Rosacea

Redness that has a life of its own

It appears out of nowhere, after a glass of wine, coffee, sun exposure, or stress. Over time, dilated capillaries, perhaps even pimples, and the frustration that a product that works for your friend does the exact opposite for you, are added to the mix.

What science says about it

• Rosacea affects about 5% of people worldwide, significantly more women than men (5.9% vs. 4.4%).
• The highest incidence is paradoxically in younger adults aged 25 to 39, not just older people, as is often assumed.
• Hormonal fluctuations after forty can increase skin vascular reactivity and worsen rosacea or trigger it for the first time.
• Rosacea has a proven link to the digestive tract (the so-called gut-skin axis) and is more often accompanied by inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or irritable bowel syndrome.
• The psychosocial impact is significant; people with rosacea who feel stigmatized have a significantly higher incidence of depression (36.7% vs. 21.1% in those without a sense of stigmatization), and almost half report that redness complicates their professional life.

The role of diet and triggers

For rosacea, diet plays one of the clearest roles of all skin problems. The most strongly supported triggers are hot beverages (it's not about coffee itself, but the temperature), alcohol, especially red wine, and spicy foods containing capsaicin, which directly dilates blood vessels and increases skin temperature. In one survey, 73% of people with rosacea confirmed that dietary changes reduced the frequency of flare-ups. However, triggers are very individual, so it's worth keeping your own records and monitoring what specifically affects your skin.

And it's not just about food

Dr. Richard Granstein, Chairman of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and a member of the National Rosacea Society's medical advisory board, confirms that the nervous system processing stress has a long-proven impact on skin conditions like psoriasis and rosacea. Furthermore, in research supported by the National Rosacea Society, people with rosacea showed stronger nervous and vascular reactions to heat and stress than people without rosacea, including the involvement of the sympathetic nervous system, the part of the body that controls the "fight or flight" response. In a survey of over 700 rosacea patients, 91% reported that emotional stress either triggers or worsens their rosacea.

Ivana Petr, a certified nutritional consultant, sees this similarly and has the same experience with her clients. People with rosacea often also have an imbalance in their gut microflora, and a weakened gut barrier can maintain inflammation, which then manifests on the skin.

This is the so-called gut-skin axis; the state of the gut microflora and the quality of digestion can directly affect skin health and balance. In clients with rosacea, I repeatedly see the same pattern: once we focus on gut health and an anti-inflammatory diet, not only digestion but also the skin condition improves.

Therefore, resolving rosacea never ends with just a cream. The combination of dietary adjustments (reducing alcohol, hot beverages, and spicy foods, supporting an anti-inflammatory diet with omega-3s), stress management, and gentle barrier care provides a much more comprehensive and sustainable approach than any isolated product.

Why is conventional cosmetics often not enough?

Classic creams pose more risks for rosacea than it seems. Fragrances, emulsifiers, and preservatives needed to keep water in the cream can trigger redness even with a "for sensitive skin" label.

Our solution

All our products (Bohemian Balm, Day, and Night) are suitable for rosacea because none of them contain water, and thus no preservatives, emulsifiers, or fragrances, which are classic triggers for redness. Only pure bioidentical lipids from organic beef tallow remain, which the skin recognizes as its own and incorporates into the barrier, instead of just adding another foreign layer.

Try the entire Barrier Boost range, for soothing without unnecessary risk, whenever you need it.

Sources: Global study of acne and rosacea, JAAD 2024; Pierre Fabre Laboratories, global study of rosacea prevalence; systematic review of rosacea incidence, British Journal of Dermatology 2018; review of diet and triggers in rosacea, Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology 2021; review of the gut-skin axis in rosacea, Frontiers in Microbiology 2024; psychosocial impacts of rosacea, Frontiers in Microbiology 2024; Rosacea.org, interview with Dr. Richard Granstein (Weill Cornell Medical College).