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A dermatologist once told me that “almost every patient over 45 thinks she might have rosacea,” and it’s easy to understand why so many women wonder about it. Facial redness is common, and rosacea is difficult to diagnose.
Many signs of aging may or may not be rosacea at all, and the condition can also look like adult acne or an allergic reaction, so it’s often unclear what’s causing the redness in the first place. There are quite a variety of products promising to calm it, and it’s hard to know which ones are worth your money and which will actually help. Some can even make redness worse.
To sort it all out, I asked Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon at Art of Skin MD in San Diego, about how rosacea is diagnosed and which ingredients can help or hurt. She also weighed in on whether the National Rosacea Society’s Seal of Acceptance is worth looking for when you shop.
Below, Dr. Palm shares the moisturizing serums and creams she recommends most often to her rosacea patients, and how much you really need to spend on a moisturizer for rosacea. Here’s what she wants people with rosacea to know before buying another product.
Related: 11 Best Moisturizers for Acne-Prone Skin, According to Dermatologists
Top Moisturizing Products for Rosacea
Best Calming Serum for Rosacea: DefenAge 7X Calming Complex Best Hydrating Serum for Rosacea: Revision Skincare HA HydraSerum+ Best Lightweight Moisturizer for Rosacea: ALASTIN Ultra Light Moisturizer Best Moisturizer for Rosacea and Dry Skin: Revision Skincare DermProtect Barrier DefenseRelated: 7 Anti-Redness Products That Truly Work on Mature Skin, According to Dermatologists
How Is Rosacea Diagnosed?
There’s no special test for rosacea. “Rosacea is something we can usually diagnose just by examining the skin and asking a few questions,” Dr. Palm tells Parade. “I’m looking for things like persistent redness, flushing, visible blood vessels or bumps that can easily be mistaken for acne.”
She also asks patients whether certain products sting or burn and whether their skin reacts to heat, alcohol or spicy foods.
Getting the diagnosis right matters because rosacea can look like other skin conditions that need different treatments. So the best way to find out if you have it is to go to the doctor.
“I’ve seen patients who think they have adult acne and start using all sorts of acne treatments, only to end up with even angrier skin,” Dr. Palm explains. “So before spending a bunch of money on products, I’d really encourage someone to get checked out by a dermatologist.”
What To Look for in a Serum or Moisturizer for Rosacea
Rosacea-prone skin often reacts to things that wouldn’t bother other people. “Even washing their face or stepping outside on a windy day can be uncomfortable,” Dr. Palm says. “A good moisturizer can make a big difference in that day-to-day sensitivity.”
Start with something gentle and fragrance-free. Dr. Palm looks for ingredients that hydrate without irritating, such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin and ceramides. Niacinamide can help too, though she notes that some patients find higher concentrations irritating, so the strongest formula isn’t necessarily the best choice.
“Azelaic acid is another ingredient I like quite a bit for rosacea,” she reveals. “It can help with the bumps and redness, and we have good clinical evidence behind it.”
A long ingredient list isn’t a selling point either. “With rosacea, I’d actually lean toward fewer ingredients, not more,” Dr. Palm tells Parade.
As far as texture, very dry skin may need something richer, while oilier skin may do fine with a lighter formula. “There’s no one texture that works for everyone,” she says. “Of course, if you’re dealing with a lot of inflammation or bumps, a moisturizer alone probably isn’t going to cut it. That’s where prescription treatments may come in.”
Related: 11 Best Barrier Repair Creams To Calm Stressed-Out Skin, Tested by Dermatologists
Ingredients People With Rosacea Should Approach Carefully
Retinol and exfoliating acids, particularly glycolic and salicylic acid, top Dr. Palm’s list of things to avoid. “They’re great ingredients for the right patient, but they can be pretty irritating if you’re already dealing with rosacea,” she explains. They aren’t completely off the table, but she wouldn’t experiment with them during a flare. She also suggests avoiding products with fragrance, menthol or witch hazel.
And if a product hurts, stop using it.
“I think people have gotten so used to the idea that tingling means a product is working, but that’s really not the case,” Dr. Palm explains. “If your face is burning every time you apply something, there’s no reason to keep pushing through it.”
Related: 12 Best Moisturizers With SPF to Keep Your Skin Hydrated and Protected, Tested by Dermatologists
The 4 Best Moisturizers for Rosacea, Tested and Reviewed by a Dermatologist
Here are the creams and serums that Dr. Palm always recommends for rosacea.
1. Best Calming Serum for Rosacea: DefenAge 7X Calming Complex, $74
DefenAge
Shop It at DefenAgeFormulated for sensitive and compromised skin, Dr. Palm likes this option for easily-irritated faces. “It’s formulated with soothing ingredients, which is helpful because a lot of rosacea patients are dealing with skin that just doesn’t tolerate much,” she tells Parade. DefenAge suggests using it for 10 to 14 days whenever skin needs extra support.
2. Best Hydrating Serum for Rosacea: Revision Skincare HA HydraSerum+, $109
Dermstore
Shop It at DermstoreThis lightweight serum combines high and medium molecular weight hyaluronic acid for hydration without exfoliating ingredients. “It’s a good way to add hydration without introducing a bunch of exfoliating ingredients that could potentially make things worse,” Dr. Palm says.
3. Best Lightweight Moisturizer for Rosacea:ALASTIN Ultra Light Moisturizer, $92
Alastin
Shop It at AlastinThis fragrance-free moisturizer is designed for sensitive or compromised skin. It’s a good fit for anyone who wants hydration without a heavy feel. “It has ceramides and other ingredients that help support the skin barrier, which is something I really focus on with rosacea patients,” Dr. Palm says.
4. Best Moisturizer for Rosacea and Dry Skin:Revision Skincare DermProtect Barrier Defense, $144
Dermstore
Shop It at DermstoreThis intensive cream blends ceramides, skin-identical lipids and hyaluronic acid. Dr. Palm likes this option for dry, very dry and sensitive skin.
You don’t have to spend a lot, though.
“These are products I may recommend, but I’ve also had patients do perfectly well with a very basic drugstore cream,” she explains. “What matters is whether your skin likes it.”
Related: 11 Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums To Plump and Hydrate Your Skin, Tested by Dermatologists
Should You Look for the National Rosacea Society Seal?
National Rosacea Society
The National Rosacea Society’s Seal of Acceptance is meant to help shoppers find products that have been evaluated for rosacea-prone skin. According to Dr. Palm, the process includes testing for irritation and sensitization, and a panel of dermatologists reviews the results.
“I think it’s useful, particularly for someone who’s just been diagnosed and doesn’t know where to begin,” she tells Parade. “Shopping for skincare can already be overwhelming, and rosacea makes it even more complicated.”
But the seal isn’t the only marker of a good product, and it doesn’t rule out a reaction. She says plenty of good products have never gone through the process.
“I’ve seen how differently patients can react to the exact same product,” Dr. Palm explains. “It’s a helpful guide, not a guarantee.”
The Biggest Skincare Mistake People Make With Rosacea
According to Dr. Palm, the most common mistake is buying too many products and trying to fix everything overnight. Redness leads to an exfoliant, bumps lead to an acne treatment and peeling leads to yet another serum or cream. “It becomes this cycle where they’re constantly trying to correct whatever happened with the last product,” she explains.
Her advice is to strip things back. “You don’t need a complicated routine,” Dr. Palm tells Parade. “A gentle cleanser, a moisturizer your skin tolerates and a mineral sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher are a good place to start.”
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Source:
Melanie Palm, MD, board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon at Art of Skin MD in San DiegoHence then, the article about rosacea prone skin a dermatologist shares the 4 moisturizing products she recommends most often was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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