This conversation is sponsored by Galderma. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

No, it's not a sunburn. I'm sharing my story about one of my biggest sources of insecurity, my rosacea, in partnership with Face Up to Rosacea.

The crashing waves, heavenly. I loved my bathing suit. And I FINALLY, after years of work, felt comfortable in it.  And I'd been looking forward to this girls’ day at the beach for weeks. One of the best parts of living in Southern California? Proximity to the beach. And I felt like I was finally able to enjoy it.

I parked at the pier, and the minute I got out of the car to walk across the sand to my group of friends (it was practically a miracle that we had all freed ourselves up for the day, arranged childcare, etc.), the heat hit me —and so did my insecurities. In a matter of five minutes, I was as red as a tomato. In fact, I could feel the flushing already beginning. My chest was getting pink and so were my cheeks. GREAT.  So much for the fact that I finally felt okay with my thighs…now my skin flushing was going to do me in.

This is something I've rarely discussed here. My rosacea. It's taken away joy from wonderful moments and made me insecure at times I wished I wasn't.

What is rosacea? It's a chronic, but treatable, skin condition that primarily affects the face, impacting over 16 million Americans and 415 million people worldwide. ¹² What does it look like for ME? FLUSHING. I turn bright red. My cheeks, my entire face, my neck and chest. I can't tell you how many redness-neutralizing products I've tried over the years. And guess what? The redness hadn’t gone away.

Characterized by frequent facial redness, blushing or flushing, acne-like breakouts, visible blood vessels and/or sensitive skin with burning, itching or stinging, rosacea causes physical symptoms but also profound emotional and psychological impacts.³

In a recent survey, 90% of respondents said rosacea’s effect on personal appearance had lowered their self-esteem and self-confidence.⁴

Everyone with rosacea experiences different triggers but the ones that affect me the most?1 Stress and heat.⁵  So, public speaking is typically out even though I would LOVE to do more of it. Also, the beach. I got over how I feel about my thighs and I love the beach, but man do I wish I didn’t turn red in the sun IMMEDIATELY. For a long time, I tried to avoid triggers. But I started to feel increasingly frustrated. Is that really a way to live?

Earlier this year, I had finally had enough. I’ve done so much work to be confident and comfortable with my body, I wasn’t going to let this continue to derail my progress. So I did it; I finally visited a dermatologist to discuss my treatment options. And I have to tell you guys, my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. We discussed the best choices for ME and my lifestyle. And I'm so excited and empowered about what's to come. Do you struggle with rosacea? Face Up to Rosacea aims to encourage people frustrated with this chronic skin condition to take action by visiting a dermatologist. Click here to visit their site for more information and resources.

1. National Rosacea Society. All About Rosacea. https://www.rosacea.org/patients/allaboutrosacea.php. Accessed on May 18, 2020.
2. National Rosacea Society. What Is Rosacea? https://www.rosacea.org/. Accessed on May 18, 2020.
3. National Rosacea Society. All About Rosacea. https://www.rosacea.org/patients/allaboutrosacea.php. Accessed on May 18, 2020.
4. Coping With Rosacea: National Rosacea Society. Managing Psychological and Social Aspects of Rosacea. https://www.rosacea.org/patients/materials/coping-with-rosacea/managing-psychological-and-social-aspects-of-rosacea. Accessed on May 18, 2020.
5. National Rosacea Society. Rosacea Triggers Survey. https://www.rosacea.org/patients/materials/triggersgraph.php. Accessed on April 3, 2020.