Rosacea's Cause & Cure

The Cause of Rosacea is primarily from an overly acidic body and skin. Many rosacea patients and medical researchers have been baffled as to why some people have rosacea and others do not. Also many are curious why rosacea often appears as a hereditary trait. There is a very good explanation as you will learn below.

And now some are beginning to learn that rosacea is more than a red face as patients often have allergy and sinus problems, fibromyalgia, digestive system disorders, and in later years osteoporosis and arthritis - rheumatism presents itself along with other body disorders. As you will read our below, you will find that rosacea is just one symptom of a 'metabolic acidosis disorder' that lowers the total immune system.

As we all noticed while growing up, everyone's face is different with very few looking exactly alike in the same family. Even identical twins are slightly different with their parents being able to tell them apart with small differences developing over the years. Later in life we learn that everyone's finger prints are different. So, just as our faces and finger prints are different, all internal organs are different from those of other people. Our brains are likewise wired different as identical twins rarely have the same religious, political, vocational, or other interest even when born and raised by the same parents.

Likewise, all body organs are different. Our stomach, gall bladder, pancreas, and kidneys are just as different from other people as our faces and finger prints. Yes, family members are more likely to have rosacea if their parents had rosacea as these are inherited genes that made the rosacea sufferer somewhat like their relatives, yet distinctly different than other people as 'we are all different'. Also, family members often have 'learned patterns of food and beverage choices' that are often good but sometimes not so good for their skin and overall health. So here is where the different digestive systems interact with rosacea. Please see the picture below:

The liver, gall bladder, kidneys , and pancreas functioning at their optimum level in all of us would be ideal. However, we will only discuss the key organ affecting rosacea which is the pancreas. The pancreas has two functions: 1.To produce a bile containing sodium bicarbonate with a very high pH to be added to the food after it passes out of the stomach into the small intestines just as the very acidic enzyme was added in the stomach to assist in digestion or the break down of the foods consumed.To begin the proper digestive process, thoroughly chew food, letting it mix with the saliva in your mouth until it turns into a soup (no more wolfing down food.) Now, you can enjoy the food that you have worked for more as well as a friends, family member, nature, or reading the paper while chewing properly, which is the first step of the digestive process. The pancreatic bile containing sodium bicarbonate enters the intestines via a duct just below the stomach to neutralizes the acidic foods and beverages from the stomach to keep the intestines from having some problems such as: irritated bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, necrotizing intestines ,psoriasis, eczema and cancer. The second function of the pancreas is to produce insulin. Please note that both enzymes or biles produced by the pancreas are alkaline with a high pH and are very much needed for rosacea skin health and likewise for overall good body health. Yes, you can improve rosacea as well as diabetes with the intake of the proper foods and drinks.

As we can not change our height, we can not change our pancreas which is less effective in some people. The situation is similar to some people having eyes that need assistance thus we gain glasses. The pancreas works better in producing more concentrated alkaline bile if it has alkaline foods and drinks to extract it from. The pancreas is not as effective with acidic foods and drinks such as alcohol, coffee, pizza or the other trigger foods that you have noticed causing a redness soon after digestion.

To maintain total body and brain health almost all your body cells, including skin cells, should be alkaline. When the human blood is alkaline (and normally between the pH range of 7.35 and 7.42) your body can regenerate new cells for all body organs, including the skin. Red wine, pizza, and coffee can cause your face to turn red because they are acidic. A build up of lactic acid from over-exercising, or adrenaline from stress or anxiety can also cause the facial flushing to occur because they too are acidic. When the blood is too acidic it is a condition known as "metabolic acidosis." Just as police officers have warning lights on their cars to alert the driver that has too much red wine or other alcohol with a high blood alcohol content (metabolic intoxication) - these facial signs of rosacea are just warning lights that other organs are also being affected by the overly acidic blood, When you are physically tired from work, exercise, etc. your brain does not function normally. Our objective is to keep both the brain and body healthy by keeping them alkaline so body and brain cells can regenerate. The best way of doing this is to drink plenty of water, stay away from acidic foods and drinks, and find a way to relax!

It has been said that rosacea is more than a red face. In fact it is a complex system of action and reaction. Rosacea partially results from an overly acidic body and skin. The pH (potential of hydrogen) as you remember from your high school general science or chemistry class, ranges from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. As you think of your past rosacea history, you will see that all the rosacea triggers have come from 'acidic triggers' regardless of whether they are 'foods, drinks, stress, or lack of breath due to not enough oxygen' (oxygen is an alkaline) and inability to exhaust enough carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide is acidic'. We all know that if we hold our breath for 30 seconds or 60 seconds, we will all notice that our face turns pink or red. We all know, but hardly think that the cause is a build up of carbon dioxide which is an "acidic" gas and we have a shortage of oxygen. Very similarly, when we exercise for too long and become aerobic, we have a build up of lactic acid which is burned muscle and fat tissue (and obviously acidic) which results in more rosacea redness.

Red man syndrome is a reaction to the most powerful acidic antibiotic, Vancomycin, used as a last resort when the bacteria, that is progressing in strength and abundance, becomes resistant to all other antibiotics normally used. This is further evidence that things that are acidic turn one red, but things that are extremely acidic such as Vancomycin causes much of the body to turn red due to the acidic nature of the most powerful class of antibiotics being used to save a life. Likewise, rosacea is caused by an series of prolonged stress factors, medications that are almost acidic in nature and foods and drinks with a low pH, and infections of the body. We hope that you have an interest in learning more about rosacea and red man syndrome as a reaction to the highly acidic antibiotic vancomycin as further evidence that rosacea is caused by an acidic body.

Your drinking water should be alkaline and drinking more alkaline water with a pH of about 7.3 is the best and easiest way to neutralize, buffer, or balance our rosacea pH bank account. Bottled water is "acidic" to keep it from 'going flat' or growing bacteria during the bottling process, storage in warehouses, and distribution to stores. Here are some ways to increase the pH of your drinking water. We also strongly recommend drinking water to stay hydrated on commercial airline flights where pressurized aircraft cabins are notorious for their low humidity or moisture content with passengers competing in close quarters for moisture. As air is wicked out of the passengers bodies, any moisture is breathed internally including that of other passengers viral and bacterial disorders. So be well hydrated before the flight and drink water during the flight to keep your body moist help to prevent dehydration and to prevent virus and bacterial invasions in close proximity to others.

Likewise, those with rosacea need to be very concerned about the build up of acids in the blood stream due to the foods and beverages that we consume. We all know of our triggers such as alcohol, coffee, various medications, etc. which all have a pH below 7.0 or are termed acidic. Our objective therefore should be to balance, buffer, or neutralize the acids with alkaline. Always remember that rosacea is more than a red face as it affects the entire body from the brain to the intestines, and from your muscles and skin to your tongue. For a educational trial, the next time that you are very red faced, simply look into a mirror and stick out your tongue and you will quickly see that this internal muscle is more red also. You will quickly recognize that rosacea is beyond the skin, eyes, and tongue. Please do all you can do to help "combat rosacea".

Acidity is measured as a pH of 1 to 7. Alkalinity is 7 to 14.The numbers refer to how many hydrogen atoms are present compared to an ideal or standard solution. Normally, blood is slightly alkaline, at 7.35 to 7.45; urine pH is the best and easiest way to check on the proper foods and drinks being eaten. Try to keep the pH in the 6.8 to 7.00 range for optimal functioning of the body and brain. If we are excessively alkaline, we don't have the mental and physical 'go' so we need our energy, brain, and muscle foods and drinks during the day and very alkaline foods at night to calm the body and brain (parasympathetic system).

Water is alkaline with a pH of about 7.3, and likewise more alkaline foods such as more "fresh vegetables" and fruits are needed which are alkaline (higher pH than 7.0). Acidic foods and drinks are the problem with a pH of below 7.0 such as coffee at 2.2. To improve your total body and skin condition, eat and drink 90% of the alkaline foods with 10% meats while avoiding breads, pastas, sugars, desserts, etc.

The body has several different ways to ensure that the pH balance stays in the normal range of 7.35 to 7.42. These are referred to as buffer systems. Through normal day-to-day activity in the body, acids are formed as waste products that need to be neutralized, alkalized, or buffered and eliminated. Some of the acids are released with CO2 from exhaling; others are excreted via the kidneys. With acidic foods and drinks, there is always more carbon dioxide (acidic) while alkaline foods produce much more oxygen (think of your high school classes of the tree, grass, and plants giving off oxygen). These systems work together in the healthy human body to keep the pH level within normal ranges. Sometimes with extreme intake of acidic foods and drinks, the normal system cannot compensate and the body becomes even more stressed resulting in more stress hormones, which are also acidic in nature causing more of a blush/flush. Likewise, simple illnesses such as influenza, minor surgery, or emotional and mental stress continue to lower the pH of the body resulting in more skin blushing and flushing. Almost all medications are acidic except anti-acid medications such as Zantac, Milk of Magnesium, etc.

The adrenal cortex secretes cortisol, a natural body hormone of about 10 mg of cortisol daily, with peak cortisol levels occurring early in the morning and therefore the acne flushing and papules will look best in early mornings after this natural anti-inflammatory drug. The hormone will report back to the brain center, with information from other body organs to tell it to stop the whole cycle. Since cortisol is a potent hormone, the prolonged secretion of it will lead to health problems such as the break down of cardiovascular system, digestive system, immune system, musculoskeletal system with resulting osteoporosis and arthritis - rheumatism. You may not even realize that you have any of the above listed diseases or other disorders not listed during your early years of rosacea. Also when the organism does not have a chance for recovery, it will lead to both catecholamine and cortisol depletion. The whole idea is "not to keep" the body in a 'fight or flight' system with any stress, stimulation or food/drinks

Likewise more alkaline foods such as vegetables and fruits, are needed to offset the lactic acid of even mild body use at the office (and even more in strenuous labor jobs), carbon dioxide, adrenaline stress hormones, etc. Or, to keep the "rosacea bank account" balanced, the rosacea sufferer may simply exercise and try to minimize the acidic foods and drinks they consume.

The biggest offenders always seem to be alcohol, coffee, pastries, donuts, pizza, etc. and most of these are avoided easily. However, understanding alcohol is slightly more difficult. Beer has an average pH between 2.0 to 2.5 while wines are around 3.0, while whiskey, gin, and vodka are 'most interesting' with a pH of about 4.0 straight from the bottle. So if one wants to "stay sober and really drink to his or her health," they should drink small portions of gin, vodka or whisky and optionally mix the alcoholic beverage with "water or fruit juice", which are alkaline or neutral. Do not forget that party foods are very acidic and cause fat to accumulate on the body. Having more alkaline foods and drinks presents a very easy way to lose weight without trying and at the same time, reduce cellulite and bags under the eyes.

The accumulation of acids have different names depending on the location where it is noticed. When we intake acidic or party foods and drinks, we flush and call it rosacea on our face. With more accumulation and less exercise to burn the acids, the acids accumulate on the stomach or backside (buns) and we call it body fat or maybe fat and cellulite and purchase bigger clothes over the years. When acids accumulate on the teeth, we call it tooth plaque which breaks down the tooth enamel resulting in a tooth cavity. When acids build up in the arteries, we again call it artery plaque or cholesterol which can lead to artery blockages and heart attacks. All these words have a common meaning of Metabolic Acidosis which is the accumulation of lactic acid from exercising, prescription drugs or non-prescription drugs or street drugs and all food and beverage triggers.The process of better skin and likewise having all better organs is doing the opposite by neutralizing or buffering the acids by alkalizing the acids by the use of antioxidants.

Certainly acid or plaque/cholesterol accumulation makes it more difficult for the blood to move through the facial area resulting in more rosacea symptoms, thus the "Sobye Facial Massage," body stretching, and a small amount of exercise are needed for improved circulation due to the restricted vessels and arteries, as you will read on the Lifestyle Changes page.