The Effects of Sun Exposure on Rosacea
Sun exposure can cause the rosacea sufferer more facial redness and thermal heating of the body resulting in more intense flushing. Certain sun screen or cosmetic ingredients can also intensify rosacea flushing or allergic reactions on the facial skin.
Avoid the sun as much as possible. The sun does kill bacteria, but it also acts as an astringent to tighten, dry, and clog the skin pores. The sun directly affects 61 percent of all rosacea sufferers. Avoid extremely cold weather as well, so as not to freeze and clog pores. Moisturizing the face and body and staying in temperatures ranging from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Sunscreen moisturizers are helpful year-round.
The sun causes skin cancer and irritates rosacea even when you use sun block with a SPF of 45. Your skin will look better if you avoid sun burning and tanning, and the resulting wrinkling.
Nonetheless, a small amount of sunshine is good for us. In the presence of full-spectrum light, human skin actually makes vitamin D, a vitamin necessary for maintaining strong bones and regulating calcium and phosphorus in the body. But humans do not need much sunshine to make enough vitamin D. Most people receive adequate exposure in the course of daily errands.
Some people want additional sun exposure. Rosacea sufferers must be careful of such exposure. If you sunbathe, cover your face entirely. When you go out, wear a hat!
Some sun screens can actually cause a sunburn photosensitivity reaction such as an itchy red breakout that can persist for several days. The two ingredients which seem to be the cause of this reaction are oxybenzone and methoxydibenzoyl methane. In a study published by the Australian Journal of Dermatology, 81 percent of the reactions suffered by photo sensitive individuals were caused by these two ingredients. One sunscreen we have found to be well tolerated by rosacea sufferers is CityBlock by Clinique (SPF 50) which provides the most blockage and the least irritation and sensitivity. CityBlock can be purchased online and in the skin care section in major department stores worldwide
Certain medications can make those who take them more sensitive to the sun, causing a rash or unexpected severe sunburn. If you're taking such a medication, sunglasses are critical to prevent damage to your eyes, and to ward off ocular rosacea, a condition that is quite difficult to manage.
A myriad of compounds can make skin and eyes more vulnerable to the sun's rays, worsening rosacea redness. Many antibiotics prescribed for rosacea, birth control pills, blood pressure medicines, diabetes drugs and pain relievers can increase the likelihood that UV radiation will do damage.