Although rosacea is a chronic condition that won’t entirely go away, it can be managed. In this blog post, we look at what happens if it’s left untreated.

Rosacea comes and goes in cycles of flares; sometimes it can make your face red and inflamed all over, but at others it might hardly be noticeable. If this is the case, surely you can just leave it be, without resorting to treatments?

Well, that depends on how well you manage your skin, because rosacea is a progressive condition, which can lead to permanent damage to the skin if left unchecked.

There are a few specific instances where untreated rosacea can be very problematic:

1. Ocular rosacea can damage the eyes
2. Rhinophyma can lead to a permanently disfigured bulbous nose
3. Broken blood vessels can become more prominent and permanent

But without any management strategies - which may or may not come under the umbrella of ‘treatment’ - it’s likely that your face will show signs of permanent redness* or inflammation, which will get worse the longer it goes on.

That’s why it’s so important to have a dermatologist or doctor who can diagnose the condition, and manage any severe breakouts. Once you have medical care in place, you can take steps to look after your skin more generally, with a specifically rosacea-friendly skincare routine!

A two-pronged management strategy for rosacea

1. Avoid triggers that cause flare-ups (your own triggers will be unique to you but common culprits include particular foods, heat, stress, sunshine, cosmetics)
2. Use gentle, non-irritant, unfragranced skincare that will nourish your skin

*While rosacea is most common in people of Irish, English, Scottish and Scandinavian ethnicities, it does occasionally occur in people of BAME backgrounds too, in which case, it would more likely appear as bumps, pustules and a sensation of heat rather than the visible flushing on paler skin.

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It’s important to get an expert diagnosis from a dermatologist or doctor so that you’re give the right treatment, but do check out our article about Rosacea Awareness Month for management strategies at home.

Recommended products for skin prone to rosacea:

Balmonds Daily Moisturising Cream with shea butter, calendula and hemp (from £13.99 for 100ml): a nourishing but non-comedogenic daily moisturiser, for use anywhere on the body, face and hands.

Balmonds Cooling Cream with shea, menthol, aloe vera & lavender (£19 for 100ml); a light lotion designed to take the heat out of flushed skin.

Balmonds Intensive Facial Oil with rosehip, calendula, lavender & chamomile (£22 for 30ml): a rich, regenerative oil to help balance and restore sensitive skin.