Rosacea skin care products are designed to treat the common skin disorder rosacea. The disorder is characterized by redness on the cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. Rosacea can also appear on other areas of the body or even the eyes. Ocular rosacea can cause the eyes to feel dry or scratchy and look bloodshot. Though rosacea is more likely to affect fair skinned people, anyone can develop it. Rosacea is something of a medical mystery, as its exact cause remains unknown. There are, however, a number of rosacea skin care products available over the counter and via prescription as well as steps that can be taken to control the condition and even surgical options.

Before you even consider rosacea skin care products, if you have been diagnosed with rosacea, identifying the causes of your flare ups is the simplest thing you can do to help prevent and reduce outbreaks. Certain habits, products and behaviors may make your condition worse.

Cosmetics, soaps and skin care products containing harsh ingredients such as alcohol and salicylic acid can cause irritation and worsen rosacea. Sun exposure should be limited and tanning beds should be avoided altogether. Topical steroid creams, such as those sometimes prescribed for other skin conditions like eczema, can cause what is known as steroid induced rosacea. While alcohol does not directly cause rosacea, the condition may flare up when alcoholic beverages are consumed.

Other behaviors such as smoking, exercising and long periods spent cooking over a hot stove purportedly worsen rosacea. They undoubtedly redden your face, but there is not enough evidence to suggest that indulging in these activities has a long term effect on your rosacea. Certain foods such as anything spicy or containing caffeine, peanuts, citrus fruits and many others have been reported to cause flare ups for some people. Keeping a journal may help you and your doctor identify your triggers and decide on a course of action for treatment.

Anyone suffering from rosacea should consult with a doctor or dermatologist who can design a treatment program. There are, however, some over the counter rosacea skin care products available in most drugstores that claim to reduce the redness and inflammation of rosacea. Finding an over the counter product that is gentle and effective for rosacea is not as easy as finding a home treatment for acne. Products you may find available without a prescription include topical creams like Prosacea and Dermarest Rosacea Advanced Redness Treatment. If you unsure about the safety or effectiveness of over the counter treatments, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

When you visit a doctor about rosacea, the treatment administered will depend on the type and severity of your rosacea. Your doctor may prescribe rosacea skin care products in the forms of a topical cream, an oral antibiotic or both. Metronidazole is the topical medication most often prescribed for rosacea and comes in cream, gel and lotion. Antibacterial azelaic acid gel may also be used to reduce pimples and bumps associated with rosacea. Tetracycline, minocycline, erythromycin are some of the oral antibiotics your doctor may have you try. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning on becoming pregnant, make sure your doctor is aware and you discuss the risks and side effects of any prescription medications thoroughly as some treatments pose dangers for women who are pregnant.

Oral and topical rosacea skin care products are not always effective for all types of persistent rosacea. Some plastic surgeons and dermatologists offer laser treatments to target and get rid of the blood vessels on the face that have become visible in some rosacea sufferers. Rhinophyma, a form of rosacea characterized by swelling, excess tissue and deformity of the nose, can be aided by laser or other surgery to give the nose a more normal appearance. These types of procedures may be considered cosmetic by your health insurance provider and thus not covered, however.

While their are over the counter treatments available, the most effective rosacea skin care products are those prescribed by a doctor. While there is no cure for rosacea and its precise causes are unknown, the condition can be managed with the right products and taking care to avoid your triggers. Speak with your doctor and ask as many questions as you have in order to determine the right treatment for your rosacea.