Sally Foran: Everything I've learned about managing rosacea

With queries about the 'curse of the Celt' condition among the most common for our Beauty Editor, Sally Foran shares everything she's learned as part of Rosacea Awareness Month

Thu, 09 Apr, 2026 - 01:00

Sally Foran

Queries about rosacea are among the most frequent to land in my Instagram inbox. It isn’t surprising — Ireland has one of the highest incidences of the condition worldwide, with an estimated one in ten of us affected. Known as “the curse of the Celts”, it is characterised by persistent facial redness and visible blood vessels. For many sufferers, the visible tell is accompanied by additional discomforts, such as burning, stinging, flushing, and irritation, which can be triggered by a variety of things — a change in temperature or a simple glass of wine.

What you might not know is that there are four different type. Sufferers may experience one type or multiple, and all require slightly different treatment.

Subtype 1 typically shows up as flushing and redness, often accompanied by a sensation of heat, particularly during flare-ups.
Subtype 2 includes redness and breakouts in the form of red pustules, sometimes mistaken for acne.
Subtype 3 involves inflammation of the nose and thickened skin.
Subtype 4 primarily affects the eyes, leading to irritation, dryness and sensitivity in the ocular area.

While rosacea can be challenging to manage, the right combination of gentle skincare and targeted treatments can help calm irritation, strengthen the skin barrier and improve overall comfort and confidence.

I always advise those who suspect they might have the condition to seek a diagnosis from a qualified professional.

Identifying triggers

Although there’s no cure, suitable treatment can prevent the condition’s progression.

One of the most important things is to identify your personal triggers and do your best to eliminate them. The number one recognised trigger is UV rays, as they weaken the skin’s barrier, so always wear your SPF (if you’ve been reading my column for any length of time, I am sure you’re doing this already!) A mineral sunscreen may be best as it’s less likely to irritate.

Other triggers include alcohol, smoking, extreme weather, harsh skincare, spicy foods, hot baths, saunas, stress, steroids, hormonal shifts and some medications.

Skincare and treatments

Ideally, rosacea sufferers should opt for gentle skincare products that support the skin barrier as these can reduce inflammation and, in turn, decrease redness.

Anti-inflammatory skincare ingredients, like colloidal oatmeal, squalane and ceramides, can help strengthen and soothe the skin’s barrier.

Avoid harsh foaming cleansers and opt for a cleansing oil or balm instead, as they won’t strip or aggravate your sensitive skin.

While vitamin C helps to strengthen capillaries, reduce redness and even skin tone, use actives with caution.

For rosacea sufferers, barrier repair should always take priority over actives as compromised skin won’t benefit. Luckily, niacinamide gives similar results while also strengthening the skin’s barrier and reducing redness, win win! Likewise, consider bakuchiol, resveratrol, rose hip oil and peptides in place of retinols. Peptides are my favourite choice for those with rosacea as they can help support a stronger skin barrier, promote a more even skin tone and calm redness and inflammation. The only exfoliating acids suitable for rosacea are PHA ( polyhydroxy acids) and azelaic acid.

Treatment-wise, the BBL (broadband light laser) can be used to strengthen the skin’s barrier. Sciton BBL Hero is the gold standard in managing rosacea and chronic redness. By delivering high-energy broadband light with speed and precision, it targets the underlying vascular lesions and persistent flushing associated with rosacea. This advanced technology not only clears inflammatory redness and visible vessels but also stimulates collagen to strengthen the skin’s barrier. Suitable for both face and body with minimal downtime, Dublin’s South William Clinic offers the treatment from €400, with Cork’s Eden Medical Clinic also offering the treatment from €350 per session.

Managing the condition

Makeup-wise, a green-tinted primer, facial tan or bronzing drops, can work wonders to help disguise any redness. Foundation-wise, mineral makeup is less likely to aggravate skin.

Intestinal bacteria overgrowth is recognised as a cause, so a probiotic supplement may help too. Speaking of supplements, as rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition, Omega 3’s anti-inflammatory properties are beneficial, so ensure you are supplementing or including Omega 3-rich foods in your diet – think oily fish, nuts and seeds.

Tried and tested

Some of my most-recommended products for rosacea sufferers include;