If you have rosacea-prone skin, you need a face wash that cleanses your face gently and helps reduce skin redness and dryness on your face. Learn how to go about incorporating the best face wash for rosacea into your skincare routine, and go through periods of flare-ups without stress. 

Table of Contents:

• Does washing your face make your rosacea worse?
• Rosacea-friendly cleanser ingredients
• Aloe Vera
• Green Tea
• Vitamin C
• The best face wash for rosacea 

Does washing your face make your rosacea worse?

Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by flushed skin, visible blood vessels, and acne-like bumps. The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) recommends gentle skincare for rosacea, which means no scrubbing, rubbing, or exfoliating. Although, it advises cleansing your face (gently) twice a day. This is important to reiterate as people with rosacea-prone skin feel it is better to leave their irritated skin alone. Not investing in a daily cleansing routine can cause dirt and debris to build up, increasing the chances of an acne outbreak.

The AAD also advises against using soap for rosacea and instead opting for a cleanser with rosacea-friendly ingredients. So, what ingredients should you look for when you're buying a face wash for rosacea? And what is the best face wash for rosacea? Let's take a look. 

Rosacea-friendly cleanser ingredients

Certain ingredients found in face washes can aggravate rosacea-prone skin. They include camphor, alcohol, glycolic acid, and menthol. On the other hand, some cleansers contain certain 'hero ingredients' that not only suit rosacea-prone skin but also help manage the red cheeks. Here's a look at the three ingredients that can calm and help your skin. Two of them are popular home remedies for inflamed skin. 

Aloe Vera 

Aloe vera is a popular medicinal and cosmetic plant. A growing awareness of its moisturizing and healing properties have made the plant a common sight in homes. The soothing gel from the aloe vera plant is a quick home remedy for minor cuts, wounds and sunburn. Cleansers and moisturizers use aloe vera in conjunction with other natural botanicals to hydrate, nourish and protect the skin. 

Rosacea can cause skin itchiness and tightness. Aloe vera can help manage rosacea because it has anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic (anti-itching) properties. As aloe vera does a good job of soothing inflammation and itches, it can provide respite if you have itchy and tingling skin. 

The redness in rosacea causes blood vessels in the face to enlarge (dilate) and become visible through the skin and appear like tiny red lines. Aloe vera has been seen to inhibit the dilation of blood vessels, helping lessen flare-up and flushing, which can reduce chances of blood vessels widening or breaking, and becoming more visible in your face. 

Green Tea

Green tea has been used medicinally as early as China's Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). Its main bioactive constituents, polyphenols, have strong anti-inflammatory properties. They can help reduce skin redness, swelling, and irritation in inflammation-driven chronic skin conditions. 

A study by the University of San Francisco, California found that women with rosacea who were treated with green tea extract cream had a 70% improvement in symptoms compared to women treated with a placebo. Green tea is an important ingredient in anti-aging and hair care treatments. It has been seen to enhance skin microcirculation, the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to tissue cells. Green tea is also known to offer protection against the harmful effects of UV radiation. 

Vitamin C

The cause of rosacea is unknown. Researchers believe that abnormalities in the immune system and blood vessels - among other things such as environmental factors, mites and heredity - may play a role. If the issue lies with blood vessels dilating too easily in your face, then Vitamin C can be a useful addition to your skincare routine. Vitamin C strengthens capillaries, helping ensure that fewer of them break and become visible in your face. 

The best face wash for rosacea 

With the understanding that certain ingredients in face washes can help you manage your rosacea effectively, you may be eager to know which product deserves a place in your bathroom cabinet. Here's a look at not one but three face washes that can help soothe rosacea-prone skin.

Aloe Vera Face Wash (Gel Type)

The face wash provides a gentle cleanse without drying out or irritating your skin. It washes away grime and dead skin cells from your skin without disturbing its natural oils. This is important as rosacea can cause dry and flaky skin, requiring the use of a cleanser that does not strip your skin of its natural oils, as well as a non-irritating moisturizer to hydrate and protect the skin. Containing aloe vera extract, green tea extract and cucumber extract (soothes irritated skin), the face wash cleanses rosacea-prone skin gently and effectively. 

Green Tea Foaming Face Wash with Brush

This face wash is intended to exfoliate your skin and comes with a soft silicone brush. As physical exfoliation can irritate rosacea, we recommend leaving the face wash on and cleansing your face gently using your fingertips. If you're comfortable using the exfoliator and it doesn't aggravate your skin, then your whole face will benefit from a deep cleanse that removes build-up and reduces chances of pimples. 

Always follow up cleansing with moisturizing. A good moisturizer traps water and makes your skin feel more comfortable. It also helps relieve the dryness, peeling and roughness that can occur from rosacea. 

Vitamin C Brightening Face Wash (Gel Type)

The face wash is fortified with Vitamin C, Vitamin E (reduces dryness) and aloe leaf extract. It provides a deep clean as soothingly as you might expect from a rosacea-friendly face wash. It also contains a bevy of plumping actives that add vitality and brightness to your skin. If you're dealing with a flare-up, make sure that you rinse off all of the gel from your face as even if some of it stays on, it can irritate your skin. This applies to any face wash that you might use. 

Browse through our collection of face washes for all skin types. You're sure to find the best face wash for rosacea that integrates nicely into your skincare routine.

Explore the WOW website for more natural skin care products.