Daily Question is excerpted from the JustAnswer archives and features information provided from an expert on JustAnswer.
Q: I have rosacea on my face, and I think it’s getting worse. I have been prescribed steroids, but is there a sunscreen or something else I can use to help? I like to surf but don’t want the sun to make the condition worse.
A zinc-based sunscreen is good for the face.
(Photo: Flickr/indexorama)
A: Most dermatologists do not advise the use of steroids for rosacea, beyond a few weeks. In the short term, steroids can help with the erythema (redness). However, by thinning the skin, steroids can actually make the blood vessels more apparent.
A very good product with a steroid would be RevaleSkin Day Cream. This is a bit pricey but does an excellent job with rosacea (in my opinion, as good as the topical prescription products). This product contains a sunscreen. For a more affordable alternative, I would try either Eucerin Redness Relief or Aveeno Ultra Calming Cream. These both contain sunscreens, too.
To help rosacea you can also take orally niacinamide 250mg twice a day, zinc gluconate 25mg, and vitamin C 500 mg twice a day.
Rosacea is generally made worse by the sun. You should use a zinc- or titanium-based sunscreen, especially if you are on a regimen of prescribed medications (such as Oracea or Metrogel). Unlike other chemical sunscreens, the zinc- or titanium-based sunscreens work by reflecting the rays and not allowing the heat from the sun to aggravate the rosacea.
– Answer by Arnold Oppenheim, MD, dermatologist and expert on JustAnswer.
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Goggle: 'Demodex Follicolorum" (SP) to find additional information.