Rosacea Skin Care
Rosacea is a common but often under misdiagnosed skin disorder that affects an estimated 14 million Americans. Most people don't even realize that they have this condition. A recent Gallup survey found that 78% of Americans don't know anything about rosacea, including how to recognize it and what to do about it. Yet this skin disorder is a very real condition that is afflicts more and more people each year. Read on to learn more about rosacea and how to care for your skin if you are affected by it.
What Is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder that is evident on the face as well as the eyes. It’s characterized by redness on the cheeks, nose, chin, or forehead; small visible blood vessels on the face; thickened skin, and bumps or pimples on the face. Ocular rosacea usually causes watery or irritated eyes.
Rosacea can affect people of all ages, although it usually develops between the ages of 30 and 60. Rosacea is more common in women than men, and in those with fairer skin types.
What Causes Rosacea?
Nobody knows for sure how or why rosacea develops. But researchers believe that it may be a genetic condition, as it tends to run in families. Some scientists hypothesize that rosacea occurs in people whose blood vessels dilate too easily, resulting in flushing and redness.
There are several factors that can aggravate rosacea and cause a "flare up" of symptoms. Different people generally experience different sensitivities, but the following factors have all been associated with the condition: excessive heat (including overheated rooms and hot baths), strenuous exercise, sunlight, wind, excessive cold (including rooms that are over air condition, or cold temperatures on a winter day), spicy foods and beverages, alcohol, menopause, stress, exposure to toxic chemicals in skin care products and makeup and certain medications. The papules and pustules on the skin may be caused by bacteria, but researchers have not yet established a clear link between rosacea and bacteria.
The Effects of Rosacea
Rosacea is by no means a life-threatening condition, but it can be very annoying and embarrassing. Recent statistic show that as many as 75% of the people who suffer from rosacea also experience low-self esteem and shame as a result of their condition. Rosacea is a highly visible skin condition which can make people feel very conspicuous. But there are also several methods that can be used to care for skin with rosacea and control the symptoms of the condition.Rosacea Skin Care
If you suspect that you may have rosacea, see a dermatologist for an evaluation. Try to keep a record of the factors (such as sunlight or certain foods) that cause your condition to flare up. And be sure to use sunscreen every day, as skin that with rosacea is particularly susceptible to the damaging rays of the sun. If you wish to conceal the redness of rosacea, many people have found that green-tinted makeup helps to reduce this symptom. Three great organic products used to relieve the symptoms of Rosacea include the E3 Live skin care system, Parfait Visage™ and Aquaspirit®.How is Rosacea Treated?
Rosacea cannot be cured, but it can be treated. With the help of a dermatologist, the condition of the skin can be improved and the visible redness of rosacea greatly reduced. It may take several weeks or months of treatment before the condition can be fully controlled. But once it is under control, it can usually be managed with ease.Topical spays formulas like Aquaspirit® are a commonly used remedy for rosacea. This can be applied directly to the affected skin 3-4 times daily. For some patients, laser surgery or electro surgery may help to improve the skin's appearance and reduce the visibility of redness and blemishes.
Learn More About Rosacea
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
National Institutes of Health
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
Phone: 301-495-4484 or 877-22-NIAMS (226-4267) (free of charge)
TTY: 301-565-2966
Fax: 301-718-6366
NIAMS provides information about skin diseases, arthritis and rheumatic diseases, and bone, muscle, and joint diseases. It distributes patient and professional education materials and refers people to other sources of information.
American Academy of Dermatology
P.O. Box 4014
Schaumburg, IL 60168-4014
Phone: 847-330-0230 or 888-462-3376 (free of charge)
Fax: 847-330-0050
This national organization can provide referrals to dermatologists. It also publishes a brochure on rosacea.
National Rosacea Society
800 South Northwest Highway, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010
Phone: 888-NO-BLUSH (662-5874) (free of charge)
Fax: 847-382-5567
www.rosacea.org
This nonprofit organization provides fact sheets, booklets, and a newsletter on rosacea. It also provides a patient diary checklist for identifying lifestyle and environmental factors that may trigger flare-ups or aggravate individual conditions.
About the Author
Dr. Edward F. Group III continues to develop and sell exclusively high-end natural and organic skin care lines to support a wide range of skin conditions. The products he promotes are free of toxic tag-along herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, heavy metals, fumigants, irradiation, liver-toxic glues, binders, or gelatin capsules with animal-source risk and toxic preservatives. For more information on skin care please visit Skin-care-support.org.
