Gentle Homemade Mask for Rosacea

• Skin affected by rosacea is very delicate and sensitive to harsh ingredients, over-scrubbing and heat. Clay or mud masks should not be used on skin affected by rosacea. Instead, use a mask with gentle ingredients that calm and restore the skin, such as oatmeal, olive oil and chamomile tea. Oatmeal relives redness, irritation and itching; olive oil gently hydrates sensitive skin; and chamomile tea is an anti-inflammatory that will reduce irritation and swelling.
  
  To make this mask at home, combine 1 tablespoon of oatmeal and the contents of a chamomile tea bag with enough olive oil to make a paste. You can mix it in a blender or food processor to get it nice and smooth, or you can stir it very well with a spoon until the ingredients are well-blended. Apply it to the facial skin and let it sit for 15 minutes. Remove the mask gently and splash the face with cool water. This mask is gentle enough to use daily, but it can be used to reduce more severe flare-ups.
  
  

Tips for Caring for Rosacea

• Rosacea requires special care that is different from the care required by regular acne. Skin affected by rosacea is very sensitive and should be treated delicately. Chemical peels, scrubs, heat and other treatments recommended for acne will only irritate and worsen rosacea. Those with rosacea should use only soft cloths to gently cleanse the skin with lukewarm water. Soaps free of harsh detergents or exfoliants should be used. People with rosacea should avoid salon facial treatments, as they can be too abrasive and disruptive to sensitive skin. People with rosacea should also protect the skin from sun, chlorine or other external substances that can irritate the skin.