How rosacea affects men

can men get rosacea subtype 1 2 acne ETR PPR

 April, known by many as Rosacea Awareness Month, is the time that those suffering from the condition use their voice to speak out and bring rosacea to the forefront. It’s a time where rosacea is really given some recognition and an opportunity to educate others about how it manifests, how it’s triggered and how it’s treated.

Here’s a quick refresher if you’re new here. Rosacea is a long term medical condition that affects around 1 in 10 people of northern European descent. That’s a huge amount of people and it’s not limited to that demographic either. Commonly known as the “Curse of the Celts”, it’s known to affect mainly fair-skinned people and it’s more prevalent in women than men.

Make no mistake though: rosacea doesn’t discriminate! You can still suffer from rosacea if you’ve got a darker skin tone, if you’re a man and if you’re young. If you have dark skin, it mightn’t show up in the same way and you might not see the classic redness.

In men, while not as commonly diagnosed as women, it actually tends to be more severe. If you have rosacea, your doctor or dermatologist is the best person to help and guide you through the process. Skincare can play a huge part in keeping rosacea under wraps but it’s not meant to replace medicine altogether. 

In this blog we want to take some time to shed light on rosacea and how it affects men. Most of the advice we see online seems to be more tailored towards women. This can leave the men out there who are also suffering unsure of where to turn to for information. So this one is for the gentlemen out there!

Does rosacea affect men differently than women?

The short answer is yes. Men tend to have a different experience with rosacea than women do. To start off, let’s look a little bit at the emotional side. Rosacea can give rise to negative feelings, like embarrassment for example. This is a common one for both genders, says the American Academy of Dermatology. But because of unfair norms in society, men are less likely to feel comfortable to speak up and seek help.

Rosacea can massively affect confidence but yet men seem to just tolerate it for the most part. This means it can largely go undiagnosed and untreated. This shouldn’t be the case as rosacea is just as treatable in men as it is in women, regardless of whether it’s for the pain or simply the appearance. If it gets you down for either of those reasons, you have the right to seek help!

Another prime difference in rosacea for women vs men, is that subtype 3 (rhinophyma) is more prevalent in men. 

Men and rhinophyma - subtype 3 rosacea 

While studies have shown that women are 3x more likely to develop the condition, men shouldn’t be overlooked. Especially when it comes to rosacea on the nose (aka rhinophyma). Subtype 3 is the type of rosacea men are much more likely to suffer from which leads to the nose enlarging, and it happens mostly around the age of 50+.

Symptoms of rhinophyma include excess tissue, thickening of the skin and irregularities on the skin's surface. On the other hand, women are more likely to experience symptoms on their chin and cheeks. People who suffer from subtype 3 rosacea have another thing to worry about than just the rosacea itself. An enlarged nose might cause some insecurities around appearance for one. And if that’s not bad enough, a lot of people (wrongly) associate it with alcohol consumption. It’s unfairly referred to sometimes as ”whiskey nose”.

While drinking might trigger rosacea symptoms in some people, those who don’t drink at all can still develop the disorder. 
Staying on top of your condition and catching it early is the key to being able to effectively manage it. Being proactive and seeing a dermatologist early can help prevent the disfiguration of the nose. Luckily today, rhinophyma can also be corrected with laser surgery.

Skincare tips for men with rosacea

Whether you’re looking for something to ease discomfort or simply to mask the redness, there are certain skin care tips that can help the gentlemen out there. It’s also worth mentioning that our Finca Skin Organics range is unisex. So all of our products have been designed with both men and women in mind. 

Start the day off right

Throw those gender norms out the window and kick off your day with a gentle cleanser and moisturiser. Be very gentle with your skin. Face cloths can be harsh on the skin and your fingers can sometimes carry unwanted oils and bacteria. So it might seem obvious, but wash your hands first before touching your face. 
Get yourself a good cleanser, a gentle moisturiser and a serum for redness - you won’t regret it! 

The Finca Skin Organics Moisturising Balm  is a rich, ultra-moisturising plant-based balm which can be used daily. It soothes and hydrates the skin while providing natural UV protection due to the ingredient red raspberry oil. The balm helps reduce transepidermal water loss across the skin and improve the skin barrier function, which leads to a reduction in facial redness. 

Always read the label

When it comes to skin care, the rule of thumb is: the less ingredients, the better. This is due to the fact that the less ingredients there are, the easier it will be to figure out what is causing you irritation if you notice it’s not suiting your skin.  Plant based and organic ingredients are generally best, but of course anyone can have an allergy to a particular ingredient, including natural ingredients.  As a rule, don't use essential oils in your skincare. Skincare for rosacea should be as mild as possible.

Be careful in the sun

The sun is a massive trigger for many of those with rosacea. As many as 81% have said that the sun causes a flare-up. The issue is that men are much less likely than women to use SPF on a daily basis. It’s time to switch up the mindset here! So before heading out on that round of golf make sure you're wearing a hat and have your sun protection on. 

Make sure to apply SPF every day after completing the rest of your skincare (moisturisers, serums etc). This will help avoid adding any more redness to your skin in case of sunburn. Better yet, use a tinted SPF to further reduce redness.

When choosing a sunscreen, go for a physical rather than a chemical sunscreen. Physical sunscreens create a protective barrier whereas chemical sunscreens penetrate the skin which isn’t great when it comes to rosacea.

We've got you covered if you're looking for a good one that has both a physical sunscreen and a tint, plus minimal ingredients, check out our Finca Skin Organics Tinted SPF 30+.

Shave gently

Shaving can cause irritation even on normal skin types. So naturally if you’ve got rosacea you need to be extra cautious. Optimising skincare with gentle products and avoiding super-close shaving can help. Using an electric razor over a close mechanical razor is a better alternative, as the close mechanical razor can more likely irritate the skin. Also pay attention to what shaving foam you choose: try finding one specifically for sensitive faces.

Watch what you eat

If you don’t know this already, there is a whole list of foods which can trigger rosacea flares. Spicy foods and alcohol generally top the list. Avoiding trigger foods where possible can help you avoid flares, and identifying these can be done by keeping a food diary. Here’s a list by the National Rosacea Society of potentially triggering foods.

Don’t let stress take over

You’ve probably guessed it - stress is another bad one for rosacea and can actually trigger flare ups. Mind your mind, speak to your friends and family and don’t keep your worries and concerns inside. Join online communities and forums where you can meet lots of people in the same boat. Get to know yourself, your triggers and what works for you. And never, ever suffer in silence.


The entire Finca Skin Organics range has been specifically formulated for sensitive skin including rosacea. After using our products, 87% felt the appearance of their skin improved significantly after using our products and 100% said their skin felt more comfortable*. We only use minimal, plant-based ingredients to avoid any further irritation to your skin. 

View the range of Finca skin organics products here or find out what rosacea subtype your skin is.
If you have any queries regarding your rosacea or how to use our products get in contact with us, we'd love to hear from you.

With love from Ireland,

Finola

*Clinical evaluation by Harley St. dermatologists on 23 subjects after 8 weeks of use.

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