Acne Rosacea

Acne and rosacea are commonly confused.  They are in fact, different skin diseases, and may or may not occur in conjunction with one another.

Rosacea tends to affect the people down the middle of their face.  It causes an inflamed appearance with persistent redness.  The areas most affected are the forehead, the lower half of the nose, and the chin. 

Small blood vessels in these areas dilate, which makes them much easier to see through the skin.  They look like tiny red lines and cause that redness associated with rosacea.

Sometimes pimples or will occur in areas where rosacea exists.  This is why you frequently hear the term acne rosacea.  Even though they're not the same condition, it's not uncommon for people to suffer from both these problems. 

Rosacea typically occurs in adults from 30 – 50, while acne is most prevalent in teenagers.  People who suffer from acne are likely to be plagued with blackheads and whiteheads.  This, however, is not the case for people who suffer only from rosacea.

Fair-skinned people and those who blush easily are most likely to have this disease.  This problem affects more women than men, but cases of rosacea in men are generally more severe.

Why does this disease affect one person and not another?  The answer to that is unknown.  However, experts speculate that these factors may have something to do with the development or severity of acne rosacea:

• Emotional factors such as fear, embarrassment, stress or anxiety.  These conditions cause more blood flow throughout the body, which may aggravate rosacea.
• Hot weather or sun exposure
• Mites that commonly live in human hair follicles
• Certain drugs or medications

Rosacea is more than just a cosmetic burden.  It's can actually cause some severe medical conditions if left untreated.  Severe cases of untreated rosacea in men have been known to cause growth of the nose.   It can cause the growth of a large, bulbous nose, and puffy cheeks.

Roughly half of all men and women with Rosacea will suffer from eye irritation and even conjunctivitis.  It's important to see your doctor if you notice eye problems along with your rosacea, because failing to treat them can cause permanently impaired vision.

As far as we know, there are no guaranteed cures for rosacea.  Doing internal body cleanses and taking proper care of your skin may help, but then again it might not. 

It's best to avoid rosacea flare-ups whenever possible.   Here are some tips that should help to minimize your flare-ups, and may even eliminate your condition, (if you're lucky):

·        Avoid excess sun exposure.  When you do go out into the sun, wear a gentle sunscreen that won't block pores (look for sunscreens that don't contain silicones such as dimethicone – or anything else that ends in "cone").

·        Wash your face with a natural soap such as castile soap or aloe glycerin soap.  Moisturize with unscented, natural oils - like jojoba oil.

·        Wash all your laundry in gentle detergent from the health food store, or if you prefer, baby detergent – Dreft.

·        Do not rub skin or exfoliate too often

·        Use natural mineral make-up instead of the pore-clogging stuff you buy from the store.

·        Avoid smoking at all costs

·        Avoid spicy foods

·        Avoid excess alcohol and coffee

Rosacea and acne rosacea affected skin requires a little extra care.  Please consult with your dermatologist if you feel that this condition is causing any other problems, whether they're emotional or physical.