What’s Your Headache Telling You?
(Health Secrets) Rosacea, sometimes called adult acne, is a chronic skin condition in which the face turns red, may swell, and may have skin sores that look like acne. The cause of rosacea is unknown. Although conventional doctors havel developed drug protocols for treating rosacea, natural treatments usually give the best results.
Symptoms of rosacea include redness of the face, blushing or flushing easily, a lot of spider-like blood vessels (telangiectasia), occasionally a red nose (called a bulbous nose), skin sores that may ooze or crust, burning or stinging feeling in the face, and irritated, bloodshot, watery eyes.
Rosacea is generally considered a harmless condition. Typically, women who are fair skinned and age 30-50 may display symptoms. When men develop Rosacea the symptoms are more severe. Other associated skin disorders include acne vulgaris, seborrhea, or eye disorders (blepharitis, keratitis).
Rosacea has two phases. In the first, there is a tendency to develop flushing or blushing easily. This usually progresses to a persistent redness in the central portion of the face, particularly around the nose. This redness results from the dilation of blood vessels close to the skin’s surface.
In the second phase, inflammation develops, and small red bumps or pustules may appear, persist and spread. About half the people with rosacea also experience ocular rosacea, a burning and gritty sensation in the eyes with the inner skin of the eyelids becoming inflamed or scaly.
Your doctor may be able to help identify the things, known as triggers, that make your symptoms worse. You will want to avoid triggers to prevent or reduce flare-ups. Triggers are unique to the individual’s physiology and skin type, and may include wind, hot baths, cold weather, specific skin products, exercise, or other factors.
Typical recommendations to ease or prevent symptoms of rosacea include avoiding sun exposure, using sunscreen every day, avoiding a lot of activity in hot weather, reducing stress, deep breathing, yoga or other relaxation techniques, and limiting spicy foods, alcohol, and hot beverages. If you choose to use sun screen every day remember that sunscreen inhibits your skin’s ability to create vitamin D. Vitamin D is critical to being cancer free.
Physicians and dermatologists have specific treatment protocols that include antibiotics and drugs that use components similar to those found in vitamin A. In severe cases laser surgery may help reduce the redness and remove some swollen nose tissue. According to standard medical thinking rosacea cannot be cured, but may be managed with treatment.
Steroid-induced rosacea has been called the great imposter because it develops from the long-term use of topical corticosteroids, These medicines are commonly prescribed for skin therapy to reduce inflammation and redness, but they can actually cause rosacea-like symptoms. If you have developed rosacea, it may be the result of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or inflammatory bowel disease, as well as dermatitis and vitiligo. Typically, rosacea-like symptoms due to corticosteroids end when one stops using the medication.
Several natural products are effective for treating rosacea. These are:
Aloe Vera gel
Green Tea Seed Oil
Camellia Seed oil
Kukui oil
Emu oil
Carrot Seed oil
Cypress
Lavender
Tea Tree
Try to develop a natural treatment program as many of the available drugs can have serious adverse effects. Use a facial cleansing program that includes enzymes whether in a homemade concoction or commercial product. Rose water is a wonderful toner that shrinks pores. You can get economical rose water at an Indian market.
Try a yogurt facial. Enzymes (which are in yogurt) are very good at eliminating dead skin cells. Enzymes seem to penetrate the skin and help tone weak skin capillaries. Salicylic acid (an ingredient found in aspirin and originally gotten from willow tree bark) is very useful for getting the red out. During the winter you might try using a commercial cleanser that has pumpkin as an essential ingredient. During the summer, try a cleanser that includes white cranberries. After cleansing, rotate between moisturizers based on the weather, with natural ingredients such as evening primrose oil, almond oil, olive oil, rice protein, calendula, and hemp.
A favorite skin cleanser is natural dish detergent made with enzymes, lemon and eucalyptus, which should be diluted with water to about 60 percent detergent and 40 percent water. Caution, if you have very sensitive skin, use enzyme cleansers with care as they may be too potent for every day use. Pregnant women should not use salicylic acid.
For more information:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001882/
http://www.rosacea.org/weblog/great-impostor-steroid-induced-rosacea
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rosacea/DS00308/DSECTION=symptoms
http://www.mychelle.com/skin-care/Redness#.UddHwsu9KK0
