admin | August 8, 2012
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5 Myths About Rosacea

5 Misconceptions About Rosacea

Though it’s a skin condition that some skin care experts mistakenly diagnose as acne, Rosacea is actually quite far from it.  The similarities may be there, especially when it comes to red rashes which appear on the facial area of the human body.  On top of that, the symptoms which accompany this condition are also the same as acne, specifically blemishes, bumps and pimples.  Yet, the truth is that it’s a distinct beast in its own right.  Rosacea is something which has annoyed several people all over the world for a very long time, and the treatments for it may vary.  Before one can actually determine what the best possible course of action is in treating it, he or she would have to know what’s real and what’s not.  Much like any other physical condition or disease, Rosacea has its share of myths.  Below are 5 of them.

Your diet causes rosacea

This is something which many people have believed, yet there is no sufficient scientific evidence to support this claim.  Eating oily foods such as French fries, peanuts or even chocolate doesn’t result in the sudden outbreak of rosacea in an individual.  That is, in a direct manner.  If a person is allergic to any of the provided foods, there’s a chance that a reaction may be triggered which leads to the exacerbation of such conditions.

Acne in teenagers will result in rosacea among adults

While people consider rosacea to be acne that’s prevalent among adults, there’s no association between it and acne vulgaris found at all.  In fact, rosacea is something which is related directly to the human vascular system, wherein blood may rush to the face, causing redness and swelling.  Acne, on the other hand, is caused by irritation of the pores as well as exposure to bacteria which trigger overproduction of sebum and inflammation of the skin.

Rosacea is related to the overconsumption of alcohol

It is not a direct catalyst of such a condition.  However, people who are allergic to alcohol may experience flare ups.  Alcohol is known to have an effect on blood flow, and with rosacea being linked to the vascular system, the condition can get worse.  It may make the redness and the swelling even more apparent, although it is by no means a cause for acne rosacea to come out.

Products used to treat acne are also effective on rosacea

People often make the mistake of rosacea being a variant of acne.  There is no fact to this statement.  The reality is that rosacea mainly involves dilation in the blood vessels, and any medications used to treat acne will be rendered unsuitable.  However, topical naicinamide, is a solution which can help reduce inflammation of the skin.

Rosacea is a contagious disease

This is completely false.  This skin condition is not transmittable from one person to another.  It’s not caused by a bacterial infection; therefore it does not transfer to other individuals.

These are just some of the myths associated with Rosacea.  Now that these common statements have been debunked, people can rest easy. Click on Rosacea treatment guide to get more details.

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admin | May 25, 2011
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What Is Rosacea?

facial rosaceaInformation About Rosacea

Rosacea is a disease that affects the skin and, in some cases, the eyes. Its symptoms include redness and pimples.  In later stages, the skin of the affected areas can become thicker.  Typically, it only affects the face although it is possible for it to be present in other areas.

Who Is At Risk For Rosacea?

Over 14 million people in the United States are affected by this skin condition. Rosacea is most prevalent in:

  • Women (particularly during menopause)
  • People with fair, light skin
  • Adults between the ages of 30 and 60.

What Are The Symptoms of Rosacea?

Rosacea has many symptoms, including:

  • Frequent redness of localized areas of the face. Most redness occurs on the forehead, nose, chin and cheeks. There may also be a burning sensation and slight swelling.
  • Enlarged blood vessels under the skin. This area of the skin may be more swollen, warm, and red.
  • Persistent redness and bumps on the skin. Often the bumps (pimples) may have pus inside, but not always. Solid bumps on the skin may later become painful.
  • Inflamed eyes/eyelids.
  • A swollen nose. In some individuals, mostly men, the nose becomes red, larger, and bumpy.
  • Thickening skin. The skin on the forehead, cheeks, chin, or other affected areas may become thicker because of rosacea, sometimes known as rosacea cheeks.

Are The Eyes Affected By Rosacea?

Nearly 50% of people with rosacea have eye problems. Eyes may be red, dry, itchy, burn, and the feel irritated. The eyelids often become inflamed and swollen. The eyes may develop light sensitivity, and blurred vision or other vision problems may result.

What Are The Causes Of Rosacea?

The exact cause of rosacea is unknown.  Some doctors believe rosacea occurs when blood vessels expand too easily, causing flushing.  Those who blush a lot may be more likely to develop rosacea. It is also believed that it may be genetic.

Those with rosacea often say that one or more of these factors trigger rosacea:

  • Exposure to heat (including hot baths)
  • Moderate to heavy exercise
  • Sunlight
  • Wind
  • Very cold temperatures
  • Hot or spicy foods and drinks
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Pregnancy
  • Menopause
  • Emotional stress
  • Use of steroids on the face.

People with rosacea and pimples may believe the pimples are caused by bacteria. But there is no clear link between rosacea and bacteria.

What Can People With Rosacea Do?

Here are a few steps to take:

  • Maintain a journal of when rosacea flare ups occur. This may give you clues about what your rosacea triggers are.
  • Use a sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Make sure it has a SPF of 15 or higher.
  • Use a lubricant if it helps. Don’t use irritating products on the face.
  • If your rosacea causes eyes problems, follow your doctor’s treatment plan
  • Speak with a doctor or seek counseling if you feel sad or have other signs of depression. Many people become depressed because of their appearance.  There are some tricks to use such as a green corrector for rosacea.

Recently some have suggested that acupuncture may provide some reduction in the symptoms of rosacea but no reputable studies have backed up this claim.

 

For information in Spanish, please see ¿Qué es la rosácea?

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Category: Remedies for Rosacea, Rosacea, Rosacea Treatments | Tags: , , , ,
admin | May 22, 2011
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Signs And Symptoms of Rosacea

What Are The Symptoms of Rosacea?

Rosacea is a persistent skin disease which typically affects the skin facial area. In many cases, rosacea affects the middle area of the face. It can also often occur on the forehead, nose and chin. Once affected by rosacea your face appears flushed or red and this remains a constant condition. There are many signs of rosacea and over time several cures for this persistent disease have been introduced.

Here we will explain some basic techniques which you can use to easily spot and cure this disease. You wonder whether I am a doctor or whether I have some expertise regarding this rosacea. Honestly, one of my closest friends was also developed rosacea and it was especially painful as she had just had her wedding engagement and wanted to look best for the wedding. It was difficult to face her and see her suffering with this condition. So, I have a lot of empathy for those who are suffering with rosacea.  Here are some simple methods that my friend used to control her rosacea.

In initial stages of rosacea, you might simply feel annoyance at the redness on your face along with pimples that often also occur. But, with time as the disease progresses your skin becomes thicker and it resembles the texture of leather on your face which can be quite loathsome. The pimples that often accompany rosacea are firm and small in their initial stages. Over time the pimples can transform into pustules, become larger in size and contain pus.

Aside from simply observing these symptoms of rosacea, the disease can also be diagnosed by Telangiectasias. If you observe broken blood vessels around your cheeks or nose then, unfortunately, you are probably affected by rosacea. In fact, the blood vessels you can see on your face are not actually broken but they become swelled up after the infection.

Once you have diagnosed that you have rosacea, try to clean your skin regularly but do not rub it too much as this can cause further irritation to your skin. You can also try using sunscreens with a high SPF factor to help control your rosacea until you are able to cure it.

Possible treatments for rosacea include Rosacea Free and Banish Rosacea.  These treatments and other natural rosacea remedies have different results for different people depending upon the severity of their condition, their skin type, etc.

For more information on rosacea and rosacea remedies read What Is Rosacea?

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