Rosacea is a flush or rash on our chin, nose, cheeks, and forehead, and is noticeably with small bumps and pimples on our cheeks, sore eyes and eyelids, and may rarely with a swollen, red nose. Flare-ups are due to inflammation of the tiny blood vessels under our skin. On why rosacea develops in the first place is remained unknown, but medical statistics show that rosacea condition seems to run in families, and is more common in women aged 30-55, and sadly to say may persist throughout one's life.
However, rosacea is believed is a condition triggered by factors such as emotional stress, alcohol, or hot and spicy food. The important thing that we should know about is that flare-ups are usually caused by something that makes us flush or overheat.
From the alternative medicine and practical home medical treatment point of view to reduce the symptoms, you can:
- Some foods and drinks trigger attacks. Try to identify which, if any, are affecting you. By doing so, it will help you to avoid those trigger substances, i.e. particular foods and drinks, such as coffee, alcohol, and spicy food, that can cause flare-ups of rosacea. What you can do is to keep a diary of your symptoms and what you have eaten when they occur. Also, try eliminating any suspect foods or drinks for up to 6 weeks to see if there is an improvement, you may reintroduce foods and drinks one at a time, noting which provoke an attack and need to be avoided.
- Use mild cleansers and avoid any that contain alcohol. Remember not to rub your face hard.
- Put a cold compress, i.e. a face cloth soaked in ice-cold water on the flushed areas to cool your skin.
- lf you are a man with rosacea, use an electric shaver rather than wet shave.
- Bathe or shower in tepid, rather than hot water.
- Use a moisturizer to protect your skin against the drying effects of cold weather.
- Wear cotton rather than wool and dress in layers so you can remove a layer if you begin to feel hot.
- To minimize redness, you may try a green-tinted foundation. You should choose one that is specially formulated for sensitive skin. Should you want to use camouflage creams, seek specialist advice on selecting and applying them.
How do I prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of attacks?
- It is important to know that sunlight can cause flare-ups, hence stay in the shade on hot summer days and wear a hat. When you are in the sun, use a sunscreen and sunblock with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, if you have very fair skin and for all children since they are less likely to irritate your skin. What you could do is to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out, and should reapply every 2 hours, and each time after you have been swimming.
What are sunscreens and sunblocks? These are products designed to protect our skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight. You may want to know that sunscreen are graded by sun protection factor, i.e. SPF. Usually a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 is recommended as it can protect us against both UVA and UVB rays. In fact, most people need an SPF of 15 or higher, that says the fairer your skin, the higher the factor is required, and much higher factors may be needed at high altitude, or when skiing, for example.
- Do know the effect of and avoid the rapid changes of temperature, for example, going straight from the cold outdoors into a hot room.
- Try to practise deep breathing exercises and muscle relaxation techniques, if you tend to have flare-ups of rosacea when you are feeling under stress.
How about natural remedies and vitamin supplements?
As far as this is concerned, just be sure to give them a chance to work, as their full effect may not be obvious for several weeks.
Below is a list for easy reference:
- Borage oil / Evening primrose oil / Flaxseed oil / Grape seed extract – can speed the healing of skin, as well as have an anti-inflammatory effect, in turn will help relieve itching and irritation, and to stimulate the contraction of the blood vessels.
- Vitamin A - keeps our skin cells from excessive thickening and hardening.
- Vitamin B complex – especially the riboflavin. Work by compensating for a deficiency in B vitamins commonly found in people with rosacea. Medical research has indicated that riboflavin can improve our skin's resistance to the mite Dermodex follicularum, a possible cause of rosacea.
- Vitamin B12 - the added dose of vitamin B12, together with B complex is beneficial for cell growth and repair.
- Vitamin C and flavonoids - well-known for their nutritional necessities for optimal performance of blood vessels, capillaries and connective tissue, since people with rosacea have a disorder in the small blood vessels beneath their skin.
- Zinc with copper – can aid in healing irritation of the epidermis, i.e. the top layer of the skin.
(Related phrases for record purpose: acne rosacea, rosacea skin care, rosacea cure, rosacea symptoms, rosacea diet, rosacea skin condition, acne rosacea treatment, rosacea cream, rosacea pictures, rosacea laser)
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