‘I’ve had rosacea since my late 30s but didn’t get diagnosed until I was 42. You’ll save yourself so much time, money and anguish by stopping self-diagnosing and getting professional advice.’
2. Raise the issue first
‘I was lucky, my doctor said, ‘You know you’ve got rosacea, right?’ But I imagine many doctors don’t want to insult you and tell you your skin looks terrible! Do your research; www.actonred.co.uk has plenty of practical tips to help you spot the signs.’
3. Re-think your skincare
‘Resist the temptation to scrub your skin. I thought my rosacea was acne, which I’d had in my teens and 20s, so I brought out the heavy-duty skin cleaners, which are the worst possible products to use. Now I use gentler cleansers and my skin is transformed.’
4. Be wise to your triggers
‘I love spicy food and hot baths, but my doctor made it clear these cause flare-ups. It’s not like I don’t enjoy them any more, but I’ll avoid them if I’m filming, or have a big family function.’
5. Let your skin breathe
‘On set I’ll wear foundation but day-to-day, I’ll just use an SPF, a good quality moisturiser and a little spot cover on any areas of redness. I am so grateful now I am able to wear so little on my face. I get compliments on my skin all the time – which I never used to get when it was hidden under layers of make-up.’
6. Talk about it
‘Even when I was filming Sex And The City with Kristin Davis, who also had bad rosacea, and working with make-up artists, I never thought I might have it. The more people know about the condition, the fewer will self-diagnose, or write off their problems simply as “bad skin”.’
7. Look in the mirror first thing, do what you can do, and move on
‘I used to check my reflection all day, trying to cover the redness with make-up. But no one needs to look like they’ve stepped straight off the pages of a magazine every day, and it’s important not to let it rule your life.’
Are you a rosacea sufferer? Tweet us @healthymag and share your stories