Managing Rosacea Flare-Ups During Menopause: Tips and Treatments
Rosacea flare-ups during menopause can be challenging. Learn about the connection between menopause and rosacea, and discover practical tips to manage and soothe your skin.
Introduction:
Menopause brings an encyclopaedia of changes to a woman’s body, and skin conditions are no exception. Many women (myself included) experience an increase in rosacea flare-ups during this time. Understanding the connection between menopause and rosacea helps us to manage our symptoms effectively. This blog post delves into why rosacea may worsen during menopause and offers practical tips and treatments to help keep your skin calm and clear.
Understanding Rosacea and Menopause
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition characterised by facial redness, visible blood vessels, and sometimes acne-like bumps. It can really be impactful. I remember many of those days where I didn’t want people to see the ‘real’ face. Thankfully age and self-development have helped me to not care about that! Truly, years ago, I never would have shown my red face to the world. Heavy foundation all the way. The thought of having NO makeup on for photos or videos like I do now to share the world of Let’s be frank..skincare would of had me running to the nearest makeup store. Would not have happened!
All of those fabulous hormonal changes during menopause, particularly the decline in oestrogen, can exacerbate our rosacea symptoms. These hormonal shifts can lead to increased skin sensitivity, dryness, and a higher propensity for inflammation, all of which can trigger or worsen our rosacea flare-ups.
Identifying Triggers
One of the first steps in managing rosacea during menopause is identifying and avoiding triggers. Common triggers include:
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Hot Flashes: The sudden increase in body temperature can lead to facial flushing and rosacea flare-ups.
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Stress: Hormonal changes can heighten stress levels, which in turn can aggravate rosacea.
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Diet: Spicy foods, hot beverages, and alcohol are known to trigger rosacea symptoms.
Effective Skincare Routine
A gentle and consistent skincare routine can help manage rosacea during menopause, and you know we are all about that. Here are some tips:
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Gentle Cleansing: Use a mild, cleanser like our Be Soothed Toning Face Cleanser, which is designed to calm and soothe sensitive skin.
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Hydration: Keep your skin hydrated with products containing hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, like our Be Glowing Hydrating Face Serum. These ingredients help maintain moisture and reduce inflammation. Keeping hydrated on the inside can also help with this.
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Sun Protection: Always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin from UV rays, which can trigger rosacea, and yes, one day we will do one.
Lifestyle Adjustments
In addition to skincare, certain lifestyle changes can help manage rosacea flare-ups:
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Stress Management: Practise stress-reducing techniques such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises. You can read more about Menopause and Mindfulness here .
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Cool Environment: Keep your environment cool to help manage hot flashes and avoid overheating. This is a big one for me. Winter - heater on, worse rosacea. Bonus, maintaining a good temperature around us, really helps with sleep.
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Healthy Diet: Adopt an anti-inflammatory diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids to support overall skin health.
With all of these suggestions, we are not by any means saying you have to overhaul your whole life. I mean, a healthy diet would probably mean no booze, and giving that chocolate a miss. We’ve made it to menopause. Have the drink. Eat the chocolate. AND be aware that some of these things will make your rosacea worse, so accept your decision without guilt.
Consulting a Dermatologist
If rosacea symptoms are severe, consulting a dermatologist is crucial. I mean a Dr, not your local beautician who whilst fabulous, can’t do all that is needed. They can provide specialised treatments such as topical or oral medications to manage your symptoms effectively. This has worked wonders for me in the past when I was really stressed about it.
Managing rosacea during menopause requires a combination of understanding your triggers, adopting a gentle skincare routine, making lifestyle adjustments, and seeking professional advice when necessary. You can keep rosacea flare-ups under control and maintain great skin, and you can also start caring less about the redness when it is there. Go on, you can even wear red lipstick and no foundation when you have a flare-up - I dare you. Tag us in a photo and we’ll send you so much love for being your strong, authentic and fabulous self.