

Finally, but a much less common symptom – your skin may thicken and enlarge from excess tissue, most commonly on the nose (known as rhinophyma).

What causes rosacea?

While the cause of rosacea is unknown there are lifestyle and environmental factors which can affect its severity from sunlight to weather changes, alcohol, caffeine, smoking and more.

How to get rid of rosacea permanently

Sadly, eliminating rosacea altogether is an impossibility, but you can keep symptoms at bay, you just need to be religious about maintaining a good skincare routine using targeted rosacea treatments and by making adjustments to your lifestyle;

1. Avoid sun exposure

Unfortunately. sun exposure is the most common trigger for rosacea. While we may all love long days at the beach, if you suffer from rosacea your skin sadly will pay a price. Not only can sunburn make flare-ups even worse, the heat from the sun can also increase your body temperature which in turn dilates blood vessels and triggers inflammation.

2. Relax more, stress less

Stress and anxiety can cause rosacea symptoms to worsen, so some stress management techniques will be imperative. Make sure to get plenty of rest where you can as well as practice mindfulness, as this can really help combat the stress-inducing effects of negative thinking.

There are several methods for increasing mindfulness a few of which include, mindfulness-based stress reduction, meditation, and yoga.

And don’t forget to practice deep breathing when you feel anxiety creeping up.

3. Eliminate any hot, spicy foods from your diet

These are two big rosacea triggers for some, so it’s best to steer clear from things like horseradish dip and hot sauce when you’re drinking alcohol as heat dilates the blood vessels in the skin, and since hot foods generate heat, peppers are a big no-no!

4. Reduce your alcohol consumption

While you might well love that glass of wine of an evening, sadly it can trigger or potentially worsen any facial redness.

5. Introduce skincare specifically designed to combat rosacea

Look for products such as rosacea serum formulated with calming and soothing ingredients like green tea, licorice extract, chamomile extract, and French rose extract. Try Pevonia’s best-selling RS2 rosacea skincare line – a soothing, calming and irritant free collection that not only alleviates redness and discomfort but also helps create a healthy skin barrier.

6. Never skimp on your sunscreen

Despite avoiding sun exposure where feasible, it’s not possible to completely steer clear, so wearing SPF daily is a necessity. Just opt for sensitive skin formulations that won’t aggravate your rosacea.

Or for the best colour correcting makeup for rosacea that’s also formulated with SPF try ELES Cosmetics Luminous CC Cream 20. Perfect for those with skin sensitivities like rosacea, it’s lightweight, oil-free, hypoallergenic and paraben free, and while it’s technically not a foundation, the full coverage pigments cover redness and other rosacea symptoms flawlessly.

7. You can also try light and laser therapy

To reduce rosacea symptoms and use both topical and oral medications from your doctor if symptoms are really aggressive.

What is eczema?

Otherwise known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is a very common anti-inflammatory skin disorder, more evident in young children, but also apparent in adults too.

What are eczema symptoms?

Eczema typically presents with a dry, cracked, red, itchy skin that may be scaly and/or bumpy. Fluid-filled blisters can also form.

Eczema most often occurs on the inside of the elbows, the knees, hands, feed, upper chest, neck and sometimes on the face.

What causes eczema?

Eczema is caused by a combination of genetics, stress and immune system activation. When you suffer from eczema your immune system overreacts to small irritants or allergens. This overreaction can inflame your skin.

Eczema can come and go but certain fabrics, soaps, and detergents as well as the environments and certain foods can really cause flare ups. Changes in weather can contribute to dry and eczema prone skin.

How to get rid of eczema permanently

As with rosacea, it’s not possible to totally cure eczema, but you can effectively manage symptoms by following a few essential steps;

1. Avoid foods that can trigger eczema flare ups

These include; refined carbs, processed meats, dairy, citrus fruits, peanuts and soy.

2. Feast on vegetables and fruits that are high in inflammation-fighting flavonoid

Such as spinach, kale, broccoli, apples, blueberries, bananas, oranges and cherries (when in season!) these have been found to help improve the overall health of skin and fight inflammatory skin conditions.

3. Do not bathe in hot water

Instead, just warm water only.

4. Keep skin moisturised daily with products that will support your skin barrier function

Products formulated with shea butter, lanolin, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, fatty acids and Niacinamide are best.

5. In some cases topical medication is paramount. See your doctor.
6. If the condition is bad, oral and injectable options are also available

Just remember maintaining a healthy skin barrier and avoiding triggers are key to managing symptoms when it comes to both rosacea and eczema.