"The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same thinking that created them."
-Albert Einstein
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The successful treatment of rosacea involves many aspects of skin care and total health care. Anything that creates changes in the body or in the facial skin can have an impact rosacea and its treatment. Rosacea is a complex interaction involving several factors and/or conditions. Changing those factors which contribute to your rosacea, may be the key to controlling or even curing your rosacea! Balancing those factors which in the past have influenced your rosacea will help to control or manage your rosacea. Listed below are many factors which contribute to or aggravate rosacea. As you study them you will find easy simple ways to limit or eliminate a source of your rosacea. Not all factors will influence everyone's rosacea but finding yours may be the key to limiting or controlling your rosacea in a natural way.
It is important in the treatment of the causes of rosacea to use as many ways of curing rosacea as possible. Hippocrates said, "First of all, do no harm," referring to doctors' treatment of the entire body. A treatment derivative could be 'not to cause harm' to the body with our foods, drinks, sunlight, stress from work or lack of sleep, etc., in order to reduce the symptoms of rosacea. Information on rosacea educates the reader about steroid rosacea, accutane rosacea, acne rosacea, adult rosacea, ocular rosacea, pregnancy rosacea, make-up for rosacea, rosacea cleanser, rosacea diet, and the many possible treatments.
Those who modify their lifestyles and eating habits and reduce their stress level often experience a much greater degree of rosacea clearing. While you try to treat the symptoms of rosacea that are most visible and distressing, you should try "treating the cause of rosacea"! Some would call this a natural cure for rosacea. If we find and treat the cause, then maybe all the symptoms of rosacea need not occur!
It is important to treat rosacea in as many ways as possible. In searching for a customized rosacea treatment plan, some may consider the concept an alternative rosacea medicine or a natural rosacea treatment. An essential method to improve rosacea can be found in basic lifestyle changes. A rosacea sufferer can still enjoy the same lifestyles while reducing their level of stress, reducing weight while improving muscle tone, and still experience a much greater degree of rosacea clearing. While you try to treat the symptoms of the rosacea skin disorder that are most visible and distressing, you can easily treat the cause of rosacea once you understand it. If we can treat the cause of rosacea, then the symptoms of rosacea will not occur. Good health for your skin as well as your entire body will reward you with a longer life and more beautiful skin to wear during those extra years. Follow these healthy tips to gain better health and better looking skin.
1. Drink Alkaline Water
You should drink at least ten glasses of alkaline water per day to help neutralize the acids that cause your rosacea flushing. It is important to remember to drink water throughout the day even if you do not "feel" thirsty. You should drink considerably more water if you are working outside, playing a sport, or doing anything physically taxing. You should also drink more if you live in a dry climate or have a higher metabolism, anxiety, or stress. Water is needed for skin tissue repair as well as nearly every body process including efficient digestion, absorption, circulation and secretion. Water carries vital nutrients to the skin and all body cells and removes waste.
Professional models, who are usually between 17 and 29, drink an average of 12 glasses a day and weigh about 105-130 pounds. This not only helps them stay thin because they are drinking instead of eating, but also helps them keep their skin moist and beautiful the "natural way." Most of us are above 130 pounds and need much more water than a smaller model. Christie Brinkley, a very well-known and attractive 54 year old model born February 2, 1954 with three children still looks great as she continually consumes 12-16 glasses of water per day. See her by placing your own search into your favorite search engine such as Google. Everyone can improve their skin by simply drinking the proper amount of 'alkaline' water for their lifestyle, size, humidity enviroment, exercise, etc. requirements.
2. Avoid Stress
Stress can be anything that disrupts your body's natural balance. Typically, we think of stress as a reaction to a perceived threat. The pulse rises, the muscles tense, and the immune system begins to shut down as the body prepares for "fight or flight." Many rosacea sufferers notice a flushing of the face as adrenal acid is added to the body system, but the harmful effects of stress go far beyond a red face. Those who can not relieve stress as needed may also experience fatigue, upset stomach, and frequent headaches. These symptoms get much worse over time if the body stays in a stressful state.
(more about stress management)
3. Avoid Stimulants
Stimulants such as coffee, tea, alcohol, cigarettes, and excessive sugar from sweets and soda are highly acidic and throw your body off-balance. They are also vascular dilators, which can directly cause facial flushing. Any chemical powerful enough to "wake you up" in the morning is obviously causing drastic changes in your body. Sufferers of rosacea need the opposite of these acidic stimulants. A good alkaline "rosacea diet" will help to buffer or neutralize the harmful effects of stimulants.
4. Avoid Steroids
"Never, never, never, ever prescribe steroids for rosacea" Dr. Kligman (Dermatology-University of Philadelphia) & Dr. Plewig (Dermatologische Klinik Und Poliklinik der Universitat Munchen, Germany) state in their 1973 book, entitled Acne & Rosacea, First edition. Likewise, their second edition in 1993 harshly criticizes dermatologists that prescribe steroids for rosacea.
5. Reduce or Eliminate Alcohol Consumption
It's best to avoid alcohol or at least minimize alcohol intake. Alcohol is a diuretic; that is, it pushes water out of body cells, causing increased urine production resulting in dehydration. Dehydration causes the skin's pores to shrink, making them more prone to clogging. Also, alcohol inhibits sleep, causing more fatigue and stress, which leads to more rosacea symptoms. A rosacea sufferer who drinks alcohol should follow it with plenty of water to hydrate the body and prevent rosacea flare-ups.
6. Avoid Hot Baths
Hot baths should be avoided, as should very cold water on the affected areas. To prevent vascular dilation, use warm water well below 98.5 degrees on the affected areas so as not to redden the face more. Scrubbing and abrasives should be avoided, as they irritate the skin, which should be left intact as a natural barrier against bacteria. Also, try to take a short bath of approximately five minutes and minimize facial washing.
Change wash-cloths and body towels after each use. They are a great place for adult acne-causing bacteria to grow and be reapplied to the skin later. Wash facial wash cloths, pillow covers, and personal undergarments daily with Clorox to decrease rosacea-related bacterial growth. Change clothes and sheets frequently.
7. Use Gentle Soaps
Many soaps and cleansers are too harsh on the skin and can contain fragrances that irritate and inflame your rosacea. We find that Cetaphil® "moisturizing gentle cleansing bar for dry, sensitive skin" has provided the best results for acne and rosacea-affected skin and can be purchased over-the-counter in most countries of the world. Other good soaps include Neutrogena "dry skin formula," Dove bar soap, and Noxzema shaving cream for sensitive skin.
8. Food Allergy Flushing
In our experience, many patients with rosacea have other symptoms that suggest the diagnosis of food allergy. Food allergies are always caused by acidic foods and acidic drinks. A red nose, cheeks and red ears act like warning lights that turn on when a food reaction starts. Often, it is the symptoms of food allergy that motivate people to start diet revision (rosacea diet), and an improvement in their rosacea condition is noted along with improvement in other symptoms such as gastrointentestinal disturbances, migraine headache, sinusitis, and fatigue. Foods that are hot (either spicy or thermally) are often the culprit.
9. Facial Exercise
The Sobye's Massage or 'non surgical face lift' is very useful as the face has many muscles which hold tension in many different ways for different purposes. If the muscles are not toned by exercise, the face will sag and portray an older look. Facial muscles don't all attach directly to bone like they do in the rest of the body. Instead, many of them attach under the skin. This allows you to contract your facial muscles in the smallest amount and make dozens of different kinds of faces as you have noticed in your past photos of the slightest 'time difference' in photo shots. If all the muscles are toned the face will have a natural 'face lift', the skin will be smoother and younger looking and the general appearance will be brighter and more pleasant. Frown lines are caused when we hold tension too long and too often; however when your face relaxes deeply the muscles relax giving the skin of the red rosacea face a chance to smooth out and allows the restricted blood to 'flow out' resulting in a very useful function for the rosacea sufferer.
The Sobye massage is accomplished in three different ways as follows: 1) is to awaken the skin in the morning or upon arising by "rotating the fingertips on the skin" by holding the finger tips in one place and moving the hand for 10 to 15 seconds or more depending on the person's tolerance, 2) exercising the facial muscles by making many different facial expressions or exercises or contortions of "smiling, frowning, moving the facial muscles UP and DOWN and LEFT and RIGHT and a variety of exercises that you can choose from as to your personal choice and to those that could be watching you, and 3) the use of a washcloth and soap which additionally cleans the skin as 82% of rosacea sufferers have both rosacea and acne. The goal is to relax all of the muscles of your face while encouraging better circulation into the skin of the face and for proper exiting through the veins. Thinking of positive things and smiling is relaxing and moves the brain out of the sympathetic nervous system mode of "flight or flight".
10. Exercise for Stress Reduction
Aerobic exercise is a great way to alkalize your body by replacing carbon dioxide with oxygen. However, any exercise should be moderated to prevent a build-up of lactic acid, an acidic byproduct of muscle activity. When your muscles begin to "burn," you know that lactic acid is building up. If you exercise regularly, try to break up your sessions for a maximum of thirty minutes at a time and remember to drink more water on days you are exercising. Otherwise, fifteen minutes of aerobic exercise each day would be a good start.
11. Avoid Astringent Soaps
Astringent soaps and any astringent agents that shrink the skin pores such as witch hazel, alum, oatmeal, very cold water, and rubbing alcohol should be avoided, as they shrink pores, trapping more body oils in the skin.
12. Quit Smoking
Please do not smoke or "please stop smoking" as soon as you can slowly reduce your dependence on smoking. It is very addictive and very acidic causing more rosacea problems as well as the great potential of lung cancer. Smoking research has shown that smoking is very detrimental to the skin and overall health as it shortens the body of oxygen which is alkaline. You already know what happens when the body and brain do not get sufficient oxygen; if in doubt, hold your breath for 45 seconds while in front of a mirror, and observe how pink you become before you pass out due to the acidic build up of carbon dioxide. As smoking causes the body and brain to be more acidic while living tissue needs to be alkaline, skin cell regeneration is slowed down tremendously.
13. Manage Body Weight
Keep body weight as close to that prescribed for your age, height, frame size, and gender as possible. An overweight body puts a heavier load on the cardiovascular system which results in an increase in rosacea-related vascular dilation, facial blushing and redness. A few thoughts on positive rosacea control, weight loss control, as well as mental hygiene is to think the following LIFESTYLE CREED: "I make time for myself each day, making sure that I identify and meet my personal needs. After unexpected setbacks, I bounce back quickly to my healthful routines, I am patient with my rate of weight loss and I am motivated to continue healthful habits no matter how much I lose each week. As I evaluate my progress each day with a daily diary of foods, water and other fluids, stress, allergy conditions, and sun exposure, I notice if my habits start to slip, and I take immediate action to get back on track. I take full responsibility for my health, fitness, and overall well-being and realize it is up to me and no one can do it for me. As I work out regularly and moderately in a cool exercise area while well hydrated, I reap the benefits of a slimmer, healthier body. My self-talk is positive, kind, gentle, and loving. My drive to reach and maintain my goals is inextinguishable. As I am in control of my meal plan, stress plan, and life plan as an adult, I know that I may choose to have and do whatever I wish as that will be responsible as the adult that I am. I courageously follow the path of change even in the face of new obstacles and new challenges". Eat three small meals rather than one big meal to help prevent rosacea flare-ups. Also graze between meals to keep the blood sugar level up. However. always consider calorie intake and weight control.
Be sure to balance your nutrition even if you are reducing your calorie intake. Many people are particularly deficient in the beneficial polyunsaturated fats provided by seafood, such as Omega-3 DHA.
14. Sleep
Always sleep at least 8 hours per night to prevent the body from being stressed. Some immune system protective functions do not even engage until one has had 7 or more hours of continuous sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation takes a toll on immune surveillance.
15. Apply Moisturizers
Moisturizers can be helpful in protecting the skin from dryness. We suggest 100% pure Jojoba oil with no preservatives which normally can be found at GNC stores in the United States and Canada and can be purchased in most health stores throughout the world. While we highly recommend Jojoba Oil, in the event that one can not find it, then use Safflower Oil found in most grocery stores. Purchase the smallest bottle as possible as it does go rancid within a month or so as bacteria enters the bottle. The sensitive or damaged rosacea skin needs small concentrations of Jojoba oil (or Safflower Oil) for the following reasons:
- To help reverse damage to the epidermis caused by harsh soaps, facial washes, and rosacea topical medications.
- To help replace moisture lost from the use of facial washes and topical medications.
- To help enhance skin healing (cell division and growth) within the middle layer of the epidermis.
- To help penetration of topical Rosacea-Ltd III through the epidermis.
- To help normalize sebum excretion (related to acne).
- To help normalize keratin sloughing off from the dermis (related to acne).
- To help normalize the production of inflammatory substances (prostaglandins) in the dermis of the skin.
After washing the face with Cetaphil® (see #7 above), place one drop of Jojoba oil in your wet hands. Rub the hands together so that the one drop is equally divided and dispersed over both hands. Apply the oil equally to both sides of the face which is 100% wet. After application of Jojoba oil, apply Rosacea-Ltd III according to the instructions.
The importance of Jojoba oil derives from its similarity to the natural restorative oil produced by the sebaceous glands in the dermal layers of the skin. Jojoba oil is non-allergenic and will not clog the pores.
16. Avoid Sun Overexposure
Avoid the sun whenever possible. Though sunlight is important for production of Vitamin D, most of us receive a healthy amount of sunlight in our daily chores. There are many harmful effects of sun overexposure, and be aware that some drugs will increase sun sensitivity. Particularly, sunlight can be a factor in ocular rosacea.
Good health for your skin as well as your entire body may require a permanent lifestyle change that will reward you with a longer life and more beautiful skin to wear during those extra years.
