Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that cannot be cured permanently. But it can be prevented from flaring up and its symptoms controlled by keeping the facial skin clear of dirt and grime with the best cleanser for rosacea. Rosacea mainly affects the face, causing redness, swollen red pus-filled bumps, visible blood vessels, inflammations, and skin irritations. Our contributor Dr. Anna Chacon, dermatologist - MyPsoriasisTeam, says, “Rosacea is often seen in individuals between 30 and 50 years old, with fair skin, blue eyes, and of Celtic or Scandinavian ancestry. However, it can affect anyone and at any age.”

Dr. Mona Gohara, a board-certified dermatologist based in Hamden, Connecticut says, “Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that a lot of people associate with redness on the face, but it can actually present itself in many different ways. Trigger-based flushing from hot or spicy food, red wine, changes of emotion, changes of temperature, and hormonal flushing. Second, it's textural changes on the skin. So acne bumps and large pores, dryness gets easily irritated. Any of those things where the texture of your skin is noticeably different may actually be a component of rosacea. 

Third, you may see broken capillaries, little, tiny broken blood vessels in the skin that actually leave the skin looking a little bit pink and red, and somebody may think, for example, you've been sunburned or have a little blush when actually you don't. And then lastly, ocular rosacea or rosacea around the eye that leaves the eye watery, feeling a little bit gritty. Each one of these components of rosacea has a nuanced treatment that your dermatologist may talk to you about. That being said, anyone with rosacea really should consider using a very gentle skincare routine on a daily basis.”

As recommended by dermatologists and based on our observations, it can be safely assumed that by keeping the face clean of impurities, rosacea can be kept under control. Following is a list of 17 cleansers for rosacea with anti-inflammatory ingredients that will have a positive effect on rosacea-prone skin.

• 1
  Best Overall

  La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser

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Dermatologists recommended La Roche-Posay’s delicate face cleanser is the best facial cleanser for rosacea as per our survey. The hydrating cleanser, formulated with thermal spring water, ceramide-3, niacinamide, and glycerin, is ideal for sensitive skin. It gently cleans the face of dirt, impurities, and makeup without irritating the skin. Niacinamide, known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, helps in easing the redness caused by rosacea, acne, eczema, and other inflammatory skin issues. Ceramide-3 maintains a healthy skin barrier by retaining moisture, protecting the skin from external factors that causes rosacea flare-ups while the antioxidant properties of prebiotic thermal water reduce the inflammations.

2

Best for Dryness

Pevonia Sensitive Skin Cleanser

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Known for their gentle formulas, Pevonia's cleanser is ideal for redness and inflammation. Suitable for those with rosacea, this cleanser is curated for sensitive skin. The creamy consistency leaves your skin feeling smooth without irritating your epidermis. It removes impurities, and the gunk in your pores without stripping off your natural oils. The beauty of this cleanser is that it removes makeup, dirt, pollution while calming irritation. Feel fresher than a daisy with this AM and PM cleanser. 

3

Best Gel Cleanser

ELEMIS Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash

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Those struggling with extreme skin itchiness and redness need to try this gel-based cleanser by ELEMIS. Made with luxe formulations, this cleanser gently exfoliates, purifies, and revitalizes the skin. It instantly energises dull skin, and reserves dry skin. All you need to do is mix a pea-size amount in warm water and gently massage your face thoroughly well before rinsing with warm water. Use this twice a day for maximum benefits. Enjoy this gentle formula that is infused with tri-enzyme technology, moringa, and hydrating white truffle. 

4

Best Anti-Inflammatory

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser & Makeup Remover

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We love the dual properties of Aveeno Ultra-calming Foaming Cleanser that work as a face wash as well as a makeup remover. It gently removes all the dirt, oil, bacteria, and makeup without leaving your skin dry. The key ingredient, Calming Feverfew, from the Chamomile plant family, possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers that help in managing the symptoms of rosacea. It protects the skin from harmful UV rays, heat, smoke, and other environmental elements that can inflame or irritate the skin.

5

Most Hydrating

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Facial Cleanser

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The Ultra Gentle Hydrating Facial Cleanser, from drugstore-favorite Neutrogena, effectively cleanses the face, leaving the skin moisturized and soft all day long. Formulated for sensitive skin, this non-foaming creamy face wash lifts off excess oil, dirt, bacteria, and makeup without over-drying the skin. The hydrating cleanser is infused with glycerine that soothes and calms the stinging and burning discomfort caused by rosacea.  The hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic properties make it an ideal face wash for rosacea.

6

Most Moisturizing

Cetaphil Face Wash

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Cetaphil, another well-known drugstore skincare brand, offers a gentle skin cleanser that is clinically proven to cleanse and hydrate the skin, maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier even after multiple washes. Equipped with glycerine, vitamins B5, and B3, it soothes and moisturizes dry and sensitive skin, including skin affected by acne, rosacea, or eczema. Glycerine is known to have a cooling effect on the discomforts associated with rosacea. Vitamins, B5 reduces the redness caused by rosacea while B3 improves the skin’s natural barrier protecting it from external damage.

7

Best for Eyelid Hygiene

Cliradex Foam - Gentle Eyelid Cleanser & Eyelash Conditioner

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The skin of our eyelids tends to be more sensitive than the rest of our faces. We often overlook this part of our face while cleansing. This eyelid cleanser and eyelash conditioner from Cliradex looks after our eyelid hygiene with love and care. The lightweight formula has tea tree oil in it that removes Demodex mites and relieves eye irritation, and inflamed eyelids. It goes deep into the skin and cleanses it, reducing inflammation.

8

Best Natural Formula

DERMA-E Sensitive Skin Cleanser

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This unscented skin cleanser from DERMA-E washes away dirt, makeup, and impurities from our face, revealing cleaner and brighter skin. Created with Pycnogenol, green tea, chamomile flower extract, and lemongrass, this rosacea cleanser is packed with all-natural elements to relieve the skin from redness while shielding it from environmental damage. Chamomile is known to decrease inflammation caused by rosacea-prone skin. This pH-balanced cleansing face wash clears away skin impurities, calming and protecting the skin from irritation.

9

Best for Sensitive Skin

Paula's Choice SKIN RECOVERY Cream Cleanser

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Suitable for sensitive, dry to normal skin, Paula’s Choice SKIN RECOVERY cleanser thoroughly hydrates and soothes skin to reduce redness, irritation, and dullness. The softening cream cleanser nourishes and replenish dry, sensitive skin as it washes away dirt and impurities. The gentle cleansing agents in the formula make it suitable for rosacea sufferers as it does not leave the skin dry after washing. The key ingredient, chamomile, makes all the difference in this rosacea cleanser by soothing and calming the appearance of blemishes and inflammation.

10

CLn® Facial Cleanser

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Glycerine is a powerful ingredient that has many beneficial properties for rosacea-prone skin. It is a hydrating agent that locks in moisture, strengthening the skin’s natural hydration barrier. It also has a cooling and soothing effect on the inflamed skin of rosacea, minimizing the discomfort caused by the tightness, stinging, and burning sensation. CLn’s facial cleanser has glycerine as its star ingredient, making it one of the best face wash for rosacea. The gel formula also has sodium hypochlorite for hydration and moisturization.

11

Most Non-irritating Formula

NAELI Gentle Face Cleanser

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Packed with aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, antioxidant extracts from 10 berries, and vitamins C, and E, this 3 in 1 face cleanser from NAELI purifies, hydrates, and revitalizes the skin. A soothing face wash for rosacea and eczema, it gently clears away impurities, makeup, residue, pollutants, and bacteria while defending the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Aloe vera and vitamin E have healing effects on the skin affected by rosacea, effectively soothing the redness and inflammation while hyaluronic acid keeps the skin barrier strong and healthy, preventing dryness and irritation. Vitamin C helps in reducing the appearance of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles, giving the skin an youthful complexion.

12

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cleanser

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Goat milk is the newest magical ingredient to join the skincare products. Kate Somerville’s moisturizing cleanser has goat’s milk together with jojoba, avocado, and manuka honey, packing a powerful punch on dry and sensitive skin prone to rosacea, eczema, and other skin issues. The anti-inflammatory properties of goat milk reduce the inflammation and skin irritation caused by rosacea. The addition of jojoba, avocado, and mauka honey moisturizes and conditions the skin, keeping dryness and tightness at bay.

13

Replenix Green Tea Gentle Soothing Cleanser

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Using potent medical-grade ingredients and cutting-edge skincare technologies, Replenix provides visible results. This soothing cleanser is infused with ingredients that calm redness, irritation, and inflammation associated with rosacea. Green tea is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory component that reduces rosacea’s symptoms as well as provides UV protection. Vitamins A, C, and E nourishes the skin and protects its moisture barrier while stabilized CoQ10 fights against free radicals, reducing the signs of aging.

14

Rosadyn+ Gel Cleanser

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Rosadyn+’s gel cleanser is specifically made for oily skin affected by rosacea. The unscented formula treats rosacea from inside and out. It gently cleanses the face, unclogging the congested pores and drying up the areas that breed rosacea pustules. Using natural ingredients such as soothing aloe vera, healing organic honey, hydrating oat straw, and vitamins E and B5, the cleanser repairs the damage caused by rosacea and prevents it from re-occurring. Vitamins E and B5 reduce skin redness and blemishes, providing relief from inflammation.

15

Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Cleanser

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Chamomile is one of the most effective rosacea-friendly ingredients. It is known to calm sensitive skin, minimizing inflammation and redness. Eminence Calm Skin Cleanser has chamomile as its key ingredient. The additional ingredients, calendula and sunflower oil, arnica, and grape leaf extract aid in removing impurities and hydrating the dry skin for a balanced and healthy complexion. It thoroughly cleanses the skin without stripping off the natural oils and moisture, leaving the skin soft and nourished.

16

LEMYKA Foaming Face Wash

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The foaming facial cleanser by LEMYKA is hypoallergenic and pH-balanced. Formulated with skin-loving elements such as aloe vera, calendula, argan oil, algae extract, chamomile, and vitamin B3, it keeps your skin hydrated and soft. Aloe vera’s soothing and healing effects, calendula’s restoring quality, argan oil’s capacity to reduce redness, and algae’s anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties combine together to treat the symptoms of rosacea without leaving the skin dry. Chamomile and vitamin B3 reduce inflammations and improve the natural barrier of the skin.

17

TriDerma Facial Redness Cleanser

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Specifically formulated to be gentle yet effective, TriDerma’s Facial Redness Cleanser cleanses irritated skin, reducing redness and improving skin tone. It lifts off dirt and pollutants while maintaining the moisture barrier of the skin. Perfect for sensitive skin, it contains organic aloe, licorice, plum, chamomile, and raspberry extracts, and AP4 virgin aloe complex. These skin-friendly botanicals provide refined and smooth skin by combating and easing the soreness and irritation caused by rosacea.

As rosacea is a chronic skin condition that cannot be cured completely, we have to look for remedies and skin care products that can keep it under control. Keeping the skin clean is one way to minimize flare-ups. When choosing a facial cleanser for rosacea, utmost care should be taken as most skin-friendly ingredients are not rosacea-friendly. Follow the below-mentioned points to select the best cleanser for rosacea:

• Ingredients: As rosacea causes facial redness and inflammation, it is very important to use products that have soothing and calming properties. Ingredients such as tea tree oil, green tea, aloe vera, and chamomile have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that heal and repair the skin, nourishing it from within. Azelaic acid decreases the swelling and redness while glycolic acid controls the symptoms from reappearing. Salicylic acid, Benzoyl peroxide can help in shedding dead skin and reducing the appearance of redness.  Hydrating agents like hyaluronic acids, vitamin B5, and glycerine can provide the necessary hydration to the skin while defending the skin’s moisture barrier from environmental damage.
• Formulations: Rosacea-prone skin should use a cleanser with a hypoallergenic formula that is free from alcohol, artificial fragrance, parabens, sulfates, and other synthetic ingredients. Rosacea-friendly cleansers have a gentle formula that is pH-balancing, replenishing, restoring, and soothing.
• Skin type: Skin type also plays an important role when choosing a cleanser for rosacea. For oily skin suffering from rosacea, a gentle foaming formula will give the skin deep cleansing while for dry rosacea skin, a creamy formula will help moisturize and hydrate the skin. Gel cleansers are suitable for all skin types.
• Customer reviews: Customer reviews are as necessary as the ingredients list on the product. Just as by going through the ingredients list, we can gather the effectiveness of the product, by going through the customer reviews we can learn whether they will be effective for our skin or not.

By following a dedicated and proper skin care regimen, you can keep the rosacea symptoms in check. Here is a simple rosacea skincare routine that might help you in managing the discomforts caused by the chronic skin issue:

• Cleansing: Keeping rosacea-affected skin clean is an essential way to control the symptoms. Wash your face daily with a gentle cleanser that has hydrating agents to keep your skin calm and relaxed. Hydration is very important to keep the skin from getting inflamed.
• Moisturizing: Moisturizing will replenish sensitive skin, keeping the skin nourished and safe from external damage.
• Sunscreen: UV rays are very harmful to skin suffering from rosacea. It aggravates the inflammations and flushings. Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher will protect your skin from damage. Mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are safe sunscreens for rosacea that provide the delicate skin with optimum sun protection. 

Avoid using cleansers that wipe off the skin’s natural oils and moisture barrier, leaving your skin dry and rough. Cleansers with harsh ingredients, chemicals, alcohol, fragrances, and active ingredients are not rosacea-friendly. Products with hydroxy acid should be avoided in skins prone to rosacea. Exfoliating rosacea skin should be done with caution keeping in mind to avoid physical exfoliants with alpha hydroxy acids as they will further irritate and aggravate the skin.

“When I talk to patients about what they should be using on their face in the context of rosacea, the first would be to start with a very gentle hydrating cleanser. No harsh soaps, nothing that's foaming, nothing that's drying because what that's gonna do is it's just gonna stoke the fire, creating more redness,” says Dr. Mona Gohara.

As we have found out, through our practical knowledge, a cleanser with gentle formulation and hydrating properties is your answer to getting rid of the painful and sore discomfort related to rosacea. Our contributor Dr. Anna Chacon explains ways to take care of rosacea skin, saying, “Managing rosacea typically involves a combination of skincare and lifestyle changes. This includes using gentle skincare products, more sun protection, avoiding triggers like spicy foods and alcohol, and potentially using prescribed medications.”

Rosacea-prone skin is super sensitive and gets irritated with just a little trigger. It should be treated with utmost care. Cleansers that have soothing ingredients like aloe vera, green tea, and chamomile backed by hydrating components such as hyaluronic acid, glycerine, and vitamin B5 are the best cleansers for rosacea. Along with anti-inflammatory properties, they also hydrate and moisturize the skin, maintaining the skin’s pH level and strengthening the skin’s natural protective barrier. If topical products have not been effective, opting for light therapy can help in managing rosacea.

Contributor: Dr. Anna Chacon, M.D. Dermatologist, MyPsoriasisTeam