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What Is The Best Way To Cleanse?

Together with daily sunscreen use, twice-daily gentle deep cleansing is a cornerstone of effective rosacea treatment. Your choice of facial cleanser and method of cleansing determine the success of your skin care in soothing and treating symptoms. Visible redness, inflammation, burning, tingling and stinging sensations are all readily ameliorable when your facial cleansing is optimal. Conversely, the wrong cleanser or method will worsen your rosacea. Over extended periods of time, poor skin cleansing practices can worsen the prognosis of the disease.

Cleanser Choice

Irrespective of skin type (dry, combination, oily, very dry, very oily), the product should be soap-free, free of sulfates (e.g. sodium laureth sulfate, sodium pareth sulfate) and have a slightly acidic pH of between 4 and 5, similar to that of healthy facial skin. Ideally, the product should also be free of parabens (preservatives) and fragrances.

Products marketed for sensitive skin are usually formulated for dry skin and may not remove all excess oils, bacteria, microorganisms and residues from sunscreens and makeup.

Any product which cleanses thoroughly and does not dehydrate or strip (or ideally which increases skin's hydration) is suitable and beneficial for all skin types providing the above conditions are met.

Patients can use Rosacea Oil-Free Purifying Gel Cleanser or De-Sensitizing Cleansing Emulsion interchangeably as desired. Neither will dry or irritate.

The gel cleanser may be preferred by oilier skin types or in warmer weather, and the cleansing emulsion may be preferred by drier skin types or in colder weather.

The Rosacea Anti-Inflammatory Foaming Cleanser is a new type of cleanser which depends on an aerating pump. It is technically superior and generally now preferred over the earlier cleansers.

Ingredients to Avoid

Sulfates, straight alcohol, glycolic acid, lactic acid and alpha-hydroxy acids in general, sodium hydroxide, propylene glycol, isopropyl palmitate, perfume/fragrance, parabens.

Ingredients to Use

"Betaine" (sugar) cleansing ingredients, antioxidants and anti-inflammatories (such as modified or purified extracts of grape seed, green tea, licorice, caffeine, Vitamin A, B and E) providing they are relatively high up on the ingredient list.

How To Cleanse

We now propose an ideal method of cleansing whereby the skin is "pre-cleansed" prior to the application of the usual rosacea cleanser at least once every other day but usually not more often than once daily.

A new product, Pre-Cleansing Emulsifier for Rosacea, is gently massaged into dry skin with the aim of dissolving impurities and residues (particularly from sunscreens and makeup) which are not removed entirely by the use of a water-soluble cleanser alone.

This product contains an oil and water-soluble liquid wax which has a high affinity with heavier and oilier skin impurities and is readily rinsed away.

Pre-Cleansing Emulsifier for Rosacea is rinsed off and the usual cleanser, such as the Rosacea Anti-Inflammatory Foaming Cleanser, is applied as normal.

Alternatively, to save time, the Pre-Cleansing Emulsifier does not need to be rinsed away — cleanser may be applied on top of it.

The Pre-Cleansing Emulsifier contains a high concentration of anti-inflammatories, antioxidants and hydrating actives which penetrate deeply. If desired, the product can be left on for up to 10 minutes. The extended contact time will improve results.

This product can be regarded as both a deep-cleansing addition to regular cleansing and as a treatment product.

Cleansing Technique

Apart from the regular use of pre-cleanser, there are some techniques you can use to enhance the results of cleansing, particularly in minimizing irritation and maximizing the soothing effects of products.

Firstly, the best way to ensure all cleanser and impurities are rinsed away is to cleanse before getting into the shower. Rinsing under the shower's stream is much more thorough than at the sink. At those times when you can't rinse under the shower, ensure you splash the skin thoroughly, 10-20 times. If you have been using a cleanser containing any of the ingredients not recommended above, you will find that more thorough rinsing reduces your skin's irritation and enhances its hydration.

Secondly, avoid hot water. Hot temperature is enough to cause a flare-up of symptoms in many patients, but it also impairs the skin's barrier function more than cooler water. Rinsing the skin with tepid to warm water reduces burning, stinging and redness and also helps reduce the skin's environmental reactivity.

This Japanese video demonstrates a thorough and gentle cleansing technique:

Avoid vigorous rubbing, washcloths or facial sponges. Suitable products massaged in gently and thoroughly with your fingertips and palms can provide optimal cleansing without irritation. To renew the skin's texture safely, you can use Rosacea Protective Micro-Exfoliating Cream.

To dry the skin, don't rub it with a towel. Instead, blot the skin's surface gently with a thick, soft towel or press a tissue against its surface and lift it away.

If you experience stinging from skin care products, wait 30 minutes after cleansing before applying products. You can reduce this wait time as necessary. If you don't experience stinging, it's better to apply products as soon as possible after cleansing.

If you have ocular rosacea, we recommend the use of a speciality ocular rosacea cleanser.

Author: Peter Wilson.

Reviewed: Wednesday, May 15, 2013.

Further Information: What Is The Best Way To Cleanse? : Pre-Cleansing Emulsifier : Anti-Inflammatory Foaming Cleanser : Oil-Free Purifying Gel Cleanser : Hydrating De-Sensitizing Cleansing Emulsion : Rosacea Protective Micro Exfoliating Cream : Double-Cleansing for More Clear + Calm Skin : Rosacea Cleansers — Further Information :

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