How easy is it to get a rosacea diagnosis?

Rosacea can present itself in many different ways, and often people will never visit a healthcare professional to get a diagnosis. And, although it’s generally considered quite common, Dr Craythorne adds “that assessment of the true prevalence of rosacea is challenging because of the variable clinical manifestations, the existence of other skin disorders with overlapping features, meaning that underdiagnosis is highly likely.”

The best ingredients to treat rosacea

“Gold standard treatments for rosacea are available,” says Dr Craythorne. “Look for azelaic acid 15%, ivermectin 1% and tretinoin 0.05%.”

However, it’s worth noting that those specific ingredients, at those specific strengths, are only available on prescription, but dermatology-led services like Klira and Dermatica are able to create personalised formulas using them, negating the need for a face-to-face appointment or consultation with a professional.

“At Klira, we like to use tretinoin, but if it’s used without the correct base formula and supporting routine, it can cause flare-ups which is why it should be used in the right way,” says Dr Craythorne. “We have developed it so rosacea patients can use it to help improve the quality of their skin and repair sun damage, which is a cause of rosacea for a lot of people.”

What is the best way to treat rosacea at home?

As well as using targeted ingredients, Dr Craythorne recommends keeping the rest of your routine fuss-free and simple. “It should involve a good moisturiser, a gentle cleanser (never foaming) and SPF,” she says.

Dr Craythorne has also shared her top tips in managing rosacea and ways that can help limit flare ups:

Really try to understand your skin – think about your genetics and what your flares could be
Keep a flare diary for three months to see if there are specific triggers – don’t decide on a whim what a trigger is as you will get it wrong. Be patient and keep the diary for real results
Wear SPF every single day, no exceptions. It improves rosacea
Once you have the routine that works don’t deviate from it – skin will ebb and flow in terms of how it behaves, but don’t swap and change products too quickly – it can take at least eight weeks to see a meaningful difference
If topical treatments aren’t enough (decide after 12 weeks) then oral treatments might be required and you should seek those out from a professional
There will be a solution so don’t accept your skin not behaving as you need it to – we, as professionals, can help. I would recommend Klira, where a dermatologist will look at your skin and then the Klira Special best suited to the needs of your skin will be prescribed.

An expert guide to understanding rosacea, including the causes, the best ingredients to use and treatments to try