A Guide For Understanding Rosacea

Do you experience frequent or consistent flushing to your cheeks, nose or chin and you are not sure why you have these symptoms? You are not alone. Many people struggle with constant redness, dry skin, broken capillaries and thick, textured skin on a daily basis and it can be very frustrating when you don’t have answers for these symptoms. You may have tried to treat your symptoms only to find out that your skin is also very sensitive and now, maybe you have given up. Hang in there! With some understanding of what is causing your symptoms and how to safely treat and manage them you can be headed down the road to calm, healthy skin in no time!


If you show signs of the symptoms previously mentioned it is likely that someone somewhere has mentioned Rosacea to you before. The word Rosacea might bring many questions to mind for you. Is that what I have? What’s causing it? Can it be cured? How can I manage it? Let’s answer those questions by starting from the beginning. The ‘what’.



What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a common skin disease with symptoms of:
- Facial Flushing (redness)
- Erythema (swelling)
- Telangiectacia (distended capillaries)
- Papules / Pustules (think, whiteheads)
- Irritated/Sensitive skin
- Thickening of the skin


Currently, 16 Million Americans suffer from Rosacea. Many individuals that have it don’t even know they have it….. 95% of them, actually! This is because Rosacea is commonly misdiagnosed as acne or just having sensitive skin. While the actual cause of Rosacea is still scientifically unknown, there is much that we do know about it. For instance, Rosacea is hereditary. Meaning, if your parents or grandparents have it then you will be more likely to have it as well. It is mostly present in fair-skinned individuals, especially those with lighter hair and eyes and a higher sensitivity to the sun. It is most common in woman between the ages of 30-50 years old. Rosacea is not as common in men, however the symptoms tend to be much more severe for them.


Let’s break it down further for a better understanding. There are three main factors that contribute to the symptoms of Rosacea.

Those 3 Main Factors Are:
1) Inflammation = Blood is being flushed to the area
2) Distended Blood Vessels = Chronic flushing leads to weekend vessels
3) Demodex Mite = Carries bacteria that irritates skin


One of the most commonly known contributors to the symptoms of Rosacea is a very unhelpful little passenger called the Demodex Mite. STOP! Don’t Google it! Trust me…..he’s a nasty little booger and you don’t want to see him. This little microscopic mite lives on the skin of every human. About 20 Million per square inch, to be exact. Individuals with Rosacea generally have 10X more mites present on the skin. I know…. try not to think about that!


The Demodex Mite lives in and around the follicle, feeds on oil and dead skin cells, and is responsible for causing redness in the skin. The mite produces bacteria called Lipase, which then activates an enzyme that breaks down the oil and skin cell debris for digestion by the mite. During this process the skin becomes inflamed which causes redness, heat and irritation. This, in turn, causes vascular damage to the skin. So when I say “unhelpful'“ that’s exactly what this little guy is. Okay, enough about him for now…YUCK!


Another significant contributor to the cause of Rosacea is the UV rays from the sun. UV rays not only damage and weaken the skin making it much more sensitive, they also stimulate a protein in the skin to actually produce MORE blood vessels. More blood vessels present means more potential risk for vascular damage. When you combine that with the presence of the Demodex Mite it is a whole recipe for disaster. If you are experiencing symptoms of Rosacea, it is very important that you wear a broad spectrum sunscreen every time you will be outside. No exceptions.


Common Triggers That Cause Flare-ups

Understanding and preventing flare-ups can make living with Rosacea much easier. You might be surprised at some of the triggers you are probably exposed to on a daily basis without thinking for a minute they might be causing some of your symptoms! Keep in mind that in alignment with your body’s Circadian Rhythm, flare-ups generally occur most often between the hours of 3pm - 5pm.

Common Triggers Include:
HEAT & MOISTURE
- triggers Lipase production (feeds the mites)
- hot baths and showers, steam, exercise

CLIMATE EXTREMES
- Summer: sweat, inflammation
- Winter: dryness, weakend capillaries

EXCESSIVE SUN EXPOSURE
- damages skin, increases capillaries

FOODS HIGH IN HISTAMINES
- avocados, hot beverages, spicy foods, alcohol and much more!


CLICK HERE for a more thorough list of common triggers. Is your favorite food or drink on the list?


Onto The Good News!

The good news is that Rosacea can be treated and managed with great success! Treating symptoms begins with creating balance in the skin by controlling oil production, gently exfoliating, healing, repairing and protection from further damage. It is critical to start managing Rosacea as soon as possible- if left untreated it can escalate and become more severe and harder to manage.


Relief from common symptoms of Rosacea can be as easy as incorporating the right ingredients into your daily skin health routine. The use of an active cleanser twice a day and a gentle exfoliation throughout the week can help to control oil production and the buildup of dead skin cells which, in turn, helps to eliminate the food source for the mites. Less food = less mites! This helps keep the mites under control and not causing any problems. Then, the addition of healing, hydrating, and anti-inflammatory ingredients can be used to calm and repair the skin. Follow that up with a great sunscreen and intentional consistency and you can successfully treat those 3 main factors that cause Rosacea we talked about earlier: Inflammation, distended blood vessels and the Demodex Mite.


To make it easier, I have compiled a list of the top ingredients used in treating Rosacea. You won’t necessarily need to be on every one of them, but a combination of a few of them can ultimately give you your best results. Remember, your goal is to control the oil production, gently exfoliate, heal, hydrate and protect.


Top Ingredients For Rosacea:
- Alpha Hydroxy Acids = controls oil, gently exfoliates, promotes hydration
- Sulfur = healing, anti-inflammatory
- Horse Chestnut = repairs, strengthens
- Enzymes = gently exfoliates, healing
- Peptides = healing, calming, strengthens
- SPF (sunscreen) = Protection, prevention
- Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients = Aloe, Arnica, Fulvic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Ceramides, Lipids, Vitamins, Antioxidants


So Now What?

As with any skin concern, proper diagnosis is a must. If you think you have symptoms of Rosacea your next step should be to make an appointment with your Dermatologist. From there, Rosacea can typically be treated and managed without the use of prescription medication by avoiding triggers and incorporating a mixture of active, healing and protective ingredients into your everyday routine.


Being consistent with great, daily home care and regularly seeing an Esthetician for Rosacea treatments can keep your skin calm and prevent future flare-ups. An esthetician can also help you better understand what your triggers are and how to avoid them so your skin stays looking great!


Here are my most recommended products containing ingredients from the Top Ingredients For Rosacea list above. These are trusted, high-quality products that will give you the best results the fastest.

Skin DiseasesDana Lee, L.E.RosaceaComment