Rosacea, or acne rosacea, is clinically defined as a chronic "acneiform" disorder which affects both the skin and the eyes. It's location on the human body is usually the most sun-exposed areas, such as the face and the chest. Rosacea usually varies in severity, and manifests in epsiodes of flushing and inflammation of the affected areas. Clinical research has shown inflammatory episodes to be triggered and/or worsened by the consumption of spicy foods, alchoholic beverages, and hot drinks. The skin lesions which can accompany rosacea (acne rosacea), differ from acne in that spots of inflammation do not swell with fluid and come to a "head" like acne vulgaris postules do.
Rosacea is most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 60, and women are affected almost twice as often as men according to some studies. Although there is much medical speculation that rosacea and acne rosacea frequently affect fair skinned people of European and Celtic descent, there have never been any conclusive findings supporting this theory.
So, if you are an individual who suffers from rosacea, what are your treatment options, and what actions can you take to relieve these symptoms? One course of action is to have a dermatologist prescribe a common rosacea medication, such as oral tetracycline, and maybe a topical ointment as well, like erythromycin. If you want to skip the doctor's office route, there are now some excellent herbal and all natural rosacea treatments available today that will eliminate rosacea just as well as, if not better than, their prescription counterparts.
Regardless of the course of treatment you end up choosing to cure your rosacea symptoms, there are some guidelines you can adhere to in your daily life and skin care regimen that will also help alleviate your rosacea symptoms.
Since rosacea and acne rosacea symptoms are caused in part by the dilation or enlargement of tiny blood vessels under the skin's surface, avoiding hot and spicy foods, alcohol, and hot beverages should become a general rule of thumb in your daily life. Also, a diet rich in multiple vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A, has show to benefit rosacea and acne rosacea sufferers. If you are a smoker, it is imperative you quit. Smoking can aggravate rosacea, and causes problems with circulation, which can lead to other skin problems. Wear a good, non-irritating (PABA free) sunscreen at all times, especially on your face and chest.
Be sure to use a gentle skin cleanser without harsh abrasives or other harsh chemicals/ingredients. Excessive alcohol and harsh chemicals abound in many cleansers, so be sure your cleanser is free of irritants. There are some great anti-redness masks, serums, and gentle cleansers out there for rosacea sufferers that will soothe and calm the skin, bringing back it's normal color and balance.
The good news is, Rosacea is a very treatable problem now, and there are some great natural products available to those who can't afford a dermatologist, or simply have an aversion to doctor's visits and man-made medications and prefer to "go natural". With these high-tech nutreceuticals, your skin will be back to it's calm, gorgeous self in no time!
Danna Schneider is the webmaster of CosmeticsGalore.com, a cosmetics and cosmetic correction and enhancement product review site. Rosacea treatment product information can be found at http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com/acne-rosacea-treatments.html The site features the latest information on the newest technology in the cosmeceutical and nutreceutical field, as well as advice, reviews and customer testimonials.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Acne Care for Adults
Roughly 20% of acne cases being treated in the United States belong to adults. For many adults, what was thought of as a teenage affliction has continued well into their twenties and thirties. For other adults suffering from acne, the outbreaks did not start until they reached their twenties.
The causes of adult acne vary and can be any one or a combination of the following conditions.
Stress
Until recently, stress related acne was a myth. Researchers are now beginning to understand the correlation between stress and acne. For adult acne sufferers, stress is considered to be the leading cause to post-pubescent breakouts.
When we are exposed to stressful situations, the brain triggers the central nervous system, which in turn sends signals to the rest of the body as part of a primitive fight or flight response. Part of this response is hormonal release from our adrenal glands and fatty secretions from the sebaceous glands, which lay beneath the skin.
Both hormonal imbalance and fatty secretions, which can clog pores, are known contributors to acne outbreaks.
Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal imbalances as a cause of adult acne primarily affect women. Imbalances that occur during a woman's menstrual cycle or as a result of pregnancy can lead to acne outbreaks.
There are adult males who report that they have monthly acne episodes. While men obviously do not menstruate, it is believed that men may have hormonal cycles similar to women.
Coffee ConsumptionAdults tend to ingest more coffee than do teens. The caffeine in coffee and tea promotes the production of cortisol, which is also known as the stress hormone. As noted, hormone imbalances are known contributors to adult acne.
Smoking
The chemicals introduced into the body by cigarette smoking limit blood circulation to skin cells, inhibiting the skin's ability to heal and regenerate. The toxins released in cigarette smoke can clog pores and promote bacterial growth in pores, all of which contributes to adult acne.
Heredity
Recent research has shown that people are more likely to suffer from adult acne if they have a family history of adult acne sufferers.
EnvironmentalJob conditions that expose the skin to high levels of pollutants, irritants, or humidity can lead to an increase in adult acne.
Cosmetics
? Poorly formulated cosmetics that are heavy or greasy can clog skin pores, trapping bacteria, dirt, and oils resulting in adult acne breakouts. Covering acne with makeup can make the condition worse.
BIO:
Greg Podsakoff is a former acne sufferer, and currently provides information on treating acne, pimples, and zits, via an objective informational skincare website, http://www.acne-treatments-guide.com
The causes of adult acne vary and can be any one or a combination of the following conditions.
Stress
Until recently, stress related acne was a myth. Researchers are now beginning to understand the correlation between stress and acne. For adult acne sufferers, stress is considered to be the leading cause to post-pubescent breakouts.
When we are exposed to stressful situations, the brain triggers the central nervous system, which in turn sends signals to the rest of the body as part of a primitive fight or flight response. Part of this response is hormonal release from our adrenal glands and fatty secretions from the sebaceous glands, which lay beneath the skin.
Both hormonal imbalance and fatty secretions, which can clog pores, are known contributors to acne outbreaks.
Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal imbalances as a cause of adult acne primarily affect women. Imbalances that occur during a woman's menstrual cycle or as a result of pregnancy can lead to acne outbreaks.
There are adult males who report that they have monthly acne episodes. While men obviously do not menstruate, it is believed that men may have hormonal cycles similar to women.
Coffee ConsumptionAdults tend to ingest more coffee than do teens. The caffeine in coffee and tea promotes the production of cortisol, which is also known as the stress hormone. As noted, hormone imbalances are known contributors to adult acne.
Smoking
The chemicals introduced into the body by cigarette smoking limit blood circulation to skin cells, inhibiting the skin's ability to heal and regenerate. The toxins released in cigarette smoke can clog pores and promote bacterial growth in pores, all of which contributes to adult acne.
Heredity
Recent research has shown that people are more likely to suffer from adult acne if they have a family history of adult acne sufferers.
EnvironmentalJob conditions that expose the skin to high levels of pollutants, irritants, or humidity can lead to an increase in adult acne.
Cosmetics
? Poorly formulated cosmetics that are heavy or greasy can clog skin pores, trapping bacteria, dirt, and oils resulting in adult acne breakouts. Covering acne with makeup can make the condition worse.
BIO:
Greg Podsakoff is a former acne sufferer, and currently provides information on treating acne, pimples, and zits, via an objective informational skincare website, http://www.acne-treatments-guide.com
The Importance of Water in Caring For Acne
The benefits of water as part of our daily lives are undeniable. We use it to prepare food, to drink, and to bathe. What many people do not know is that water also plays an important roll in the reduction and treatment of acne flare-ups.
During an average day, most people lose almost two liters of water through perspiration, respiration, and waste removal. Include a hot humid day, strenuous work, or athletic activity and the amount of fluid loss multiplies significantly. Water is crucial to healthy cells, and healthy cells, particularly at the skin level where cells are exposed to damaging environmental conditions, can reduce acne outbreaks.
When cells are deprived of water, they become dehydrated. Dehydrated cells do not function properly and are unable to rebuild, heal themselves, or remove waste efficiently.
Sadly, most people do not know that they are dehydrated, or they feel that they are replenishing their body with water through coffee, alcohol, or soft drinks. Yet the caffeine, alcohol, and sugars contained in these liquids actually contribute to dehydration and introduce toxins.
Consuming enough pure water to replenish what the body has lost can greatly enhance your cells' ability to function properly and reduce acne blemishes.
Consuming adequate amounts of water-anywhere from six to eight large glasses of water per day-is beneficial to cell health. But if the water you are consuming is not pure and contains minerals and toxins, these unwanted chemicals will be transported to the cellular level and can actually contribute to the cells' inability to function properly, often causing of acne.
If your water quality is questionable, investing in bottled water or some sort of water purification system can be beneficial to your body's overall health. Water is unflavored and is not suppose to have a taste. If your drinking water has a recognizable taste or leaves an aftertaste, chances are it is not as pure as it could be.
Proper cleansing with water can also help to reduce or eliminate acne. Soaps and other cleansers that we use on our faces and bodies usually contain high levels of alkaline, which can disrupt the balance-as can hard water.
As a treatment for acne, cleansing the face with a solution of purified warm water mixed with salt will help to remove excess oil and dirt from your face without over drying it. Over drying of the face can cause your body to respond with excess oil secretion that can lead to clogged pores and acne breakouts.
Greg Podsakoff is a former acne sufferer, and currently provides information on treating acne, pimples, and zits, via an objective informational skincare website, http://www.acne-treatments-guide.com
During an average day, most people lose almost two liters of water through perspiration, respiration, and waste removal. Include a hot humid day, strenuous work, or athletic activity and the amount of fluid loss multiplies significantly. Water is crucial to healthy cells, and healthy cells, particularly at the skin level where cells are exposed to damaging environmental conditions, can reduce acne outbreaks.
When cells are deprived of water, they become dehydrated. Dehydrated cells do not function properly and are unable to rebuild, heal themselves, or remove waste efficiently.
Sadly, most people do not know that they are dehydrated, or they feel that they are replenishing their body with water through coffee, alcohol, or soft drinks. Yet the caffeine, alcohol, and sugars contained in these liquids actually contribute to dehydration and introduce toxins.
Consuming enough pure water to replenish what the body has lost can greatly enhance your cells' ability to function properly and reduce acne blemishes.
Consuming adequate amounts of water-anywhere from six to eight large glasses of water per day-is beneficial to cell health. But if the water you are consuming is not pure and contains minerals and toxins, these unwanted chemicals will be transported to the cellular level and can actually contribute to the cells' inability to function properly, often causing of acne.
If your water quality is questionable, investing in bottled water or some sort of water purification system can be beneficial to your body's overall health. Water is unflavored and is not suppose to have a taste. If your drinking water has a recognizable taste or leaves an aftertaste, chances are it is not as pure as it could be.
Proper cleansing with water can also help to reduce or eliminate acne. Soaps and other cleansers that we use on our faces and bodies usually contain high levels of alkaline, which can disrupt the balance-as can hard water.
As a treatment for acne, cleansing the face with a solution of purified warm water mixed with salt will help to remove excess oil and dirt from your face without over drying it. Over drying of the face can cause your body to respond with excess oil secretion that can lead to clogged pores and acne breakouts.
Greg Podsakoff is a former acne sufferer, and currently provides information on treating acne, pimples, and zits, via an objective informational skincare website, http://www.acne-treatments-guide.com
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