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If your skin often feels irritated and uncomfortable, it’s definitely worth trying to figure out the cause. The problem is that there are a few different skin ailments that could be the culprit. With some of them sharing similar symptoms, identifying the reason behind your skin woes can be tricky.
When it comes to redness and irritation, three of the most common causes are rosacea, eczema, and sensitive skin. Keep reading as VouPre explores each one, before explaining how to care for your reactive skin in a way that calms and restores your complexion.
Sensitive Skin is a Skin Type
Let’s start with sensitive skin. While both rosacea and eczema are skin conditions, sensitive skin is a skin type. Just like when it comes to dry skin, oily skin, combination skin, and normal skin, sensitive skin is usually something that you’ll have to deal with in the long term.
What causes some people to have sensitive skin?
There are a few different factors that can lead to the development of this skin type. Environmentally sensitive skin is skin that reacts to environmental aggressors, like pollution and smoke. Meanwhile, naturally sensitive skin is usually linked to genetics and inflammatory skin conditions, like rosacea and eczema. Other skin types can experience these skin conditions too but they often go hand-in-hand with sensitive skin.
Either way, if you have sensitive skin, you’ll likely often experience the following:
- Your skin is easily reactive
- Redness and blotchiness are common for you
- Your skin is often dry
- You often experience breakouts or rashes
- You’re dealing with an inflammatory skin condition
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is an inflammatory condition that’s caused by…well, nobody actually knows! Whether it’s due to genetics, the environment, blood vessel abnormalities, or something completely different, people who suffer from rosacea often experience similar triggers. From alcohol and caffeine to spicy food and stress, rosacea triggers can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the type of rosacea you have. However, you’ll likely experience some of the following:
- Skin that takes on a red flush. This is most common around the central area of the face
- Blood vessels on the nose and cheeks break, making them look larger and more visible
- The skin develops swollen, pus-filled bumps/pimples that look similar to acne
What is Eczema?
Just like rosacea, eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is also an inflammatory skin condition. Again, no one knows exactly what causes it, although it’s believed that an overactive immune system combined with a damaged skin barrier is likely to blame. Genetics and the environment are also very influential when it comes to eczema.
Some of the most common symptoms of eczema are:
- Itching. This can often be severe, leading to people vigorously scratching their skin. This then exacerbates the other symptoms while also causing infections
- Dryness. The skin also often cracks and bleeds
- Red and scaly skin
- Red patches and rashes
- Areas of thickened skin that look lighter or darker than the rest of your skin
Telling the Difference
Still confused about what you’re dealing with when it comes to your red and reactive skin? Here are some more tips on how to tell the difference between eczema, rosacea, and sensitive skin:
- Eczema often develops earlier in life whereas rosacea tends to occur during middle-age
- Flushing, pus-filled bumps, and visible blood vessels are symptoms caused only by rosacea, rather than by eczema and sensitive skin too
- Rosacea most commonly appears on the face whereas eczema can affect the whole body
- Just like with rosacea and eczema, sensitive skin is easily irritated. However, it’s not usually associated with the rashes that accompany rosacea or the intensity of the itching and cracking that comes with eczema
Caring for Your Skin
While it’s important to understand the differences between rosacea, eczema, and sensitive skin, don’t worry too much if you’re still struggling to figure this out. All three require a very similar level of care. The following steps will help you to keep your skin feeling calm, balanced, and happy:
Keep it Gentle
When dealing with reactive skin of any sort, it’s crucial that you don’t unintentionally make things worse with your skincare efforts. This means keeping your entire routine as gentle and as soothing as possible.
Start with your cleanser. Avoid any formulas that contain harsh detergents, like sulfates. These will only further damage your skin barrier, which is the last thing you need! Instead, your skin will need a cleanser that has been designed to be super-gentle, just like the VouPre Radiance Facial Cleanser. Its minimal ingredient list features coconut-derived surfactants, amino acids, and hydrating compounds. They’ll clean your skin without leaving your skin barrier feeling compromised and vulnerable.
Keeping things gentle applies to your other skincare products too. Avoid exfoliators that contain potent acids or rough abrasives – the VouPre Deep Renewal Facial Peel would be a much better option. With that said, don’t use it too often. Since your skin barrier is already damaged, you’ll only need to exfoliate once a week, if that.
Stay away from highly potent ingredients in the rest of your routine too. Put away the powerful actives for now – your focus should be on giving your skin barrier a chance to heal.
Calm Things Down
Whether your skin is being afflicted by rosacea, eczema, or regular sensitivities, it’s important to know how to calm the feeling of the inflammation that arises. One way to provide instant relief is to use a cool compress on your skin. Studies show that this works quickly to leave the skin feeling soothed. A cooling globe, like the one included in the Collagen Cooling Set Limited Edition, will have similar effects.
There are also certain topical ingredients that are game-changers when applied to inflamed skin, such as aloe vera and chamomile extracts. Both are loved for their complexion-soothing capabilities. They work quickly too, which is why the VouPre Hydrating Toner is such a hit among those who frequently experience skin irritation. This quenching formula not only hydrates the skin but also bestows a blend of ingredients that will keep the appearance of inflammation at bay.
Hydration is Key
Any sort of inflammatory skin condition is a sign that your skin barrier is struggling. It really doesn’t take much for this barrier to end up damaged. Once this happens, that barrier isn’t able to function in the way that it should, which takes a big toll on moisture retention.
This is why it’s crucial to give your skin the extra hydration that it needs. Since moisture loss will be occurring at a much faster rate, keep your skin’s moisture levels topped up with hydrating topical products. The Cannabis Facial Serum from the VouPre Cannabis Collection does this well. It will flood your skin with hydrating ingredients, including hemp seed oil, sodium hyaluronate, and coconut oil.
Peptides can also be a useful addition to your skincare routine. Not only do they hydrate the skin but they also leave the skin barrier feeling stronger and thicker, which is exactly what you need! You’ll find peptides in a few different VouPre products, including the Radiant Renew Serum Capsules.
Keep Dry Patches Well Moisturized
We’ve already talked about how important it is to keep your skin hydrated. However, let’s not forget that your skin barrier has been compromised. This means that even if you hydrate your skin a few times a day, it won’t be long before the moisture you’ve just applied evaporates away.
This is why it’s so important to keep your skin moisturized, especially when it comes to any dry patches that may have developed. The best moisturizers for reactive skin are formulas that contain a blend of occlusives, emollients, and humectants, just like the Aqua Nano Cream from the VouPre Aqua Collection.
When it comes to the severely dry areas of your skin, moisturize as often as you need to, even if this may be three or four times a day. Don’t allow those areas to dry out even further as cracking and bleeding will soon follow.
Avoid Your Triggers
Have you ever noticed that there are certain triggers that seem to make your skin worse? While your triggers will vary depending on whether you’re dealing with rosacea, eczema, or just sensitive skin, it’s worth making a note of what these potential triggers can be. As you can imagine, avoiding those triggers in the future will go a long way in saving you from suffering from flare-ups.
Some of the most common triggers to keep an eye out for are:
- Extreme temperatures
- Sun exposure/UV rays
- Air pollution
- Harsh skincare ingredients/products
- Stress
- Certain foods and beverages, especially when it comes to rosacea
- Strenuous exercise
Find Ways to Relax
Eczema, rosacea, and sensitive skin all quickly worsen during times of stress. Why? Because cortisol, which is the hormone that your body releases when you’re stressed, inhibits skin barrier function while also exacerbating inflammation.
Knowing how to relax your mind whenever you’re feeling stressed will go a long way in keeping your complexion calm. Sure, this requires some trial and error but your efforts will be worthwhile! Have a browse through some of the many stress-busting techniques out there, be it doing some light exercise, trying some deep breathing, listening to soothing music, connecting with others, or anything else. Figure out what makes you feel happier and less anxious, and then turn to those methods whenever you feel your stress levels starting to rise. Reducing the amount of cortisol that flows through your body will do the world of good for your reactive skin.
Summary
If your skin is consistently red, irritated, and reactive, there’s a good chance that your problems are due to either rosacea, eczema, or sensitive skin. There’s no denying that identifying the cause of your skin concerns is important, especially since severe rosacea or eczema flare-ups could call for medication. However, when it comes to skincare, the same approach is needed. Go gentle on your skin, give it the ingredients that it needs, and make an effort to pinpoint, and then avoid, your triggers. Commit to giving your skin the attention that it needs and you should start to see some improvements in your complexion soon.
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