As an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner, I have been noticing an influx of new patients presenting with inflammatory skin conditions like Rosacea and Perioral Dermatitis. I myself struggled with these conditions for 2 years.
But why is this happening? Here’s my take…
Product OVERUSE.
Piling on the products (Vitamin C, Retinol, Salicylic acid, serums) in addition to chemical peels, dermaplaning, hydrafacials etc. can actually wreak havoc on your skin barrier. In an attempt to manage the inflammation and pustules, people will often jump to applying even more products which typically aggravates the issue and makes it much worse.
Now for the demodex mites….
We all have them. They’re tiny and harmless and you wouldn’t have any idea of their presence UNLESS you have too many! An abundance of these little mites often leads to flare ups of both Rosacea and Perioral Dermatitis. “Rosacea favors the growth of Demodex, and overgrowth of Demodex exacerbates the symptoms of rosacea, creating a vicious cycle” (Wei, F, et.al, 2024). Demodex mites also LOVE sebum and thick moisturizers and serums. So let’s stop feeding them with all of these products and starve them of their food source.
How do we do this?
Start by stopping your 10 step skincare regimen. I know it’s difficult, but it must be done. You may find that a gentle Sulfur cleanser (we love the “3% Sulfur Cleanser” by Saving Face Co.) twice a day can be effective. You can also try a 5-6% sulfur spot cream on the pustules. Be careful with high percentage Sulfur products (ie. 10% or higher is often too drying and harsh). Use a gentle and hydrating moisturizer that has Probiotics to assist in restoring the skin microbiome (we love the “Soothing Microbiome Gel Cream” by Saving Face Co. ). Avoid products with synthetic fragrance, dyes, and other allergens.
There has been a significant amount of research lately to show the benefits of Sulfur & Probiotics in managing inflammatory skin conditions (see articles cited below).
In addition, many people find that using Pure Hypochlorous acid spray after cleansing and before/after a workout is also an effective method of managing inflammation and breakouts.
Summary
The key to healthy skin isn’t always an elaborate or multi-product routine. Once you focus on simplicity and using effective but gentle products, you may start to experience the skin you’ve always deserved. Heal your barrier, reduce the mites, and say hello to clear and glowing skin!
References
Fen Wei, Li Li, Yi Kong, Xiaofeng Yan, Kevin J. Varghese, Song Zhang, Jian Jiang, Bao Chai, Hongxiang Chen; Evidence for the Clinical Association between Demodex and Rosacea: A Review. Dermatology 12 February 2024; 240 (1): 95–102. https://doi.org/10.1159/000534245
Gao T, Wang X, Li Y, Ren F. The Role of Probiotics in Skin Health and Related Gut-Skin Axis: A Review. Nutrients. 2023 Jul 13;15(14):3123. doi: 10.3390/nu15143123. PMID: 37513540; PMCID: PMC10385652.
Rather PA, Hassan I. Human demodex mite: the versatile mite of dermatological importance. Indian J Dermatol. 2014 Jan;59(1):60-6. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.123498. PMID: 24470662; PMCID: PMC3884930.
Sharma A, et al. (2022). Rosacea management: A comprehensive review. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.14816
