The National Rosacea Society has declared April National Rosacea Awareness Month. Many of our clients have been diagnosed with this inflammatory skin condition and some may not even know they have it. Acne and rosacea can coexist and special care needs to be taken in order to clear this type of skin. So, if you’ve ever said “no, I’m not blushing”, this may be the article for you.
What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition characterized by flushing or redness on the face. It’s usually focused in the center of the face on the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. It’s most commonly found in people of Eastern European descent or with a fair skin tone.
Acne rosacea is a chronic, but treatable condition that primarily affects the central face, and is often characterized by flare-ups and remissions. It typically begins any time after age 30 as a flushing or redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that may come and go. Over time, the redness tends to become ruddier and more persistent, and visible blood vessels may appear. Left untreated, bumps and pimples often develop, and in severe cases
What causes Rosacea?
The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, however, scientists have linked it to several different triggers. Irregularities in the immune system and the microbiome have an effect on rosacea symptoms, often causing flare-ups and irritation on the cheeks. It has also been linked to certain cells located between the nervous system and the vascular system. Anyone get bright red when they are embarrassed? There is also evidence that red inflamed flare-ups can come from systemic diseases as well.
Here at Envision Acne & Skincare Center, we believe that Rosacea is a symptom of chronic inflammation of one’s digestive system. Most times there is an overgrowth of candida and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) can be underlying triggers of this inflammatory skin condition.
Rosacea Comes From Digestive Issues
Digestive imbalances are often reflected as inflammation in the skin. Although modern Dermatology is refusing to make a connection between diet and inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea and acne, there was an article published in a 1930 British Journal of Dermatology Article suggesting a direct link between inflammation in the digestive tract and rosacea.
The location of the inflammation tells us where the disturbance lies. Some people may not even realize they have an issue until we ask about things like diet and bathroom habits, then it usually comes to light. Usually, redness on the tip of the nose represents inflammation in the mouth or on the back of the throat and can easily be caused by alcohol consumption. Redness on the sides of the nose represents issues in the stomach and can be a sign of acid reflux. The forehead and cheeks represent inflammation in the large intestines. This inflammation could be triggered by conditions such as colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gluten sensitivity or candida overgrowth.
Of course, we always recommend speaking to your physician with any concerns, but often we can correct this skin issue holistically, by making some dietary changes, taking anti-candida and digestive support supplements and using gentle barrier repair skincare products.
Supplements to help Rosacea
In addition to some dietary changes like a reduction in alcohol, dairy, spicy foods, sugar, and fried foods, there are also a couple of great supplements available to help heal this condition from the inside out.
#1 is the Osmosis Skin Clarifier. This is a ten-day mucus cleanse and it helps to purge mucus from the body, taking with it any overgrowth of candida. Candida is a yeast that is found naturally in the body but it can be quite opportunistic. Candida multiplies rapidly and when the body senses an overgrowth, it will begin to purge it through the skin. Taking down the candida population is key to reducing inflammation from the inside. Also, getting rid of mucus is so beneficial to the body. Lots of viruses and bacteria also like to hide in mucus and can, in turn, invade the body and make you sick or cause skin conditions such as acne, rosacea or folliculitis.
#2, We also love Digestive Enzymes to help ease gastrointestinal issues and take some strain off the system. When taken with food, these enzymes help to break down the food making it much easier for you to digest. Your body will not produce as much acid and your system will be less inflamed overall.
#3 Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Research suggests that many of us who suffer from chronic inflammatory acne can benefit from taking relatively higher doses (1000-1700mg) of purified omega- 3 oils present mostly in wild ocean fish such as salmon, mackerel, cod, and herring.
Omega Via Omega-3 oils are anti-inflammatory and the body can utilize them in many ways. Of particular relevance to acne sufferers, they help regulate hormones, reduce oil production and help shorten the intensity of your breakouts.
Topical Treatments
Since rosacea can cause extremely irritated and sensitive skin the rule of thumb is to stick with a gentle skincare protocol until your symptoms subside.
Cleanse your skin with a gentle face wash like the PoreInfuion Sensitive Skin Wash and apply a Calming Toner to soothe irritated skin. Rosacea skin tend to have an impaired skin barrier so it’s important to support the healing of the outer skin layer by applying a barrier repair serum such as the PoreInfusion Oxygen Serum or the OsmosisMD Rescue serum.
This unique serum neutralizes toxins, calms inflammation, activates epidermal wound repair and dramatically improves skin tone and texture. As a moisturizer, we like to mix the Hydrating Facial oil with the PoreInfusion VitaminB lotion to create a protective barrier with ceramides and Niacinamide. As the last step you always want to protect your skin from the sun to prevent any future damage to the skin. Our Clear Shield SPF 50 is a gentle but effective formula to hydrate and protect your skin.
Pair this at home regimen with your scheduled office visits and you have a winning formula for great skin.
Here at Envision Acne and Skin Care Center we are prepared to help you with any of your skin care concerns. Be sure to follow us on Instagram for the latest tips and lots of educational posts crafted especially for our clients.
Related Articles:
Article #1: Can Our Face Really Tell Us What’s Going On Internally
Article #2: How To Heal Red Acne Marks
If you are ready to end your struggle with acne and start living the clear skin lifestyle reach out to us 732-410-4452 or book your appointment online. Virtual consultations are also available to get you started. We are here to help!
