Facing Rosacea head on… The rundown on living with Rosacea…
Rosacea (‘like roses’ in Latin) is a chronic disorder that increases reactivity of the capillaries to heat, leading to flushing and inflamed red papules. You’ll notice redness on your cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead although for some sufferers, the redness also appears on the neck, head, ears, or chest. The broken blood vessels might also show through your skin, causing thickening and inflammation. Nearly 50% of people with Rosacea also experience redness, swelling, and pain in their eyes.
Oftentimes, Rosacea can present itself with these symptoms:
- Stinging and burning of your skin
- Patches of rough, dry skin
- A swollen, bulb-shaped nose
- Enlarged pores
- Broken blood vessels on your eyelids
- Bumps on your eyelids
- Problems with vision
For many, Rosacea can flare up for a few weeks, fade, and then come back. Understanding the triggers as well as putting a lot more care into your overall skin, body and emotional health will help keep the symptoms art bay. One mustn’t forgo treatment as well, because the redness and swelling can get worse and might become permanent.
Learn more about the causes and what treatments are available to you here.
Women in their mid-30’s with a likely Rosacea disposition may see it start as small red pustules. It often appears like acne, with lesions resembling acne breakouts, and is often mistreated as such. There is no real cure for rosacea, however there are treatments that effectively control the symptoms.
How do I manage my Rosacea?
The good news is that there’s a lot you can do to control Rosacea flare-ups. Be observant about the things that trigger the condition and avoid them. Keeping track via a journal can help with identifying how and when a rush of symptoms occur.
Some triggers are:
- Sun exposure
- Hot or cold temperatures
- Wind
- Stress
- Hot baths
- Hot or spicy foods or drinks
- Alcohol
- Intense exercise
- Medicines such as blood pressure drugs or steroids you put on your skin
Read more about caring for skin during Winter season here.
Your doctor may prescribe medication to treat the symptoms and you may see improvement over a couple of weeks or months. Any topical skincare must be supported from the inside to heal and minimise the factors that that worsen this condition, and weaken the skin.
4 Tips to support your Rosacea topical skincare, inside and out
1- REPLACE HEATING FOODS WITH COOLING, CALMING FOODS.
Heating foods are vasodilators, that redden and sensitive your skin by increasing blood flow through your fine capillary system. Avoid heating foods such as cayenne, strawberries, peanuts and caffeine. Replace with ginger, almonds, mint and herbal teas.
2- BE AWARE OF HEATING FACTORS.
Emotional stress and menopause also heat the skin. External factors like strenuous exercise, sun exposure, hot showers and cooking in the heat will worsen a condition like Rosacea.
3- GUT HEALTH PLAYS A ROLE.
Poor digestion is linked with rosacea. Low stomach acid results in intestinal bacterial overgrowth and H Pylori. Eating bitter foods like dark leafy greens is a helpful addition to the diet of rosacea sufferers with digestive issues. More and more studies show the connection between the gut and skin issues like Rosacea.
4- NUTRIENTS WE NEED TO SUPPLY
Essential Fatty Acids are essential to treating Rosacea. They are not only anti-inflammatory but they also support the acid mantle which protects the skin from environmental irritants.
It goes without saying that protecting your face with broad-spectrum SPF is a must. Do not rub or touch your face too much. Use a gentle cleanser twice a day and moisturize. Make sure that you are using fragrance-free products, and not those that contain other skin irritants, such as alcohol, camphor, urea and menthol.
At Temple Skincare & Spa, we have the Skin Zen Rose Facial for sensitive skins. This is the perfect compliment to your Rosacea skin care. Regular LED Light Therapy also helps in minimising the symptoms and reduces inflammation. As a more intensive treatment, Laser Skin modalities are an option to address broken capillaries.
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