Acne Rosacea: Not a healthy glow.
Do you blush a lot? Does your face redden easily? You could be one of over 14 million Americans with Rosacea.
The exact cause of rosacea is unknown. One thing we know for sure is the condition consists of flushing, which turns into red coloration from the dilation of the capillaries and can lead to small pimples that resemble acne (Acne Rosacea). Redness is often seen on the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. In more severe cases, the nose can appear swollen or bulbous (usually in men) or thin red lines that look like spider webs can appear on the cheeks. Flare-ups often start when certain triggers cause the blood vessels in the face to dilate, which causes redness. Common triggers are sun, exercise, hot weather, emotional stress, spicy foods, alcohol, and hot baths. Swings in temperature from hot to cold or cold to hot can also trigger a flare of rosacea.
To date, modern medicine doesn’t offer much in the way of “treatment” for this condition since the cause is still unknown. Often times, patients are prescribed oral or topical antibiotics. Often times these are just a bandage on the condition and not necessarily addressing the root of the problem.
Luckily, natural medicine offers us some alternatives that can be very beneficial. Starting with diet, removing alcohol, hot drinks, spicy foods and herbs and dairy products (milk and eggs) are a great start. Reducing sun exposure, excessive exercise and stress (good luck) are also great ways to reduce the risk of flare-ups. Notice that these will cost you nothing and can keep you from getting those embarrassing red lines and bumps on your face.
Nutritional supplements also provide us with added benefits. My first line of defense with regards to Rosacea is to use Betaine HCl. It has been reported that some people with rosacea also produce less than adequate stomach acid. Betaine HCl is a great way to address low stomach acid production. I also like to recommend using a strong enzyme blend (preferably pancreatic). Both of these supplements can be found in blended digestive support formulas (multi-enzyme). Use of Betaine HCl or pancreatic enzymes should be used with caution in those with previous stomach irritation conditions.
Lastly, with any skin type of condition, I recommend cleansing and detoxifying the body. Some experts think your skin reflects what you look like on the inside. Herbal combinations seem to work best. My favorite daily detox is Flor*Essence (Flora Health). This tea is gentle yet effective at helping many systems of the body detoxify. Remember, anytime you cleanse or detoxify to make sure you are consuming plenty of purified water, fiber and probiotics. Following these simple lifestyle changes and incorporating dietary supplements will make a marked improvement in your skin health.