DEFINITION
Rosacea is a non-contagious inflammatory skin condition where the nose, cheeks and/or forehead become abnormally red and/or acneous.
DESCRIPTION
Rosacea usually occurs during a person's 30s or 40s, with women being affected about three times more often than men.
CAUSES
Common causes include severe seborrhoea (excess sebum a mixture of waxes and oils that lubricate the skin and help prevent water loss) , constipation, hormone imbalances, nutritional deficiencies (especially of B vitamins), low stomach acid levels, dybiosis (gut bacteria imbalance), a diet that's high in fat and low in fibre, food allergies, and repeated exposure to rosacea triggers (see common triggers' below).
SYMPTOMS
- Permanent pink flush across nose, cheeks, forehead and/or chin - Lumps under the skin - Frequent blushing - Burning or stinging feeling on face - Enlarged capillaries - Welts - Acne or yellow-headed pimples.
TREATMENT
Pharmacist's advice - Use cold packs on the face to reduce swelling and inflammation. - Only use hypoallergenic cosmetics and makeup removal products. - Avoid known triggers. - Antibiotics may help reduce rosacea symptoms. See your doctor for advice.
COMMON TRIGGERS
- Hot drinks - Alcohol - Stress and anxiety - Wind - Sun
SUPPLEMENTS AND HERBS
- Milk thistle helps liver function and detoxification for skin health. - Use a chamomile tea infusion as an anti-inflammatory face wash. - Place a cool compress of lavender oil on your skin to reduce heat and swelling. - Consider taking B vitamins, as many people with rosacea are B vitamin deficient.
DIET
- Avoid food and drinks that make you flush such as caffeine, alcohol, sugar, iodised salt, hot drinks and soup, and spicy food. - Avoid red meat and foods containing trans-fatty acids and saturated fats, such as milk, ice cream, chocolate, milk products, shortening, margarine, or other synthetically hydrogenated vegetable oils, as well as fried food. - Eat plenty of raw vegetables (especially green, leafy vegetables), fruits, nuts, sprouts and seeds, as these raw foods contain enzymes that help with skin and circulatory health. - Drink several glasses of fresh vegetable juice daily. If you have rosacea, your digestive system might not be processing food effectively and juices help deliver nutrients directly to your bloodstream - Eat fibre-rich foods (vegetables, whole grains, beans, etc.) to help keep toxins moving through your digestive tract instead of through your skin. - If you're taking antibiotics for rosacea, eat some live unsweetened yoghurt or other source of acidophilus every day to replace the good bacteria that antibiotics take away. - Include cold-water fish and flaxseeds in your diet as they contain essential fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation.
