The Basics of
Rosacea
by Laura Kopec
It is estimated that over 14 million
Americans have Rosacea and the numbers are growing. A significant number of
individuals currently do not even know they have Rosacea. According to a recent
The International Rosacea Foundation
defines Rosacea as a chronic inflammation of the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead,
and/or eyelids. Rosacea can be confused with acne, but there are some distinct
differences. Rosacea does not typically include blackheads, although pimples
can appear along with a redness and swelling of the skin. In situations where
pimples do occur alongside other Rosacea symptoms the diagnosis is often Acne
Rosacea. What distinguishes Rosacea from acne are the symptoms occurring in the
vascular part of the face. Tiny blood vessels called telangiectasia become
inflamed and over time a period of time, this inflammation known as vascularity
can become permanent. With enlarged
blood vessels comes a discoloration of the skin, a swelling called hyperplasia
and pimples that develop from weakened skin prone to infection. The lack of
proper treatment and care in the early stages of Rosacea can lead to further
advancement of Rosacea including papules, a small skin lesion or open sores
called pustules which can be incredibly painful and uncomfortable to deal with.
There are three phases of Rosacea. Phase
1 called Pre-Rosacea is a mild form of Rosacea where the skin is red and
flushed giving the appearance of splotchy sunburn. Phase 2 Rosacea can also be
referred to as Vascular Rosacea. Swelling increases along with an increase in redness
and the skin may develop an oiliness and flakiness. The final stage of Rosacea,
Phase 3 is the most severe. Also known as Inflammatory Rosacea, in Phase 3 skin
develops open sores called pustules and these sores can become infected. Dry
and itchiness can continue during this stage.
Rosacea is still one of the most
confusing skin conditions for doctors. Rosacea is more common in women, but
typically more severe in men. There are so many factors contributing to Rosacea
including individual pH, lifestyle, diet and skin care, and Rosacea is often
accompanied by other skin conditions such as acne and dermatitis. All of this
leaves doctors confused, and leaves treatment results varying from person to
person.
Rosacea can be brought on by severe
sunburn, or repeated exposure to the sun. Rosacea can also be brought on by
acne treatments that have weakened the skin, including antibiotics that cause
the infection to develop resistance to future antibiotics. Recently studies
link specific bacteria to Rosacea. This bacterium is different from a virus,
whereas a virus is often difficult to treat because of its ability to mutate
and reoccur, bacteria is often treatable and can be eliminated. There are two kinds of bacteria linked to
Rosacea. The first is a mite called Demodex folliculorum that lives in human
hair that gets into the sebaceous glands of the skin. The other is a chronic
bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal system call Helicobacter pylori.
Pylori are the bacteria that is now known to cause ulcers. Individuals with
stomach ulcers and other digestive or acid reflux conditions may notice that
have also developed Rosacea in their later adult years.
There are a number of other related
factors that may contribute to Rosacea. Often medications for heart conditions
that cause blood vessels to widen can also encourage a widening of the blood
vessels on the face. Hidden food allergies that develop later in life as the
digestive system changes, or food allergies that occur from hormonal changes can
result in Rosacea. These hidden food allergies are considered hidden because
the body’s response to the ingested food trigger is not typical. Some foods
that have been linked with Rosacea are coffee, alcohol, hot and spicy food
(this one has more to do with the increase in blood flow the spice causes) and
more recently wheat and dairy. After puberty, most adults loose the enzyme
necessary for proper digestion of dairy, but the American diet is so heavy with
dairy that the correlation of health problems with the inability to digest
diary is elusive. Wheat allergies are one of the fastest growing allergies in
this country. More and more individuals are finding a host of health problems
that relieve themselves when wheat is taken out of the diet.
There are a number of solutions for
addressing Rosacea in a complete and comprehensive manner looking at not only
treating what is going on in the skin, but looking at what is going on inside
the body and looking at Rosacea as a condition affecting the whole body. It is easy
to forget the dependency that each system has on the other in the body, but no
part of the body works completely independent from the rest of the body. The
skin is our largest organ and an orifice and is a window to the internal
conditions of our body.
A total cleanse is the first step to
making sure internal bacteria is being addressed and vital organs are being
flushed out and encouraged to work better. There are a number of really good
cleanses on the market today. Due to the possibility of pylori in the system,
adding an acidophilus supplement to the diet will be essential to restore the
healthy flora of the digestive system. In most cases of ill health the
acid/alkaline balance in the body has been disrupted. In order to restore
balance, it is necessary to measure and pay attention to pH. Restoring the
body’s pH can be crucial in eliminating Rosacea.
Determining hidden food allergies is
essential to restoring internal balance and keeping the food trigger from
claiming more skin. A four week elimination diet can quickly determine the
possibility of a food allergy. Eliminating the top food allergens from diet
beginning with wheat, dairy, soy, corn, sugar, citrus, coffee, sulfites, alcohol
(in food/drink and on the skin) and other acidic foods at the start of the four
weeks with a gradual reintroduction of each food throughout the weeks can be
helpful. Acidic foods do not allow the
skin to regenerate since it alters the alkaline balance in the skin necessary
for the skin to repair cell tissue. Acid will also accumulate as the body ages,
and which is why Rosacea can appear in midlife. There are many excellent
allergy specialists to assist identifying food triggers.
When using a topical to treat Rosacea,
complete elimination of Rosacea may or may not occur due to the complex nature
of this skin condition and all the contributing factors. A number of products available on the market
promise to address symptoms of Rosacea, but most products will only slow cell
regeneration, encourage cell death and further aggravate skin irritations by
not allowing the skin to function properly. In some cases a cortisone
medications or steroid cream may be prescribed by your doctor, but in a
significant number of cases the reduction of redness is short lived because
steroids can actually widen blood vessels. A reduction in the amount of toxins
the skin is ingested can greatly speed up the healing process and using topical
solutions that contain all natural and simple ingredients can reduce the risk
of further skin aggravation.
Rosacea does not have to be a skin
condition that continues to plague so many Americans. With proper information,
good nutrition and good skin care, many can begin to heal their skin and
improve the quality of their lives. One by one, Rosacea can become a skin
condition of the past.
Information provided is solely for informational purposes
only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not use this
information for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or
prescribing of any medications or supplements. Only your healthcare provider
should diagnose your healthcare problems and prescribe treatment. None of our
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