Rosacea 101: Everything You Need to Know According To Dr Barbara Sturm

23rd September 2024 | By Tamara Corin

Rosacea was the most Googled skin condition of 2023, with 6 million Brits experiencing pore-clogging and inflammation. This is far more than a trending rosy cheek. Instead, rosacea redness causes dry, sore skin and surprise flare-ups that can ruin your day. To understand more, we turned to celebrity facialist Dr Barbara Sturm to guide us through this skin disorder as part of Rosacea Awareness Month.

What are the symptoms?

“Rosacea symptoms include flushing, hyper-reactivity, persistent redness, spots, inflamed blood vessels and even facial swelling,” explains Dr Sturm. “Rosacea is sometimes mistaken for acne, eczema, or even skin allergies.”

Rosacea is sometimes mistaken for acne, eczema, or even skin allergies.

Who can get rosacea?

“Rosacea doesn’t care if you’re young or old, but it does seem to have a soft spot for women,” Dr Sturm continues. “It loves to camp out on our cheeks, chin, forehead, and nose, sometimes leaving little bumps and making your skin feel like it’s on fire.”

Are there any triggers?

“Hot foods and drinks, caffeine, spices, and alcohol can all cause flare-ups, as well as external factors such as extremes of temperature, UV exposure, stress and anxiety, vigorous exercise and hot baths and saunas.”

Is there a cure?

“While there is no cure for rosacea, there are several ways to help relieve symptoms,” says Dr Sturm. “Depending on the severity, a combination of medications, lifestyle changes and using skincare that can calm and comfort the inflammation of the skin can all help.”

Rosacea doesn’t care if you’re young or old, but it does seem to have a soft spot for women

The Best Products For Rosacea

This cleanser is like a gentle hug for your face. Formulated specifically for sensitive, redness-prone skin – perfect for those days when your skin is throwing a tantrum.
Cleansing oil fans will love this addition – packed with azelaic acid (known to help with rosacea), which is milder than most acids and can be tolerated by most skin types, even sensitive. A great first cleanse choice for sensitive, sore skin.
A lightweight serum packed with sheer green pigments to reflect the light and detract from redness – an invisible skin solution that suits all skin types and tones.
A brightening moisturiser that soothes and helps to correct out-of balance skin to enhance radiance, texture, and clarity.
Soothing, hydrating – like a refreshing breeze for your face. Formulated with an UltraCalming Complex with oats and aloe to leave your feeling and looking calm, cool, and collected.
This daily moisturiser is your skin’s bodyguard against all the junk that tries to mess it up. Heaven sent for rosacea sufferers.
Use this lightweight gel twice a day to control and manage a flare-up, it will reduce and calm redness and irritation in just a few days. Perfect for emergencies.
Formulated with SilverChitoderm™ and 15% azelaic acid, a powerful combo proven to help reduce inflammation, minimise the appearance of swelling and reduce visible blood cells.
A super-calming, green-tinted cream that melts into a skin-tone base taking redness down a few notches while masking pigmentation and blemishes in the process, leaving you with a no-makeup makeup finish.
Designed to soothe and repair your delicate skin while you snooze. This mega-hydrator will calm and cool overworked skin.
If red, inflamed eyelids are your bugbear, then consider this your magic wand to calm, soften and correct, while you sleep.
Conceals acne, rosacea, and other skin sensitivities without irritation or clogging pores. For best coverage, apply with a brush.

The products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, The Handbook may make a small commission on some products purchased through affiliate links.


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