Although I have had rosacea for 20 years, I am still learning new things about it all the time. I try to follow knowledgable people so that I can continue to not only expand my understanding of rosacea, but so I can bring it to you as well. So when the lovely Dr Alia Ahmed sent me an email letting me know about a recent article she wrote for Consulting Room magazine, I was thrilled. I’d heard people mention Neurogenic Rosacea before but was pretty clueless as to what it meant…
As you will know if you have rosacea, one of the biggest triggers is stress… so it stands to reason that I’ve had a recent upswing in messages, comments, and emails from fellow sufferers who have seen their skin becoming more irritated, with flare ups becoming more regular and more severe. Annoyingly, another common trigger seems to be the face masks that people are wearing to protect themselves and others. Carry on reading for some tips on how to minimise the impact of face masks on your skin…
We are nearly at the end of Rosacea Awareness Month 2020 – I can’t believe it! This month I decided that all of my How Do I Look? posts should focus on rosacea and I have loved conducting these interviews. I find it fascinating how different we all are, but that so many similar experiences, emotions, and realities run through all of our stories.
Today’s interview is with the incredible Hallie. I first discovered her when I asked instagram for recommendations for other skin positivity accounts, and had an immediate influx from her passionate followers sending me her way. Her feed is honest, joyful, and fascinating: I hope you find this interview all three of those things.
I still find it hard to accept that I was diagnosed with rosacea 15 years ago. I’ve now been dealing with this skin condition for longer than I was even aware of my skin. Until I was about 20, I didn’t understand what healthy skin meant, or the way that your appearance could impact your life, emotions, and happiness. I’ve learned so much about rosacea in the past 15 years and have been sharing it with you for the past 7 years (this post is the mothership of all rosacea information if you want a full summary).
So here’s my list: 15 things I’ve learned in 15 years of rosacea. I hope you find it useful, feel free to share your advice and thoughts in the comments below.
When I started the ‘How Do I Look?’ series, it was because I had seen how powerful it can be to find someone else who has shared your experience, someone who looks like you, someone who feels like you. When I found others with rosacea online, I was so happy: I felt understood and supported in a way I hadn’t before. And I wanted to help make those connections for other people. Being involved in the skin positivity community online, I have been introduced to so many incredible people doing amazing work. People with conditions I know nothing about but wanted to: psoriasis, vitiligo, trichotillomania, eczema, scars, acne conglobata… So this blog series was born: interviews with all sorts of people who are all using their spaces online to spread information, love, and support. As April is Rosacea Awareness Month, I’m focusing all my interviews this month on ROSACEA.
Today’s interview is with the wonderful Rose Gallagher: make up artist, Heads Up champ, and fellow rosacea sufferer. We first met a year ago, when we were both guests on the Sali Hughes Soho Radio show, talking about rosacea, and I’ve been in love with her ever since. Rose talks to me about her diagnosis, her love of make up, and why developing rosacea has changed her life in a positive way.
