Anti ageing skin SOS: rosacea

Rosacea can develop into burning dry skin if left untreated; try our recommended treatments

Rosy cheeks can look healthy and pretty, but when you appear constantly flushed it can be a symptom of rosacea. And that's just the start of the problem. Left untreated, pimples and pustules can develop and the condition can make your skin burn or sting.

Under the redness are lots of broken capillaries. Dr Susan Mayou explains that rosacea is linked to the face's vascular network and may be linked to the bacterium Heliobacter pylori. It usually appears in your mid-thirties.

What's the solution? 

There's no cure for rosacea but it can be controlled. According to Dr Mayou, typically you will be given a course of antibiotics and a one per cent hydrocortisone cream - no stronger, as hydrocortisone can cause broken capillaries. Once this controls the rosacea, other weaker drugs such as topical antibiotics may be introduced.

For at-home skincare, Dr Mayou recommends using products designed for sensitive skin. We like La Roche-Posay's Toleriane range, which has been specially formulated for sensitive skin and costs from around £9.50 (call 0800 055 6822 for stockists). There's also a specific anti-redness range called Rosaliac. Dr Mayou suggests colour-correcting make-up to camouflage the redness and recommends Chanel Estompe Eclat in green, £17.

Find the perfect treatments for:

Skin SOS: lines and wrinkles

Skin SOS: pigmentation

Skin SOS: enlarged pores

Skin SOS: sagging jawline

Skin SOS: broken capillaries

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