It’s estimated that one in ten Britons suffer with rosacea—and Strictly Come Dancing hopeful Vicky Pattison is one of them.
The 37-year-old managed to get the condition—which causes redness in the face—under control when she started being treated by Dr Nina Bal at her Facial Sculpting clinic more than five years ago.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dr Bal explained that reducing Vicky’s redness was the first thing on her aesthetics agenda.
She said: ‘When I first met her, she was really suffering with rosacea, her skin was very red, was very inflamed.
‘Her main concern was the redness and the flare-ups of the rosacea.’
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that affects the forehead, cheeks, nose and chin and very occasionally the neck.
It causes redness, visible blood vessels—commonly called spider veins—and sometimes small, red, pus-filled bumps (papules).
The condition often begins with episodes of flushing, where the skin temporarily turns red.
Vicky Pattison’s main concern was rosacea, says Dr Bal, who has treated her for over five years
This can be triggered by drinking hot drinks or food, consuming alcohol , or going from a hot room to cold environment or visa-versa.
Over time, the redness may become more persistent, and the blood vessels can become more noticeable.
It is most commonly seen in women aged over 30,
Because is rosacea is linked to having a weakened or compromised skin barrier—the top layer of skin which keeps moisture in and nasties out—the condition can also cause a burning or stinging sensation, dryness, and sensitivity to skincare products.
When it came to getting Vicky’s rosacea under control, Dr Bal focused on soothing her irritated skin barrier using medical-grade products and consistency.
Dr Bal opted for products from Alumier MD, setting Vicky up with their SensiCalm cleanser, skin-barrier boosting Recovery Balm, and the Canadian brand’s best-selling Bright and Clear solution.
‘She didn’t really have a skincare routine and she was using whatever products she came across.
‘It was all over the place, so we put her on a medical grade skincare regime, and she has been on it ever since, with adaptions as needed.’
Vicky is paired with Kai Widdrington on this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing
Once her overall skin health had improved, Dr Bal began incorporating other treatments—which are offered at high street aesthetics clinics across the UK—to improve her skin from within.
‘The focus is on collagen simulation, hydration, skin boosting, skin plumping and anti inflammatory treatments,’ she said.
‘Over the years, to hydrate her skin she has had a lot of Profhilo injections, which have worked so well for her.’
Profhilo is an injectable skin-booster treatment made of a high concentration of hyaluronic acid (HA), which locks on to moisture molecules and makes skin look plumper.
‘Then we have been doing a lot of polyneucleotides over the eyes and over the face,’ she added.
‘They have really strong anti inflammatory properties, so they really help with the rosacea as well.’
Polynucleotides are chains of nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA.
Injecting them into the skin stimulates collagen production and can make your skin look tighter and hydrated.
Dr Bal has adapted her skincare plan for while she’s competing on the show
In the UK, it’s illegal to use human DNA for this treatment—in Korea, where rules are more relaxed, they use foetal stemcells—so instead, DNA from salmon is used.
Competing on Strictly Come Dancing isn’t just a gruelling physical challenge—working up a sweat and wearing heavy makeup can take a serious toll on your skin, too.
That’s why, Dr Nina Bal explains, she has had to amend Vicky’s usual skincare regime, stripping away any products which could trigger a flare up, such as vitamin A, commonly referred to as retinol.
Vicky is competing on the programme with pro dancer Kai Widdington, and to make sure she looks her best for the Saturday night shows and other media appearances, she’s been having additional treatments to reduce facial puffiness, such as lymphatic drainage massages.
For people struggling with rosacea, Dr Bal has some sage advice.
‘Make sure you cleanse your skin thoroughly, especially if you’ve been wearing makeup.
‘Get a cleanser with salicylic acid, and a very thick moisturiser—especially now it’s getting colder.
‘Most importantly, use an SPF every single day. We are edging towards winter, but the UV and UVB rays are still very much there.’