Every girl likes that natural flush that brightens their skin. In fact women used to even create a natural flush by using berries. But when is it a natural flush or a disorder that’s just redness of the skin called rosacea (pronounced roh-ZAY-sha). Rosacea is often times misdiagnosed and if left untreated it can grow from a mild to moderate to severe skin disorder. All I can hope is that this blog brings an awareness to rosacea, what it is, and even how to treat it.
To characterize rosacea it’d be put as a chronic redness and potentially life-disruptive disorder. It is, typically, on the cheeks, nose, chin, or forehead; and even sometimes on the neck, chest, scalp or ears. The redness can come and go but is found more common in fairer skinned people and more common in women than men and even more common in those over the age of 30. Although, men usually have more severe symptoms of rosacea, but that’s believed to be because they don’t seek treatment right away. Of course, like I said if it’s left untreated it worsens and becomes more persistent and even visible blood vessels may pop up. We can all agree that this is not the natural flush we’re looking for, am I right?
Rosacea is a skin disorder that varies widely from one person to another, though it will always include at least a primary sign and various secondary signs.
The Primary Signs of Rosacea
:
- Flushing
- Persistent Redness
- Bumps and Pimples
- Visble Blood Vessels
Secondary Signs and Symptoms:
- Eye Irritation Eyes may be irritated and appear watery or bloodshot. This is ocular rosacea and eyelids may also become red and swollen. Styes can be common and even corneal damage and vision loss can happen in severe cases.
- Burning, Stinging, Itching, or Tightness
- Dry Appearance
- Plaques
- Skin Thickening
- Swelling
- Rosacea on the Body Commonly on the neck, chest, scalp, or ears
Medical experts aren’t exactly sure what causes rosacea but we do have a list of what can contribute to it and the risk factors associated with it, and that’s the next best thing. There’s also a couple of triggers that may be contributing to your rosacea. By knowing the triggers it may help decrease the signs of your rosacea.
Abnormalities in facial blood vessels
Skin specialists (dermatologists) suggest that a major factor is probably abnormalities in the blood vessels of the face, which cause the flushing, persistent redness and visible blood vessels. What causes the inflammation of the blood vessels is still a mystery.
Light skin color
A much higher percentage of people with fair skin develop rosacea compared to other people.
Demodex folliculorum (microscopic mite)
Demodex folliculorum lives on human skin and usually causes no problems. However, patients with rosacea have much higher numbers of these mites than others do. Experts do not know whether the mites cause the rosacea, or whether the rosacea causes the overpopulation of the mites – i.e. whether the high population of demodex folliculorum is the cause or the effect of rosacea.
H. pylori bacteria
H. pylori, a bacteria found in the gut, stimulates the production of a protein known to cause blood vessels to dilate. Which experts suggest that this bacterium may play a role in the development of rosacea.
Family history (inheritance, genes)
30% to 40% of patients with rosacea have a close relative with the condition.
Triggers
Some factors can aggravate rosacea or make it worse by increasing blood flow to the surface of the skin. Below are some of these factors:
Hot foods
Hot drinks
Caffeine
Spicy foods
Dairy products
Extremes of temperature
Sunlight
Humidity
Wind
Stress, anxiety, anger, embarrassment
Vigorous exercise
Hot baths
Saunas
Corticosteroids
Some medications – such as those for treating high blood pressure
Acute medical conditions – such as a cold, cough, or fever
Some chronic medical conditions – such as hypertension (high blood pressure)
Alcohol – alcohol does not cause rosacea, but it can be a trigger for people with the condition. Rosacea is not caused by alcohol abuse.
We’ve gone over signs, symptoms, triggers, and even risks of rosacea. And boy did I learn a lot researching this skin disorder. Never before did I realize how serious rosacea is and how important it is to start treating it as soon as signs and symptoms appear. I hope this has helped you ladies and gents realize how serious this could progress to be.
Next blog post we’re gonna go over mainstream treatments and prescriptions used for rosacea, what’s in them, how they REALLY affect your skin and health, and what we can do to holistically treat rosacea. Until next time! Stay happy, stay holistic, and stay real.
