Rosacea Myths Blog

The ESK blog

Rosacea Myths Blog

05 April 2023

Dr Anne Thomson

We love to bust myths, so what better time to bust some Rosacea Myths than in Rosacea Awareness Month.

Myth 1: Coffee and caffeine cause flare-ups

FALSE!

Coffee gets a bad rap when it comes to causing Rosacea flare-ups, but we’re here to tell you that you can still enjoy your morning brew.

A study found that it isn’t the caffeine causing flare-ups, but rather the thermal heat of the drink.

Myth 2: Rosacea is caused by poor hygiene

FALSE!

Rosacea is unrelated to hygiene as it's actually an inflammatory condition.

It is important to make this distinction, as too much cleansing and scrubbing with harsh products can actually worsen symptoms.

A recent Rosacea study recommended only cleansing once a day as excessive use of facial cleanser correlated to flare-ups.

Myth 3: Rosacea is a form of Acne

FALSE!

Rosacea is a skin condition which often results in facial redness with bumps and pimples, so you can see why it could be mistaken for acne.

There are a few common differences between them like; acne is associated with oily skin, the location is on your T-zones of the face and usually will develop in your teens.

Although they look similar, acne has a different underlying cause and needs to be treated differently.

Myth 4: Retinoids can’t be used with Rosacea

FALSE!

Okay this is our favourite myth to bust and if you read our emails, you should know why.

If you have ever heard someone say this they were probably referring to prescription Vitamin A or Retinol not RETINAL!

Retinal has great evidence and is very well tolerated by Rosacea sufferers. It will also become your #1 anti-aging ingredient.

Rosacea Skincare Kit - Anti Redness

Rosacea Skincare Kit - Anti Redness

With evidence-based ingredients to help hydrate, calm and support the skin barrier. This kit includes:

  • a soap-free, emollient-rich cleanser that gently removes impurities.
  • A  matte, Zinc based day cream with broad-spectrum sun protection, to gently help shield from UV rays—a common skin trigger;
  • Moisturisers with skin barrier builders like ceramides, panthenol and niacinamide, (all in our Repair +) help reduce water loss and strengthen the skin barrier;

Finally, our Ultimate A Gold (retinal) night cream with Retinal, the most gentle and effective form of Vitamin A and PHAs to gently hydrated and exfoliate. Thoughtfully designed for calm, clear, and comfortable skin.

Key Features:

  • Formulations to support skin hydration and barrier function.
  • Ingredients to help manage the appearance of redness.
  • Gentle, non-irritating formulations suitable for irritable skin, moody or sensitive skin.

We've swapped Ultimate A with the new Ultimate A Gold. If you prefer Ultimate A, you can build your own kit here.

*Ultimate A Gold (Retinal) may transfer onto white or light-coloured fabrics. For best results, we recommend using darker clothing or surfaces to avoid visible marks.

Shop ESK Rosacea Collection