Tag: #Rosacea

What To Do About Rosacea

You’ve consulted with a dermatologist and learned that the signs and symptoms you’ve been experiencing are in fact a recognized and treatable medical disorder called rosacea. It’s a huge relief to finally know what it is and get it under control.

But the initial visit with your doctor is just the beginning. Even though your symptoms may already be improving, to keep rosacea at bay it’s critical to take the next step: become a partner with your physician in managing your condition.

Follow your doctor’s advice.

Rosacea can’t be cured, but its symptoms can be reduced or sent into remission through medical therapy and lifestyle changes. Your physician will work with you to determine the treatment regimen that works best in your individual case. It’s important to use any prescription as directed, and to meet with your doctor regularly so he or she can monitor your progress.

Complying with long-term medical therapy can seem like a demanding commitment, and it may be tempting to stop using a medication if it doesn’t work right away — or to quit as soon as your signs and symptoms improve. However, it usually takes several weeks or even months before the effects of medical therapy are noticeable on your skin, so you may not be allowing enough time for treatment to work. And while it may seem odd to continue treating symptoms that aren’t there, rosacea is a chronic disorder characterized by remissions and flare-ups, so sticking with a consistent long-term preventive therapy will help ensure that your condition stays in remission or under control.

Take care of your skin.

In addition to medication, a gentle skin care regimen may also help maintain remission, as many rosacea patients have found that incorporating medical therapy into their daily facial care routine is a painless and efficient way to comply with treatment.

Begin each day with a thorough but gentle facial cleansing. Use a mild cleanser that is not abrasive, and spread it with your fingertips. Avoid using rough wash cloths, brushes or loofahs, as abrasive items can irritate sensitive skin. Rinse your face with lukewarm water, and use a thick cotton towel to blot your face dry without tugging or pulling the skin.

Let your face dry thoroughly before applying any topical medication, moisturizer or makeup. Topical medication may be applied before or after moisturizer — just be sure to let the skin dry before applying each product.

Repeat the cleansing process at night to remove any makeup or dirt accumulated throughout the day. Air dry and apply your topical medication. See our skin care and cosmetics section for more tips.

Identify and avoid your triggers.

Rosacea triggers are environmental and lifestyle factors that may cause a sufferer to experience a flare-up of signs and symptoms. Here are the most common rosacea trigger factors, according to an NRS survey of 1,066 rosacea patients:

While the list of potential tripwires may at first appear overwhelming, not every rosacea patient will be affected by each one, and what may cause a reaction in one patient may not in another. To help determine your individual rosacea triggers, try keeping a diary that tracks what you ate, weather conditions, stress levels and other factors that might affect your condition. After two or more weeks of daily diary use, review the entries and look for items that seem to coincide with flare-ups and eliminate those factors wherever possible. If eliminating these factors minimizes flare-ups, you have probably identified the key personal trigger factors you should avoid to help keep your rosacea under control.

Take care of your mental health too.

The potential psychological and social impact of rosacea should not be underestimated or ignored. The conspicuous redness, blemishes and swelling caused by rosacea can take a significant toll on self-confidence and self-esteem, and the uncertainty about when a flare-up might occur can increase stress and anxiety. NRS patient surveys have found that the disorder can affect personal and workplace interactions, cause sufferers to avoid social engagements, and subject them to insensitive questions and stares from strangers.

You can help turn the situation around by taking appropriate action to manage emotional stress, a leading trigger factor. Many patients also find that passing information about rosacea on to family, friends, acquaintances and co-workers both reduces awkwardness and boosts confidence. And fortunately, the majority of rosacea patients surveyed have reported that their emotional and social well-being improved once their condition was effectively under control.

Millions of people suffer from rosacea, yet increasing numbers have achieved substantial control over their disorder. The best defense in conquering rosacea is to comply with long-term medical therapy and minimize lifestyle and environmental factors that aggravate you

Source: What to Do Now | Rosacea.org

Celebrities with Rosacea

Rosacea is a long-term skin condition that can be controlled to some extent but can’t be completely cured. In 2011, one study found that almost half of UK adults reported symptoms of rosacea to their doctor and although it normally occurs after the age of 30, Dr Tabi Leslie, London dermatologist and spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation, says that there has been a rise in younger patients.

Celebrities with rosacea include Cynthia Nixon, Sam Smith and Prince William and the chronic skin condition affects almost half of us – often getting worse in winter – but what exactly is it?

Musician, Sam Smith told US Weekly that he too suffers with rosacea while it has been rumored that Cameron Diaz and Renee Zellweger have it too. Prince William could have inherited the condition from his late Mother, Princess Diana.

Typically, rosacea affects the face and can be characterized by flare-ups and redness on the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. If left untreated, bumps and pimples can develop, and in severe cases, the nose may grow swollen and bulbous.

What causes rosacea?

Although it is common that rosacea runs in families, Dr Tabi confirms that a genetic link hasn’t been established and instead, rosacea is much more associated with environmental and lifestyle factors.

Lex Gillies blamed her flare ups on her party lifestyle while she was at university, but soon she realised that they would occur daily, while Cynthia Nixon noted that her triggers were exercise, red wine and spicy food.

‘We’re not sure why, but rosacea is made worse by red wine, spirits, caffeinated drinks and spicy foods,’ says Dr Tabi, ‘all of those are on the increase along with increased exposure to other rosacea triggers such as sunlight.’

How can I treat it?

girl-putting-cream-on-face-5-celebs-with-rosacea-by-healthista

Currently there is no permanent cure for rosacea, but there are plenty of ways you can keep it under control.

If you find that you’re flushing a lot or your skin is staying red between flushing episodes then your GP can prescribe an anti-inflammatory ointment called azelaic acid or antibiotics called tratracyclines that work in lower doses to reduce the inflammation.

Additionally, a new drug called bromonidine was licensed earlier this year and it is the first prescription treatment that targets skin redness of rosacea.  It restricts the dilation of blood vessels that cause redness and the effects last 12 hours.

Laser treatments are also available to help control rosacea. They work as the light travels through the skin and is converted in to heat, clotting the blood and destroying visible blood vessels. If laser treatments and medication aren’t the route you want to take to help your rosacea, then there are cosmetic treatments you can try.

Source: 5 celebrities you didn’t know have rosacea plus 5 products to help – Healthista

Rosacea Triggers

Cynthia Bailey

Coping with rosacea can be difficult, especially if your symptoms are severe. Symptoms of rosacea may include redness, inflammation, itching, irritation, tenderness, acne-like bumps, and dry, irritated eyes. Not only can rosacea cause physical discomfort, but it can also cause people to become very self-conscious about their appearance, leading to social difficulties. There’s no cure for the condition, but there are ways of managing rosacea so that it doesn’t have a significant negative impact on your life.

Here are some of the factors that can aggravate rosacea and your skin.

Looking at the list, you will discover that there are triggers you may not have realized. Below is another list of triggers. Beware of the sun!

Source: National Rosacea Society

Can you create a list of “safe” foods and products to use? I hope you will use these lists to manage your rosacea symptoms.

Coping with Rosacea

The Many Faces of Rosacea

Rosacea can vary substantially from one patient to another. The following photographs reflect common patterns of signs and symptoms, although it’s important to note that signs and symptoms may appear in a wide variety of combinations.

Rosacea sufferers often experience flushing and persistent facial redness. Small blood vessels may also become visible in some patients, and stinging, burning, swelling and roughness or scaling may occur. In addition to persistent redness, bumps (papules) and/or pimples (pustules) are common in many rosacea sufferers. Some patients may also experience raised red patches known as plaques.

Rosacea may be associated with enlargement of the nose from excess tissue, a condition known as rhinophyma. This may include thickening of the skin and irregular surface nodules, which in rare cases may also develop in areas other than the nose.

Rosacea affects the eyes in many patients, and may result in a watery or bloodshot appearance, irritation and burning or stinging. The eyelids may also become swollen, and styes are common.

If You Have Rosacea, You’re Not Alone

An estimated 16 million Americans have rosacea, yet only a small fraction are being treated. In addition to raising public awareness and supporting research, the National Rosacea Society provides information that may help rosacea patients better understand their disorder and more effectively manage its signs and symptoms.

To learn more about rosacea, its symptoms and treatment, read All About Rosacea. You may also want to read the Rosacea FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions in a variety of categories.

Source: Information for Patients | Rosacea.org

Eating Habits You Must Give Up for Clearer Skin

These foods keep you looking young, these supplements may promote better skin, and these foods give you glowing skin, but can certain habits wreak havoc on clear skin? You betcha.

“From food choices to eating habits, these can all impact your skin negatively. Oftentimes, skin issues are connected to inflammation, poor gut health, and/or imbalanced hormones,” says Paulina Lee, RD, LD, functional dietitian and founder of Savvy Stummy, LLC. Read on for a look at six such unhealthy eating patterns that can lead to skin issues.

1. Regularly eating inflammatory foods

French fries, fried chicken, processed pastries, white bread, the list of inflammatory foods goes on and on—and sadly many are consumed by American individuals with alarming frequency. “Consuming inflammatory foods can negatively impact your gut health and increase internal inflammation leading to skin breakouts. Our gut health is deeply connected to our skin. That’s why eating right to optimize your gut health may improve your complexion,” says Lee.

“Research studies have observed imbalances of the gut and skin microbiomes, known as dysbiosis, in a number of common skin conditions, including acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. And of course, most of us are familiar with how our wacky hormones can lead to crazy skin breakouts or acne. By eating balanced meals and lifestyle practices that support healthy hormones, we can positively impact our skin.”

2. Yo-yo dieting

This is another negative eating habit that can be bad news for your skin, along with your overall health. “Interestingly, some research does show that there is a significant correlation between acne and disordered eating, which means that disordered eating is a confounding variable that should be controlled for in acne-related research,” says Rachel Fine, RDN, a registered dietitian and owner of To The Pointe Nutrition, a nutrition counseling practice in NYC.

Fine says that for clearer skin, aim to reduce stress levels. “Restrictive eating habits and yo-yo dieting are known to increase allostatic load (stress),” she adds.

3. Not eating enough probiotic foods.

Another one of the worst habits for clearer skin? Not getting enough probiotics in your diet. “More research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms explaining the gut-skin connection, but it has been suggested that the composition of our gut microbiome may contribute to the development of certain skin conditions, especially if we have a dysbiotic gut,” says Lee.

“One study showed that probiotic intake was associated with a significantly lower incidence of eczema (atopic dermatitis) compared to the placebo group, suggesting that probiotic supplementation may be effective in preventing eczema.”

4. Eating a diet high in refined carbs.

All about pasta and white bread and packaged sweets? Beyond nixing these unhealthy foods from your everyday diet for your overall health, doing so may also be a boon for your skin. “Refined carbs, like white rice, white bread, baked goods, sweets, or sweetened beverages, are typically foods that are high on the glycemic index (GI). High GI foods raise the blood sugar more quickly compared to low GI foods,” says Lee. “Research suggests that foods that raise blood sugar levels and cause a greater insulin response can make acne worse. This rise in blood sugar can also stimulate the secretion of androgens, which when elevated may contribute to acne.”

5. Eating a low-fiber diet.

Often, eating a highly refined carb-focused diet and a low-fiber diet goes hand in hand. Nevertheless, it’s worth highlighting that a diet low in fiber-rich foods may be another contributor to lackluster skin.

“Just as probiotics are important for the gut microbiome, prebiotics and fiber are also just as beneficial to our gut health. From what we know about the gut-skin connection, supporting a healthy gut means supporting healthy skin. Prebiotics, a type of fiber, act as food for bacteria to support the growth of good gut bacteria,” offers Lee.

“Prebiotics can be found in high-fiber foods like onions, garlic, leeks, asparagus, oats, and apples. Fiber also feeds healthy gut bacteria. When fiber is fermented, the byproducts form anti-inflammatory compounds, called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), that are vital for skin health, metabolic health, brain health, and immune health.”

6. Eating a Western diet.

Starting to see a pattern here? Processed foods aren’t good for your skin, friends. “Western diets are typically high in overly processed foods and refined carbohydrates, which can lead to inflammation. Inflammation can lead to acne and skin breakouts, so following an anti-inflammatory diet may be beneficial,” says Lee, pointing to this research.

“Anti-inflammatory diets might consist of whole-food-based and nutrient-dense meals with focus on foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, and antioxidants, like berries.” On that note, to feel good and get that glowing complexion, pass the berries and oatmeal, please.

Article by Perri O. Blumberg for Eat This, Not That©

Source: Eating Habits You Must Give Up For Clearer Skin (msn.com)

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