JimmyJoes2
Iron
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2026
- Posts
- 119
- Reputation
- 73
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a pretty common skin condition that makes your face overly red or pimply randomly through the day.
It ruins the clear skin halo and makes you look meaningfully worse, often picked up on by others since it isn’t a 24/7 condition, rather a few minutes every couple hours.
Triggers are usually; heat, cold, spicy, sour, salty, exercise, stress, dehydration, physical touch. I could go on all day about how literally ANYTHING could trigger a reaction.
My personal experience with “cures” (catered to my specific flushing rosacea variation)
Azelaic Acid (20%) - I used this for 10 months ongoing, didn’t notice any redness reduction but slight inflammation decrease. Low side profile so why not
Brimonidine gel (0.33%) - tried for a week but received uncanny green/yellow colouring, patchy effects, gave me a terminally ill look. Lasts 8-12h and can use once daily, often causes rebound redness (worse than baseline). Might experiment with implementing some in my moisturiser to dull undead effect but wouldn’t recommend.
Metoprolol (25mg extended release) - non selective beta blocker that would in theory help. 2 weeks in negligible calming, though may take 8 weeks+ to see results. Keeping anyways since on many things that increase heart rate. Undecided rating
Retinoids (Tretinoin, Tazarotene) - I used 0,025% tret for 6 weeks before switching to 0.1% taz past 2 weeks (yall exaggerate its sides). Neither directly tackle the cause (overactive blood vessels) but hide it. Thicker skin = more layers between surface and blood vessels. Haven’t received full results regarding rosacea but my skin texture is noticeably better. Decent potential, should use anyways.
Medication I haven’t used
Selective beta blockers - selectively calms blood vessels in face, resulting in less redness potential and baseline. Better than Metoprolol and more often used by dermatologists. Not compatible with asthma (even inactive asthma, which is why I can’t use it). Moderate potential with low ish sides (watch that heart).
Isotret/Accutane - one of the best options but some ppl say it’s “overkill”. Worth considering if nothing works but wouldn’t choose as first attempt. Much higher chance of results than others and are semi permanent. Best overall ROI (in my opinion), would use if I weren’t on a height cycle.
Laser procedures - specialised professionals use lasers to correct overactive blood vessels. Takes multiple sessions that cost 200-500$ each and results aren’t permanent. Good for rich niggas, expensive for normies.
Copes
Tinted Sunscreen - green or tan coloured tinted bb cream, sunscreen or moisturisers provide minimal masking and zero improvement of the actual condition. Very easy to get caught at often ridiculed due to its similarities with make up. Very cope, don’t do.
HealthMaxxing - maximising your diet, exercise and overall health provide meaningful results. The catch is, you have to be cautious of your every action all day, everyday, for the rest of your life just for a 45% decrease in redness. Chad does what Chad wants, not what rosacea lets him. Slightly cope, bad ROI, moderate results
OTC products - over the counter skincare products are an overall scam that gives billions hope, but zero results. No ingredients that can be sold to little timmy are strong enough to constrict blood vessels in your face. Take your ashwaganda and do your subliminals, this is where millions of insecure teens give up and rightfully so. Expensive, near zero results, all marketing
Conclusion
Rosacea is awful and you probably won’t ever fully fix it. Not every medication will work on you so pick your poison and pray.
Moderate effort post, skipped some mechanisms (eww science) cause the consumer wants solutions not lectures.
DNR if you want, I’ll update if I find something worth while
Rosacea is a pretty common skin condition that makes your face overly red or pimply randomly through the day.
It ruins the clear skin halo and makes you look meaningfully worse, often picked up on by others since it isn’t a 24/7 condition, rather a few minutes every couple hours.
Triggers are usually; heat, cold, spicy, sour, salty, exercise, stress, dehydration, physical touch. I could go on all day about how literally ANYTHING could trigger a reaction.
My personal experience with “cures” (catered to my specific flushing rosacea variation)
Azelaic Acid (20%) - I used this for 10 months ongoing, didn’t notice any redness reduction but slight inflammation decrease. Low side profile so why not
Brimonidine gel (0.33%) - tried for a week but received uncanny green/yellow colouring, patchy effects, gave me a terminally ill look. Lasts 8-12h and can use once daily, often causes rebound redness (worse than baseline). Might experiment with implementing some in my moisturiser to dull undead effect but wouldn’t recommend.
Metoprolol (25mg extended release) - non selective beta blocker that would in theory help. 2 weeks in negligible calming, though may take 8 weeks+ to see results. Keeping anyways since on many things that increase heart rate. Undecided rating
Retinoids (Tretinoin, Tazarotene) - I used 0,025% tret for 6 weeks before switching to 0.1% taz past 2 weeks (yall exaggerate its sides). Neither directly tackle the cause (overactive blood vessels) but hide it. Thicker skin = more layers between surface and blood vessels. Haven’t received full results regarding rosacea but my skin texture is noticeably better. Decent potential, should use anyways.
Medication I haven’t used
Selective beta blockers - selectively calms blood vessels in face, resulting in less redness potential and baseline. Better than Metoprolol and more often used by dermatologists. Not compatible with asthma (even inactive asthma, which is why I can’t use it). Moderate potential with low ish sides (watch that heart).
Isotret/Accutane - one of the best options but some ppl say it’s “overkill”. Worth considering if nothing works but wouldn’t choose as first attempt. Much higher chance of results than others and are semi permanent. Best overall ROI (in my opinion), would use if I weren’t on a height cycle.
Laser procedures - specialised professionals use lasers to correct overactive blood vessels. Takes multiple sessions that cost 200-500$ each and results aren’t permanent. Good for rich niggas, expensive for normies.
Copes
Tinted Sunscreen - green or tan coloured tinted bb cream, sunscreen or moisturisers provide minimal masking and zero improvement of the actual condition. Very easy to get caught at often ridiculed due to its similarities with make up. Very cope, don’t do.
HealthMaxxing - maximising your diet, exercise and overall health provide meaningful results. The catch is, you have to be cautious of your every action all day, everyday, for the rest of your life just for a 45% decrease in redness. Chad does what Chad wants, not what rosacea lets him. Slightly cope, bad ROI, moderate results
OTC products - over the counter skincare products are an overall scam that gives billions hope, but zero results. No ingredients that can be sold to little timmy are strong enough to constrict blood vessels in your face. Take your ashwaganda and do your subliminals, this is where millions of insecure teens give up and rightfully so. Expensive, near zero results, all marketing
Conclusion
Rosacea is awful and you probably won’t ever fully fix it. Not every medication will work on you so pick your poison and pray.
Moderate effort post, skipped some mechanisms (eww science) cause the consumer wants solutions not lectures.
DNR if you want, I’ll update if I find something worth while