Tanya wants to know (via FaceBook)…Hi! I just read an article about sun protection written by a pro in cosmetology. Speaking about ways to protect skin with couperose in summer she highly recommended Pevonia Botanica RS2 Concentrate but for me this is a really pricey product. Could you guys explain why she says it is good, what the active ingredients are, and – what’s most important – what the alternative/cheaper cosmetic products for couperose are?
The Left Brain replies:
Thanks for being a Facebook Fan, Tanya. But before I address your question about Pevonia Botanica RS2 Concentrate I’d like to raise another question: What exactly is “couperose skin?”
What is couperose?
Surprisingly, this question was harder to answer than I expected. The only references I could find when searching for information on couperose were related to another condition, rosacea. We’ve blogged about Rosacea before. It’s is a common skin condition that causes redness across the nose, cheeks,forehead and chin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), there are four subtypes of rosacea:
- Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: Redness, flushing, visible blood vessels
- Papulopustular rosacea: Redness, swelling, and acne-like breakouts
- Phymatous rosacea: Skin thickens and has a bumpy texture
- Ocular rosacea: Eyes red and irritated, eyelids can be swollen.
Interestingly, the AAD website makes no reference at all to couperose. After additional searching I’ve found two basic facts: first that couperose symptoms include redness visible blood vessels and second, couperose is a often translated as “rosacea.” So, without a definitive answer from another expert source the best I can figure out is that couperose is a synonym for Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (subtype 1.) If anyone has further details please leave a comment along with a reference and I’ll update this post. Now, back to Pevonia.
Pevonia
According to their website, Pevonia contains several “key ingredients” including Green Tea, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (Licorice), Olibanum (Frankincense), and French Rose Essential Oil and it provides the following benefits:
- Immediate feeling of comfort
- Cools and decongests
- Controls blotchiness and reduces skin heat
- Strengthens capillaries, heals
It’s difficult to assess the formula without seeing all the ingredients (it always makes me suspicious when a company only lists some of the ingredients in their product.) On the positive side, licorice extract has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. On the other hand, rose oil can actually be a skin sensitizer and irritant. The product claims are also somewhat troubling. Any skin lotion can provide a “feeling of comfort.” But “strengthening capillaries, heals” is clearly a drug claim that is not allowed for cosmetics (at least not in the U.S.). Furthermore, this product doesn’t contain other ingredients that are known to help with rosacea like sunscreen or salicylic acid. So, without clear cut evidence that this product contains a functional ingredient at active levels, I’m skeptical of its performance.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Stick with cheaper products that can relieve the symptoms of rosacea. The Cosmetic Cop has a good explanation of which ingredients to look for. Finally, consult your dermatologist if your skin doesn’t clear up.
References:
American Academy of Dermatologists
http://www.pevonia.com/pevonia-botanica-rs2-concentrate.aspx?mode=review
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I also think Couperose is a synonym for rosacea. But there may be other causes of dilated blood vessels in the face. For example, I think sun damage can cause them.
If you have rosacea, be sure to see a dermatologist to see if a prescription topical (or, if severe, oral) medication could help. Your friendly public service announcer.
I’ll take a stab at the word, but with the disclaimer that I’m not positive that I’m correct. It is not a term we use in the US, though I’ve seen in. I think it might be the French word for rosacea (I don’t speak French though). I’m also not sure if it implies a rosacea subtype.
I treat a ton of rosacea patients and my favorite skin care basics for rosacea are 1. pyrithione zinc soap in an extremely mild base, 2. Green tea+caffeine+hyaluronic acid cream called Replenix CF or Power of three 3. Avoidance of things that irritate skin such as many acne or anti-aging products, sun, wind etc.
Couperouse is a French term for rosacea, yes, but in the general sense, not a single type.
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosac%C3%A9e_(pathologie)
Weirdly, we use Fu erode all the time in my profession. It’s redness specifically from a vascular origin. Rosacea typically being one of the most likely form of red skin, which includes some sort of capillary distending or spied veins so the term is often linked with the condition when in reality it’s simply a symptom of rosacea not a synonym. Telagenctasia is also a form of coupe rose skin, in this case it is specifically spide veins or cherry angiomas ( I’d have to double chek that one if anyone is interested). Does at help answer tha question?
Arch, auto correct is at it again, that first sentence should read: …we use couperose all the time….
This might seem a little strange, but I actually contracted a reaction from Pevonia products that was misdiagnosed as Rosacea! They still have not isolated what the reaction was too, which is rather unfortunate considering the products were highly recommended to me by friends.