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Effective Treatments for Rosacea: Topical Therapies At Home and In The Office

Effective Treatments for Rosacea: Topical Therapies At Home and In The Office

Posted: December 9, 2024

If you’re looking for the best treatments for rosacea (and redness) or even products at home you can try, then you’re in the right place. I will walk you through treatment options, including light and laser treatments, highlight skincare products from medical-grade brands, and even discuss beneficial lifestyle modifications.

By: Mallory Keebler, FNP-C

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What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition characterized by redness, visible blood vessels, and sometimes acne-like bumps on the face. It commonly affects the central part of the face, including the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. The exact cause of this condition is unknown, but factors such as genetics, sun exposure, stress, and certain foods or beverages can trigger flare-ups. While rosacea can affect anyone, it is most common in fair-skinned individuals and typically begins in adulthood. Although there is no cure, rosacea can be managed with topical treatments and lifestyle adjustments to reduce symptoms and prevent flare-ups.

Light & Laser Treatments for Rosacea

Light and laser treatments are one of the most effective ways to manage rosacea. Here at Atalo, we offer a few different treatment options for redness concerns, including Broadband Light, Halo, and SylfirmX.

A woman holding up a halo hybrid fractional laser box

Broadband Light (BBL) is a non-invasive treatment that uses advanced light technology to target the redness and visible blood vessels associated with rosacea. BBL uses intense pulsed light to penetrate the skin and target the blood vessels beneath the surface, causing them to collapse and fade. This treatment helps reduce facial redness, inflammation, and the appearance of broken capillaries.

Halo, a hybrid fractional laser, combines the benefits of both ablative and non-ablative lasers to treat the skin at multiple depths. Halo targets deeper skin layers to stimulate collagen production while improving the skin’s surface for smoother texture and reduced redness. This dual action can help manage persistent symptoms for rosacea patients while promoting healthier, more even-toned skin.

SylfirmX is a radiofrequency (RF) microneedling device that combines microneedles and RF energy to treat rosacea by reducing redness and inflammation. The microneedles stimulate collagen production, while RF energy targets blood vessels, reducing visible redness and broken capillaries. This non-invasive treatment improves skin tone, texture, and overall skin health with minimal downtime.

Head over to our Instagram to see before and after photos from our patients who have seen amazing rosacea treatment results!

Rosacea Management Within Your At-Home Skincare Regimen

Skincare at home also plays a crucial role in managing redness and rosacea. While in-office treatments like those we discussed above can help treat the skin, a tailored skincare routine can provide lasting relief and prevent flare-ups. Proper skincare soothes sensitive skin and strengthens the skin’s natural barrier, reducing irritation and inflammation associated with rosacea.

Choosing the right products is key. If you’re stuck figuring out the best products, we’re here to help!

Gentle, non-irritating cleansers are essential—look for fragrance-free, sulfate-free formulas that will not strip the skin’s natural oils or trigger flare-ups.
Moisturizers that hydrate and restore the skin’s barrier function are also vital. Opt for those containing calming ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, or hyaluronic acid.
Sunscreen is a must. UV exposure can significantly worsen rosacea symptoms, so broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher should be worn daily, even on cloudy days. Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are often gentler for sensitive skin.
Additionally, anti-inflammatory ingredients like niacinamide or green tea extract can help calm redness and soothe irritation. Be sure to avoid harsh exfoliants, alcohol-based toners, and products with alcohol, as these can exacerbate symptoms.

By incorporating the right skincare, you can help keep your skin calm, hydrated, and protected, ultimately helping to manage redness and prevent flare-ups. Check out some of our favorite skincare products for redness and rosacea below:

Specific Skincare Lines That Help Treat Redness and Rosacea

epicutis skincare lined up next to each other including the lipid serum, oil cleanser, enzyme exfoliating powder, and hyvia creme

Epicutis

Epicutis is one of our newer lines at Atalo. Focusing on non-irritating, clinically effective products for sensitive and rosacea-prone skin, the Epicutis line is perfect for redness and rosacea concerns.

Lipid Serum: This silky serum delivers instant relief for dry, sensitive, or stressed skin. With only eight ingredients, including therapeutic concentrations of a patented anti-inflammatory called TSC, this gentle formula is essential to your healing arsenal. Thanks to the lipid-like properties of TSC, EPICUTIS Lipid Serum absorbs quickly, carrying a network of calming nutrients beneath the skin’s surface to soothe redness and fight collagen breakdown at the cellular level.
Hyvia crème: This moisturizer is a powerhouse of botanicals with proven skin benefits. HYVIA®, a patented moisturizing agent derived from organic non-GMO chia seed oil, instantly drenches the skin in deep hydration while blocking blue light damage. Shea butter and evening primrose extract are also hard at work, helping the skin absorb and retain key nutrients and antioxidants—for a complexion that instantly looks plump and dewy, with additional skin-health benefits that build over time.

SkinBetter Science

This is one of our favorite medical-grade skincare lines for several reasons. All the products in this line are paraben, dye, cruelty, and fragrance-free. The high-quality, dermatologist-approved formulations are also designed for sensitive and acne-prone skin.

Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum: The new gold standard in comprehensive (environmental and intrinsic) antioxidant defense. Used once a day, this product can help improve the appearance of skin dullness, redness, and overall tone and texture for brighter, more radiant-looking skin.
Mystro Active Balance Serum: A new way to achieve visible improvement in skin quality and glowing skin by supporting the skin’s natural ability to adapt to stress and maintain balance. This serum is designed to improve visible skin quality by addressing the global appearance of redness, rough skin texture, dullness, pore size and/or uneven pigmentation.

A close up of a woman holding up a plated skin science intense serum box

Plated Skin Science

These topical serums derived from exosomes focus on clinical-grade ingredients to address inflammation and redness at a cellular level.

Plated Skin Science Intense Serum: Backed by 15 years of clinical research out of the Mayo Clinic, this cutting-edge formula delivers a powerful concentration of exosomes. These tiny messenger cells work harmoniously with your skin to reduce the signs of aging. Clinically proven, this serum tackles the most challenging skin issues head-on. Within six weeks, this serum significantly minimizes the appearance of wrinkles, redness, and brown spots.

Daily Tips for Managing Rosacea at Home

In addition to in-office treatments and at-home skincare products, there are a few other recommendations to follow in your daily routine. Be sure to avoid triggers like spicy foods, alcohol, and extreme temperatures. Also, be aware of your workout routine and participate in intense classes such as hot yoga or sauna use. These triggers may lead to an increase in redness and inflammation.

Rosacea is a common and manageable complaint for a lot of patients. With light/laser therapies, combined with the right skincare and lifestyle modifications, we can decrease the overall redness and flare-ups you experience.

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If you’ve been searching for the best treatments for rosacea or simply trying to calm some of that redness, we hope this helped steer you in the right direction! If you’re local to Cincinnati and need additional guidance, visit one of our providers for a consultation! We can assess your skin and help guide you toward the right regimen for your skin concerns. Fill out our consult form and we’ll be in touch to get you scheduled.