Happy Friday, Friends! Podcast time!
First off, yeah—I know this podcast and article is a long one.
Like, full-on coffee-refill long. Sorry about that. Watch or listen on 1.5 speed if you need to.
LIVE EVENT THIS SUNDAY! Click to register! Limited Seating!
Face red for no damn reason? Same.
I’m Sonia Roselli—30+ years in beauty, and rosacea hit me like a truck in my 40s. Full-blown flare after a hysterectomy.
This pod? It’s your straight-up, no-BS guide to getting that angry skin under control.
Hit play or keep scrolling for the cliff notes.
First Things First: I’m Not a Doctor
I’m a professional esthetician, makeup artist and skincare formulator who reads dermatology textbooks for fun (yes, really).
I study skin like it’s my full-time job—because it is.
But I’m not here to diagnose you.
I’m here to empower you with what I’ve learned so you can advocate for your skin like a badass.
My Rosacea Wake-Up Call
At 37, I had a hysterectomy.
A couple of years later, BAM—my skin went from glowy to full-blown, itchy, red chaos. And let me tell you, selling skincare services when your skin looks like it’s mad at the world? Not cute.
I went from confident to hiding. From selling makeup to wearing none. From treating rosacea breakouts to understanding them and what my clients were going through.
Rosacea humbled me—and made me a better esthetician.
What the Hell Is Rosacea?
It’s a chronic inflammatory skin condition.
It shows up as:
Persistent redness
Acne-like bumps (but usually without blackheads)
Visible capillaries
Flushing that feels like you’re on fire
Rosacea isn’t just for us white folks! Rosacea can affect all skin tones.
In deeper skin tones, it might look more brown-purple and be misdiagnosed as hyperpigmentation.
Diagnosing Rosacea: A Hot Mess
Rosacea often gets confused with acne, eczema, or even lupus. Especially in people of color.
And when you treat rosacea like acne? You piss it off more. It’s like spraying alcohol on a grease fire.
Pro Tip: If your diagnosis doesn’t feel right, get a second opinion. Hell, get three. You deserve answers.
My Rosacea Symptoms
Acne-like bumps (but no blackheads)
Broken capillaries (especially around the nose)
Skin that feels hot—even when it’s not
Flares from stress, sun, and makeup
For me, it showed up overnight. One day, clear skin. The next? Angry, red chaos. This was after a facial gone wrong. Not my worst flare but not fun.
The Science-y Shit (Broken Down Real Simple)
Mast Cells: Release histamines. Hello, redness.
Demodex Mites: Live on everyone’s skin. People with rosacea have more. Rude.
Cathelicidins: (Say that 3x fast.) Natural proteins that fight germs—but in rosacea skin, they attack you.
Gut Connection: Probiotics help some folks. I take mine daily. Does it help? For me, yes. For everyone? Not always.
My Rosacea Arsenal
Here’s what I use:
Ivermectin cream (prescription): Kills mites, calms inflammation
Doxycycline (low dose): Handles bumps and redness
Rhofade: Temporarily reduces redness (mixes beautifully with SRB Water Elixir)
Lasers/IPL/Microneedling: Game changers, but consult your derm
SRB Barrier Repair Trio: Gentle. Effective. Fragrance-free. Period.
Prescription Azelaic Acid-calms inflammation, reduces redness, smooths bumps, and prevents irritation.
Hot Tip: Skip the green corrector. Just. Don’t. Do. It.
Facials: Friend or Foe?
Depends on the esthetician.
Avoid:
Steam
Hot towels (opt for cool ones instead)
Harsh scrubs
Granules
Stick to gentle, hydrating treatments.
And if your facialist doesn’t ask about sensitivities? Run.
Can I Use Retinol? AHAs? BHAs?
Short answer: Maybe.
If you’re flaring? Back away, babe.
If you’re stable? Try 0.025% tretinoin buffered with Water Elixir, once a week.
Also:
Patch test things that say they’re for sensitive skin like bakuchiol (ironically too harsh for me)
Azelaic acid? My holy grail
PHAs? Worth testing—but gently
Remember: Rosacea is different for every single one of us and we all have different triggers and reactions.
Triggers You Should Know (and Test)
Sun (Public enemy number one)
Extreme temps (hot or cold)
Wine (red is worse than white)
Spicy food (go milder but don’t give it up unless you just can’t do it and if you can’t I totally feel sorry for you.)
Fragranced or cheap makeup (I’m talking to you Dior, FFS!)
Stress (hello, weddings and taxes)
My trigger surprise? Too much news and social media. Turns me into a human lobster.
Sunscreen: Love/Hate Relationship
I hate it. I wear it anyway.
For me: Zinc-only formulas are best for me. Japanese sunscreens are dreamy.
Avoid:
Avobenzone
Octinoxate
Anything labeled "chemical sunscreen" most piss off rosacea prone skin
Look for: “mineral” or “physical” sunscreen. All zinc sunscreens tend to do better for my acne rosacea but again, everyone is different.
Rosacea in the Eyes (Yep, That’s a Thing)
Ocular rosacea feels like:
Gritty eyes
Redness in the whites
Light sensitivity
What helps:
Ocusoft lid scrubs
Restasis (Rx)
Systane eye ointment
Ocular rosacea: when your eyes decide to cosplay as sandpaper while throwing a disco party with redness and light sensitivity—because why should your cheeks have all the fun? But seriously, if you think this is going on, get it checked asap.
Men with Rosacea: Don’t Ignore It
Men often get more severe symptoms because they wait longer to get diagnosed. That thickening around the nose? That’s rhinophyma. Treat it early.
Simple routines work. If it works, use it. Stick with it.
Rosacea by the Decade
30s: Subtle signs—dryness, redness, flushing
40s: Hormonal shifts bring full-blown flares
50s+: Persistent redness, broken capillaries, ocular rosacea
Treat early = better skin later.
My Takeaway
Rosacea isn’t the end of your glow-up story. It’s a twist in the plot. You can still feel beautiful, confident, and badass.
With the right treatment, routine, and mindset, you can manage it like a pro.
Ready to Calm the Chaos?
If rosacea has been ruling your face, it’s time to take the power back.
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Til next week, britches!
XO
Sonia
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