Rosacea and Sugar Intake – Is there a Connection?

Sugar is the fuel that burns the inflammation in rosacea. Think of the fire triangle: Heat, Fuel, and Oxygen. Sugar is like adding some very combustible fuel to the burning inflammation of rosacea. Reduce the fuel and the fire is reduced. To understand why sugar has a role in rosacea you have to understand the affect high glycemic sugar has on human health.

Sugar and spice and everything nice. Sugar is not nice.

The above two statements cannot be both true. Mom and the processed food industry conditioned you that sugar is nice. (See Appendix W—The Diet Authority) Sugar is not nice. Sugar is toxic. Sugar triggers the rosacea inflammation. Sugar Busters! by H. Leighton Steward, Morrison C. Bethea, M.D., Samuel S. Andrews, M.D., and Luis A Balart, M.D. states on page 17 that “SUGAR IS TOXIC!” Three of the authors are medical doctors and recommend a low-sugar diet, avoiding carbohydrate with a high glycemic index . Do you get it? Medical doctors are saying that sugar is toxic. How can they write a book stating that sugar is toxic and still be licensed physicians ? That is because it is true, sugar is cumulatively toxic over time.

William Dufty summarizes the toxic effect of sugar in his book, Sugar Blues, when he kicked the habit. Dufty threw all the sugar in his kitchen out and just ate grains and vegetables. He wrote, “In about forty eight hours, I was in total agony, overcome with nausea, with a crashing migraine. If pain was a message, this was a long one, very involved, intense but in code. It took hours to break the code. I knew enough about junkies to recognize reluctantly my kinship with them. I was kicking cold turkey, the thing they talked about with such terror. After all, heroin is nothing but a chemical. They take the juice of the poppy and they refine it into opium and then they refine it to morphine and finally to heroin.

Sugar is nothing but a chemical. They take the juice of the cane or the beet and they refinrosacea and sugare it to molasses and then they refine it to brown sugar and finally to strange white crystals. It’s no wonder dope pushers dilute pure heroin with milk sugar —lactose—in order to make their glassine packages a treat to the eye. I was kicking all kinds of chemicals cold turkey—sugar , aspirin, cocaine, caffeine, chlorine, fluorine, sodium, monosodium glutamate, and all those other multisyllabic horrors listed in fine print on the tins and boxes I had just thrown in the trash. I had it very rough for about twenty-four hours, but the morning after was a revelation. I went to sleep with exhaustion, sweating and tremors. I woke up feeling reborn.”

You may or may not experience such withdrawals depending on how much you are addicted to sugar. Dufty ate a high carbohydrate diet when he went off sugar , which was at the very least, better than eating a diet full of sugar . Eating a high carbohydrate diet helps reduce the addictive withdrawal symptoms of getting off sugar . Carbohydrate is units of different type sugar . If you eat the ‘typical American diet’ that includes 149 pounds of sugar a year, addiction to sugar is no doubt the reason many cannot stop eating sugar.

William Dufty wrote in 1975 on page 175 of his book, “It is mind boggling today to read through medical histories and other tomes and find again and again that the basic cause of diabetes mellitus is still unknown, that it is chronic and incurable, or that it is due to the failure of the pancreas to secrete an adequate amount of insulin . It’s still Greek to the best of them.”399 In 2007 on the American Diabetes Association’s website, when you click on Basic Diabetes Information, you may read this statement:

“The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.”

Thirty-two years after Dufty’s statement that ‘it’s still Greek to the best of them’ holds true. And PubMed shows similar results:

“Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of mortality in patients with diabetes.”

“Although the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease is not fully understood, loss of the modulatory role of the endothelium could be implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications.”

“Although diabetes mellitus is predominantly a metabolic disorder, recent data suggest that it is as much a vascular disorder.”

“The vascular chronic complications are the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus … Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction may ultimately result in novel approaches to the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes mellitus.”

However a recent report in 2007 revealed the following novel idea:

“A promising nutritional approach suggested by this thematic review is carbohydrate restriction. Recent studies show that, under conditions of carbohydrate restriction, fuel sources shift from glucose and fatty acids to fatty acids and ketones, and that ad libitum-fed carbohydrate-restricted diets lead to appetite reduction, weight loss, and improvement in surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease.”

You would think that there would be some diabetic research on diet’s role in diabetes, now wouldn’t you? Notice this report:

“There are no high quality data on the efficacy of the dietary treatment of type 2 diabetes”

The authors of the above report didn’t think the following study reported in 1997 was of high quality even though this was done at the Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health:

“Our results support the hypothesis that diets with a high glycemic load and a low cereal fiber content increase risk of diabetes in women..”

Nor did they find this one of high quality done at the same group:

“Intake of carbohydrates that provide a large glycemic response has been hypothesized to increase the risk of NIDDM, whereas dietary fiber is suspected to reduce incidence … These findings support the hypothesis that diets with a high glycemic load and a low cereal fiber content increase risk of NIDDM in men.”

And you ask, why point out research reports on diabetes? Because there are not any reports on the role of a high glycemic diet and rosacea. I am merely pointing out how the medical and clinical researchers ignore the role diet plays in vascular disorders and diabetes. There is evidence that diet plays a role in the metabolic syndrome (See Appendix 8—Metabolic Syndrome ) There is evidence that diet plays a role in acne.. (See Appendix U—Diet and Acne) There is a theory that rosacea is a vascular disorder (See Chapter, What Causes Rosacea?) and that diabetes may not only be a metabolic syndrome but also a vascular disorder.

There is a connection here. Sugar plays a role in rosacea too.

The mainstream health authorities appear to be clueless to diet’s connection with disease. But you do see the connection don’t you? Some of the above quotes show that obesity plays a factor in diabetes. Diet plays a role in the metabolic syndrome .

Medical authorities agree that diabetics are at a higher risk for heart disease. Yet connecting sugar consumption over the years to either disease is overlooked, minimized or lacking by these medical authorities.

If you look at a graph published in the book Sugar Busters!, it shows how the consumption of sugar has climbed dramatically only in the last couple of centuries. Now compare this with a graph on the dramatic climb of diabetes during this same period, it doesn’t take a clinical study to see the connection. The damage of high sugar consumption to a person’s body not only effects diseases like diabetes and heart disease but also possibly is one of the major factors in many other diseases. Remember 170 million people on this planet have diabetes and the number continues to rise along with increases in world sugar production.

Obesity is now the culprit used by medical authorities as being the factor for several major diseases. Does diet play a factor in obesity? Sugar is a huge factor in obesity. Reducing sugar in your diet will reduce obesity. Eliminating sugar from your diet promotes health and well being. Eliminating sugar in a rosacean diet controls rosacea and you will see improvement over a 30 day period if you reduce your carbohydrate intake to 30 grams a day. Weight loss will result when you reduce sugar in your diet.

How does this happen? Your body breaks down all food into glucose so that the cells can use the energy and live. Any excess glucose is converted to glycogen (“animal starch”) and stored in your liver, muscles and blood to be used if needed. This is a wonderful storehouse of packed energy that can easily be converted back to glucose when needed. There is one problem. The body can only store about 14 ounces of glycogen or about 400 grams.409 A gram of glucose has four calories. The entire amount of stored glycogen is approximately 1600 to 1800 calories.

Since there is limited glycogen storage, if your diet includes a generous amount of sugars and carbohydrate and your glycogen storehouse is full, the excess sugars and carbohydrate will be converted to FAT and the body gains weight. The Rosacea Diet stops this excess conversion of sugars and carbohydrate into fat, thus resulting in weight loss over time. This is just one of the reasons why sugar should be avoided in your diet not to mention you will feel healthier!

Refined sugar [sucrose] in crystallized form is artificial usually made from either sugar beets or sugarcane. Some may claim that sugar is natural , but would you call the crystallized powder heroin derived from morphine ‘natural ,’ because it is made from the opium of a poppy? Refined table sugar doesn’t occur naturally, it is an artificially manufactured process. I toured a sugar plantation and factory in Kauai, Hawaii in 2003 and saw the process how sugar cane is made into raw sugar . Lime is used. What is done to raw sugar to make this product into a pure white crystal? There is no way you can call this natural . It is a manufactured processed artificial sugar reducing the sugar cane plant into an addictive pure white crystal not unlike how the poppy flower is used to make opium into morphine and heroine. This process is a manufacturing artificial process not found in nature. You simply do not find these white crystals called sugar or heroine in nature. You may ask, ‘if sugar is so bad for your health, why do the health or diet authorities minimize the toxic effects of sugar ?’ The Sugar Buster! authors put it this way on page 36–37 of their book, “… Pro-sugar lobbying by sugar growers, cola manufactures and the packaged-food industry has been very effective in influencing our government. What politician wants to tell his constituents they should no longer eat sugar?”

Why do health ‘authorities’ continue to bless sugar ? Another reason may be the quote below:

“The American Dietetic Association, which trains registered dieticians to direct preparation of hospital and institutional food, has been soundly criticized for its association with the Sugar Association and companies like Coca Cola and M&M Mars. Such groups supply about 15{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5} of the ADA’s annual budget …”410

Sugar is big business. It permeates the food industry. If you think the tobacco industry is powerful, the sugar industry is just as entrenched powerfully in the world’s economy if not more so. Even if it reached the point of a warning label of sugar ’s toxic effects like the tobacco industry has been forced to use on its product, people will continue to eat sugar just as those who smoke ignore the warning label. Only people who care about their health will be motivated enough to remove sugar from their diet.

There is so much information on the web or in your public library showing the harmful effects of sugar . Just go to any major search engine and type in ‘sugar ’ in the search box and you will be amazed at the results. Or spend a few hours at your local library.

Any dentist will tell you that sugar causes cavities:

“There is new evidence showing that excessive sugar consumption increases the risk of caries, even if the correlation between sugar intake and dental health has weakened due to exposure to fluoride.”411

“Numerous lines of evidence have conclusively established the role of sugars in caries etiology and the importance of sugars as the principal dietary substrate that drives the caries process has not been scientifically challenged … Measures to educate the public on the dangers of frequent sugar consumption, combined with recommendations for proper oral hygiene and fluoride use, are still warranted.”412

If you stop eating sugar , it may not help the cavity already formed in your tooth, but it will help prevent other cavities from forming. Does that mean you will not ever get a cavity again if you never eat sugar again? Well, no, you might get one, but your chances are drastically reduced to practically zero. Most dentists will tell you that as long as you brush your teeth and avoid sugar you will reduce your cavity possibilities to near zero in a normal healthy adult. Have you noticed how many people are losing their teeth and how much sugar they consume? Dentists know the connection sugar has with rotten teeth. They are only glad to replace your teeth with artificial ones. Do you really think that cavities are the only thing ‘rotten’ in your body from all the sugar you have been eating over your lifetime? And is obesity the only health problem aggravated by sugar ?

The Australians have a report about a guideline for sugar consumption:

“The Australian Dietary Guidelines are currently being revised and updated. There has been public discussion about the advisability of retaining a guideline for sugar because of insufficient evidence linking sugar consumption to ill health. However, there are concerns about the quality of the self-reported food intake data on which this conclusion is based. In addition, the doubling in diabetes prevalence in Australia in the past 20 years, which is linked to increased obesity from consumption of energy-dense foods, including those with added sugars (sugar -sweetened drinks being particularly important), provides a strong rationale for retaining a dietary guideline for sugar .”413

Do you think that sugar only causes cavities in your teeth? Could sugar play a role in your rosacea? If you continue to study this topic you will be more convinced of the role sugar has in your rosacea and you can do something about it.

There are a number of articles and books you may read on this subject which are listed below or can be found on the web or ordered through your local library:

Pure, White and Deadly, John Yudkin, Viking, 186, Penguin, 188, Davis-Poynter Ltd; ASIN: 070670006

Sweet and Dangerous: The New Facts About the Sugar You Eat As a Cause of Heart Disease, Diabetes, and Other Killers. by John Yudkin

Metabolic Effects of Utilizable Dietary Carbohydrate by Sheldon Reiser (Editor) (Hardcover—August 1982)

The Saccharine Disease: Conditions Caused by the taking of Refined Carbohydrate, such as sugar and white flour by T. L. Cleave; Nurs Times. 1974 Aug 15;70(33):1274-5

Dismantling a Myth: The Role of Fat and Carbohydrate in Our Diet by Wolfgang Lutz

Refined Carbohydrate Foods and Disease: Some Implications of Dietary Fiber by D. Burkitt

The conception of the saccharine disease. An outline. Cleave TL; J R Nav Med Serv. 1971 Spring;57(1):10-9

Letter: Sugar , heart-disease, and diabetes. Cleave TL; Lancet. 1974 Mar 23;1(7856):515

Sugar and sugars: myths and realities. Coulston AM, Johnson RK; J Am Diet Assoc. 2002 Mar;102(3):351-3

Carbohydrate and sucrose intake in the causation of atherosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and dental caries. Bierman EL; Am J Clin Nutr. 1979 Dec;32(12 Suppl):2644-7

Carbohydrates, sucrose, and human disease. Bierman EL; Am J Clin Nutr. 1979 Dec;32(12 Suppl):2712-22

Sucrose, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and obesity: do hormones provide a link?—Yudkin J; Am Heart J. 1988 Feb;115(2):493-8

Sugar and disease. Danowski TS; J Med Soc N J. 1979 Nov;76(12):849-50

Are you beginning to believe and understand that sugar is something a rosacean should avoid and is a trigger for rosacea?

Diabetes and Rosacea (Update)
The GWAS by Chang et al., also revealed that patients with rosacea shared a genetic locus with type 1 diabetes mellitus; this association was further confirmed by a population-based study as well. A recent study also revealed the presence of insulin resistance in rosacea, demonstrating significantly higher fasting blood glucose levels in patients with rosacea than in controls. As increased glucose intolerance along with dyslipidemia and hypertension are the factors that comprise metabolic syndrome, this association in rosacea might be related to cathelicidin, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of both rosacea and metabolic disorders. However, the advanced state of diabetes mellitus, which is associated with longer disease duration or high hemoglobin A1c levels, has conversely been recently associated with a decreased risk of rosacea. Thus, the underlying mechanism involved in this paradoxical association remains to be clarified.”
Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Sep; 17(9): 1562.

Published online 2016 Sep 15. doi:  10.3390/ijms17091562, PMCID: PMC5037831
Rosacea: Molecular Mechanisms and Management of a Chronic Cutaneous Inflammatory Condition
Yu Ri Woo, Ji Hong Lim, Dae Ho Cho, and Hyun Jeong Park

Acknowledgements: Rosacea Research & Development Institute

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The Role of Neuroinflammation in Rosacea

Rosacea is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases, and although it is frequently diagnosed, its pathophysiology is still poorly understood. Continued research has shed some light on the pathophysiology of rosacea and has brought neuroinflammation and neurogenic inflammation to the forefront as an important factor in the development of the disease. The hope is that therapies possibly targeting these pathways could prove effective, offering a beacon of hope for this often challenging to treat skin disease.

Recognized as a complex disease, rosacea can be characterized by a mosaic of symptoms including facial erythema (sometimes burning and painful) and telangiectasias, papules and pustules, as well as facial edema, typically occurring first on the central face around the nose, cheeks, forehead, and chin.

According to the presentation of symptoms, rosacea can be further divided into four subgroups, namely, erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (erythema, flushing, telangiectasias), papulopustular rosacea (erythema, edema, acne-like lesions), phymatous rosacea (rhinophymatous changes), and ocular rosacea (red, itchy, irritated eyes, swollen eyelids).

Rosacea is also associated with several different factors that can quickly trigger and exacerbate symptoms including spicy foods, alcohol, particularly red wine, exercising, stress, as well as exposure to ultraviolet light. These trigger factors can contribute to the development of facial erythema and flushing, sometimes perceived as a painful and burning sensation, all of which can lead to a significantly diminished quality of life in the affected individual.

“These changes in the face cannot only be disfiguring, but they can have a significant psychological impact on the affected patient, further underscoring the psychosocial impact of the disease and begging the need for more effective therapeutic solutions for this patient population,” said Professor Martin Steinhoff, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc., F.R.C.P.I., professorial chair of dermatology and director UCD Charles Institute of Dermatology, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland.

Neurogenic inflammation

Most of the progress in respect to elucidating the pathophysiology of rosacea on a molecular basis has begun over the last decade or so. In this time, Dr. Steinhoff and colleagues have homed in on neurogenic inflammation as one of the pivotal factors involved in the development of rosacea and as such, perhaps the key to more effective treatment solutions for the skin disease.  neuroinflammation in rosacea

Rosacea typically starts with flushing and erythema, Dr. Steinhoff says, and these symptoms are closely associated with neurogenic inflammation. If one applies the capsaicin that is contained in chili peppers, these patients will also get the erythema, flushing, as well as a stinging or pain sensation in the face, very similar to those patients who suffer from rosacea exhibiting these symptoms.

“This analogy reminds us very much of the same situation, so you can then drive the hypothesis that also there is a kind of burning and flushing, which is very rare in many other inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, that can stay for hours or days. Basically, this is explained by the activation of sensory nerves that then release neuropeptides into the environment, which, in turn, activate blood vessels and immune cells that then drive an inflammatory process, defined as neurogenic inflammation,” Dr. Steinhoff explains. He recently spoke at the 46th annual meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research in Munich.

Nerve cell communication

According to Dr. Steinhoff, understanding the mechanism of how the nerve cells communicate with the new cells and with the vascular system and knowing which kinds of mediators and receptors are responsible can help lead to treatment solutions targeting specific mediators or receptors.

In 2011, Dr. Steinhoff and his team published the transcriptome analysis of the rosacea subtypes1, and found that several neuro-mediators and neuro-receptors are upregulated in rosacea, opening up the possibility for a targeted therapy.

For instance, neuro-peptide receptors for Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP), Substance P, or Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) ion channels, can all be activated by the typical trigger factors of rosacea such as exposure to sunlight, spicy foods, and temperature changes. According to Dr. Steinhoff, this gives a good indication that probably TRP channels are involved in the neurogenic inflammation, which further leads to the development of rosacea symptoms. Current research efforts are in part aimed at trying to block one of these TRP receptors, which could hopefully lead to an effective targeted therapy.

The possibility of a more effective therapy for rosacea would be very welcome for rosacea sufferers. According to Dr. Steinhoff, facial erythema remains one of the biggest issues among rosacea sufferers, while the papulopustular aspect of the disease can be largely controlled pharmacologically with different agents such as topical ivermectin or metronidazole, or with systemic anti-inflammatory antibiotics.

Most patients will come back to their physician and are happy that the papulopustular is under control, but are often dissatisfied with the erythematous aspect of their disease, which can have a far-reaching impact on their psychosocial health and wellbeing. As such, therapies that can better address the neurogenic inflammation and subsequent erythema would be much desired.

“It is really worthwhile and very promising to perform translational research, trying to understand the mechanisms and pathophysiology from the beginning. This information must then be translated and brought into the clinic to establish proof of principle and concept with human studies. Moreover, it is crucial to have good academic industry partnerships where all the fields of industry and academia come together because although both have limited capacities, both have their skillsets that in these partnerships can often help towards the road for success which ultimately can help the patient with improved therapies,” Dr. Steinhoff says.

Source:  Dermatology Times

Reference:

1 Steinhoff M, et al. Clinical, cellular, and molecular aspects in the pathophysiology of rosacea. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2011 Dec;15(1):2-11. doi: 10.1038/jidsymp.2011.7.

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Filed Under: ROSACEA CAUSES Tagged With: neurogenic rosacea

Living And Coping With Rosacea Skin Disorder

Rosacea skin disorder is a skin condition that causes redness and small bumpy areas that affect the face. Many of us can remember struggling with acne growing up, the embarrassment of a huge pimple on the end of the nose or an outbreak before a big date or class picture. For some people, acne can be quite severe, perhaps requiring professional treatment and expensive products, but for the most part acne tends to be an affliction that is outgrown with age.

Rosacea skin disorder, on the other hand, is something that hits you later in life and gets progressively worse if not treated. Many instances can be mild with only slight discomfort or irritation but some cases are more serious, depending upon the type of rosacea and can cause much discomfort and embarrassment, even disfigurement and ocular damage effecting sight. For many rosacea skin disorder victims the symptoms start out similar to acne and often times are mistaken for acne resulting in incorrect treatment and a waste of time and money. Meanwhile the rosacea continues to advance. It’s important to find a medical professional who will give you an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment for the type and severity of the disorder.

Rosacea skin disorder can be classified into four subtypes and it is possible for one person to have more than one type.

Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea is most noted for redness. Those afflicted may appear to blush a lot or look like they’ve been out in the sun too long. Blood vessels may become visible beneath the surface of the skin. Though most common in the facial area this condition can also affect other parts of the body including the chest and neck.

Papulopustular rosacea is the type that can commonly be mistaken for acne due to the inflammation and bumps and zit-like pustules. This condition can be embarrassing and if not properly treated can persist and worsen.

Phymatous rosacea can cause facial disfigurement due to thickening skin. The nose can often become enlarged, a condition known as Rhinophyma, and all parts of the face can be attacked, checks, eyelids, chin, even the ears.

Ocular rosacea is the fourth subtype, and as the name implies affects the eyes and eyelids, causing redness, a dry itchy feeling and irritation. If left untreated, the symptoms will worsen and damage to your vision is likely.

Theories About What Causes Rosacea Skin Disorder

All this information, the sub-typing, the listings of symptoms and physical conditions may help to make rosacea skin disorder easier to diagnose but rosacea remains somewhat of a mystery as to this point in time, there is no actual known cause. In fact, even the term “disorder” may not be accurate. Is rosacea a disorder? Is it a disease? Is it viral or bacterial? Is it a genetic abnormality? Is it caused by medication or diet? Perhaps for many, rosacea is the result of a variety of combined factors and may have taken years to develop.

The good news, there is a lot of research underway with much discussion and suppositions. Some of the popular theories link rosacea to demodex mites living in the skin pores, while others suggest intestinal bacteria being the culprits. Others postulate high levels of certain peptides and enzymes, or liver dysfunction and blood toxicity levels. Indeed, it may be any or all of these, since the aforementioned observations come from patient statistics.

There are certain aggravating factors and conditions known to cause rosacea type symptoms and flare-ups. Among these are topical steroids, chemical peels and skin abrasions, or over-exposure to the sun. We may all have gotten a bit flushed when eating spicy foods, during a time of stress or after partaking of too much alcohol. Any combination of the above factors may not be the root cause of rosacea skin disorder but can certainly aggravate the underlying condition and with years of skin and body abuse may significantly exacerbate the problem.

Treating Rosacea Skin Disorder

Treatment of rosacea is focused on alleviating symptoms and preventing escalation as much as possible. Treatment types vary and the subtype of the disorder and the seriousness of the condition has to be taken into consideration. To-date there is no cure, although continued and long term approaches have the best chance of keeping rosacea under control.

Medical treatments can include antibiotics and other medications and, for some, laser surgery. Natural, homeopathic, and good-old home remedies are all other treatment areas to be explored and we have a whole section on this site dedicated to those. Some are quite simple, for example routinely using an excellent facial cleanser is good plain common sense. Using non-irritating cosmetics (and there are some especially designed for rosacea sufferers) may make going to work and going out in public less awkward.

Lifestyle changes working in conjunction with chosen treatments may increase chances of a successful outcome. Eating healthy foods and drinking mainly clean filtered or sparkling water can be a huge lifestyle change for many but in long run is well worth it. Reducing junk food and fried foods, eating more fresh fruit and vegetables that provide antioxidants and valuable nutrition enable the body to help itself.

Staying hydrated is an important process throughout the day. Water is great for the skin and healthy juice or vegetable drinks or smoothies can play a good role in a balanced diet. Exercise and rest can both be balanced and rejuvenation activities, invigorating and then relaxing. People tend to sleep better after exercise and sleep gives the body a chance to do what nature intended. Reducing chronic stress is another one. Do what makes you happy and it will be more than just your skin that glows!

If you think you may suffer from rosacea skin disorder then reach out and use any resources available to improve your condition and quality of life. You can take action and get results. To reiterate,  rosacea will grow worse without any attention. Consider consulting with a medical professional, usually a dermatologist, and get a diagnosis if warranted. Grab those informative pamphlets and care instructions that always seem to come with a doctor’s advice. But do not stop there, sometimes a diagnosis or specific medication may not seem right and may not work for you. Everyone is different. Know your own body.

Take charge of your rosacea skin disorder predicament and get informed to the best extent you can, get on the Internet and do some research, visit the informative websites, and stay in the loop on the latest developments and treatments. Try to select treatments that feel right for your symptoms and daily lifestyle. Above all make an extra effort to take care of yourself and your health.

 

Filed Under: ROSACEA CAUSES

Rosacea Prevention – Is it Really Possible?

Is rosacea prevention possible? If you’re one of those people who have it, then you might be skeptical about an affirmative answer here, particularly if your symptoms are recurring and unpredictable. Nevertheless, there are a number of things that can be done to prevent your symptoms from making your life difficult. As an acne rosacea sufferer myself, I’m going to share with you some of the things that I have found work best.

Rosacea comes in four main varieties but the two most common are Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea, which is that “I’m embarrassed, been out in the sun too long, on the booze too much, someone slapped my face” flushed look, which is sometimes accompanied by visible blood vessels … and Papulopustular Rosacea, which is rosacea’s own version of acne. Both varieties involve inflammation of the skin which is often accompanied by a burning and/or itching sensation, so we’re going to focus on things that you can do, both internally and externally, to prevent or at least minimize, the problem.

Unfortunately, the medical profession hasn’t yet agreed upon exactly what causes rosacea, even though there are some prevailing ideas about it. This makes it difficult to get to the source of the problem and cure it – so given the current progress in research, we can only target the symptoms at this stage.

7 Steps for Effective Rosacea Prevention

1. Change Your Pillowcase Every Day

This might surprise you, but while you’re asleep, you deposit a combination of dead skin cells and facial oil as well as whatever has been making its home in your hair, onto your pillow. Right there you have a breeding ground for potential infection. So if you have rosacea, especially if it’s acne rosacea, changing your pillowcase each day could be one of the most effective rosacea prevention ideas that you practice.

2. Drink Lemon Juice Every Day

Here’s a great little way to help your rosacea symptoms. Squeeze one whole lemon into a tall glass; add some ice and then fill the glass with sparkling (carbonated or mineral) water. This makes it a zestful and tasty way to cleanse your liver and doing this will inevitably have a positive effect on your skin. Not only that, but it will improve your immune system generally and help keep away those colds and flu symptoms that everyone around you seems to be getting.

3. Be Careful What Hair Sprays You Use

Most commercial hairsprays contain harmful chemicals which don’t react well with your skin. When you spray these over your hair, tiny droplets rest on your face and scalp. These penetrate your skin and can cause toxic reactions. I found that when I gave away the commercial brands and made my own hairspray by following a natural homemade recipe, that my rosacea symptoms improved dramatically. This could be a simple rosacea prevention technique that works for you too!

4. Take Care of Your Liver

It is well known that the health of your liver reflects on your skin. Some have even described the skin as “the third kidney” because of its role in eliminating water soluble waste from our bodies. But it is our liver, in combination with the intestines, where non-water soluble items such as fats, are eliminated. If this is not done efficiently, these fats return to the liver by reabsorption into the bloodstream at the end of the small intestines. Eventually, your liver becomes filled with ‘sludge’ in much the same way that your car does if you don’t change the oil. When this happens, your liver ceases to eliminate waste efficiently and the toxic buildup finds its way to your skin. So my fourth rosacea prevention tip is to do some research into cleansing your liver and gallbladder (lemon juice and olive oil is a good combination for this).

5. Chill Out and Reduce Stress

Stress has been identified as a common rosacea trigger. Stress changes the hormonal balance in your body and this in turn affects your skin. Stress doesn’t have to be acute. It can also be chronic and this is the most subtle kind. Sometimes you don’t even know that you’re stressed. You might just feel generally unhappy about your life right now. Maybe you’ve recently lost a friend or lover? Perhaps you’re feeling trapped in your current job? Maybe you’re in an unhappy relationship? Anything like this can be the source of chronic stress, so try to be aware of any connection between these feelings and rosacea outbreaks that you might be experiencing. If you’ve identified a connection, take steps to either eliminate the source, or find ways to feel calm and happy and positive under the circumstances. Effective rosacea prevention includes knowing what your personal stressors are and avoiding them.

6. Cut Down on Alcohol

Alcohol consumption, particularly red wine, has been identified as a major culprit in triggering rosacea symptoms. Again, we come back to the liver, which has to break down the alcohol into substances that are more compatible with us. An over-worked liver can mean unhappy skin. But it’s not just your liver that alcohol affects. One of the reasons we feel good after consuming alcoholic drinks, is because it dilates our blood vessels. While is some ways this is a good thing (e.g. blood flow if you have arterial problems) it is also responsible for that red flushed look that everyone sees after you’ve “had a few”.

I can say from personal experience, that when I’ve been consuming alcohol on a regular (i.e. daily) basis, my rosacea symptoms have become much worse than when I’ve abstained for a few days and then have a drink. A drink or two, a couple of times a week, is much more beneficial than the same quantity on a daily basis. Of course if you’re happy to eliminate alcohol altogether and drink only herbal teas and freshly squeezed citrus juices instead, then you’ll be much better off.

7. Wash Your Face With a Gentle Cleanser

When I first started getting acne type rosacea, I noticed that if I changed from using regular soap to facial cleansers from a pump container, that my symptoms weren’t so bad. Dermatologists recommend these cleansers in preference to soap, because soaps are harsher and don’t preserve your skin’s natural pH balance. Cleansers like Dermaveen and others which are made all natural ingredients and designed to be gentle and nourishing for your skin, can be a great addition to your rosacea prevention arsenal.

Rosacea Prevention and the Hidden Payoff

In some ways, you could consider rosacea as a blessing in disguise. You could even consider yourself fortunate in that your body is sending you messages about your inner health that most other people never receive. This means that you are alerted early to things that, if left unattended, could end up causing you much bigger health problems in the long run.

So if rosacea prevention motivates you to start eating healthy, reducing stress and generally taking care of yourself, then you may want to thank it later. Paying attention to what your body is telling you and taking care of it is not only beneficial to your overall wellbeing but is good for the soul.

Filed Under: ROSACEA CAUSES Tagged With: preventing rosacea

Rosacea Triggers

When it comes to rosacea triggers, everyone is an individual. What causes rosacea symptoms to flare up for one person may have no effect on another, so it’s probably worth your while to keep at least a mental record of when your breakouts occur and what you’ve either been doing or which foods or beverages you’ve been consuming, at the time.

Common Rosacea Triggers That Cause Flareups

I know that for me, red wine is the big one! After reading a lot about rosacea, it also seems to be the number one alcoholic drink that does it to a lot of others. So if you suffer from this condition, the important thing is, to be aware of what does it for you and avoid these triggers as much as possible.

One of the dangers in not knowing your rosacea triggers, is that by putting the wrong medication on your skin, you can actually exacerbate your rosacea instead of improving it. For example, when I thought my rosacea was acne, I went to a doctor who prescribed antibiotics and some acne solution – but the solution only served to make my face redder and inflame the sores. Once I realized that it was rosacea and started a different regimen, things began to improve dramatically.

This Survey Revealed the Main Rosacea Triggers

A survey of 1,066 rosacea patients found the following most common triggers for rosacea:

Factors

Percent Affected

Sun exposure 81{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Emotional stress 79{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Hot weather 75{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Wind 57{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Heavy exercise 56{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Alcohol consumption 52{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Hot baths 51{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Cold weather 46{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Spicy foods 45{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Humidity 44{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Indoor heat 41{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Certain skin-care products 41{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Heated beverages 36{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Certain cosmetics 27{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Medications 15{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Medical conditions 15{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Certain fruits 13{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Marinated meats 10{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Certain vegetables 9{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Dairy products 8{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}
Other factors 24{950de5e870313faf4c5db3a7d190801ab62f662c92458036dbe5490915c0acf5}

Whatever your rosacea triggers are, will of course be an individual matter. Although the above table shows the most common ones, it’s different for everyone – and it will also depend on which category of symptoms that your rosacea falls into.

We could also classify the triggers into groups, such as foods, beverages, weather, drugs, medical conditions, skin care products, emotional influences and physical exertion. You know what you do, so this might be more helpful. Patient records have revealed the following rosacea triggers related to the above groups:

Rosacea Triggers by Category

FOODS:

  • Liver
  • Yogurt
  • Sour cream
  • Cheese (except cottage cheese)
  • Chocolate
  • Vanilla
  • Soy sauce
  • Yeast extract (bread is OK)
  • Vinegar
  • Eggplant
  • Avocados
  • Spinach
  • Broad-leaf beans and pods,
    including lima, navy or pea
  • Citrus fruits, tomatoes, bananas,
    red plums, raisins or figs
  • Spicy and thermally hot foods
  • Foods high in histamine

BEVERAGES:

  • Alcohol, especially red wine,
    beer, bourbon, gin, vodka or champagne
  • Hot drinks, including hot cider,
    hot chocolate, coffee or tea

WEATHER: (Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea suffers are more susceptible to these)

  • Sun
  • Strong winds
  • Cold
  • Humidity
  • Saunas
  • Hot baths
  • Simple overheating
  • Excessively warm environments

DRUGS:

  • Vasodilators
  • Topical steroids

MEDICAL CONDITIONS:

  • Frequent flushing
  • Menopause
  • Chronic cough
  • Caffeine withdrawal syndrome

SKIN CARE PRODUCTS:

  • Some cosmetics and hair
    sprays, especially those
    containing alcohol, witch hazel
    or fragrances
  • Hydro-alcoholic or acetone
    substances
  • Any substance that causes
    redness or stinging

EMOTIONAL INFLUENCES:

  • Stress
  • Anxiety

PHYSICAL EXERTION:

  • Exercise
  • “Lift and load” jobs

Please be careful to not assume that ANY of the above items will affect you. Many may not. However, if you are aware of the most common potential rosacea triggers then you can keep a mental note of times when you use any of these and whether it causes a flare up.

Filed Under: ROSACEA CAUSES

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