3 Important Facts About Rosacea

November 20th, 2009 Posted in Anxiety and Depression

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that currently cannot be cured. People suffering from rosacea have to keep their skin condition under control by the daily application of topical skin treatments. However, rosacea symptoms go up and down on a daily basis due to so-called trigger factors. Rosacea skin can be improved significantly by keeping a close eye on these rosacea triggers. Here are three factors that can have a major influence on the appearance of rosacea skin.

Ocular Rosacea
It is estimated that 60% of all rosacea patients suffer from some degree of ocular rosacea. Ocular rosacea symptoms include red or bloodshot eyes, the sensation of a foreign object in the eyes and burning/itchy eyes. These symptoms are not always obvious for everyone and ocular rosacea is therefore frequently under-diagnosed. However, if ocular rosacea is not detected soon enough and is allowed to progress, patient’s vision may be negatively affected. Rosacea patients who wear contact lenses on a daily basis are particularly at risk for the negative effects of ocular rosacea. The reduced oxygen availability caused by contact lenses could speed up the development of ocular rosacea.

Stress
Stress can have a major (negative) influence on our skin. It’s often hard to avoid stress and most people have a fair amount of stress in their lives. However, if stress is not kept under control and is allowed to rise continuously, our health will suffer due to the physiological changes in our body brought on by stress. Studies in mice have shown that in response to prolonged stress, the increased levels of stress hormones (glucocorticoids) in the blood over time resulted in a decline in the protective (barrier) function of the skin. The skin’s function is to regulate our temperature, water retention and to protect us from external microorganisms. When the barrier function of the skin gets compromised, skin conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea, eczema and atopic dermatitis may develop. When stress levels are elevated continuously, a further deterioration of the skin can result.

Food
Many different food types can trigger a rosacea flare-up. Foods that have the highest potential of aggravating rosacea symptoms are aged foods such as cheeses and wine. Aged foods contain large amounts of histamine, which can increase inflammatory reactions in the body. Certain foods, such as bananas and strawberries stimulate the body to produce more histamine, so these foods have an indirect effect on rosacea. In addition, certain food ingredients boost the body’s production of nitric oxide (NO), which dilates blood vessels. Foods that increase NO are foods that contain large amounts of the amino acid arginine (for example soy, chocolate and nuts) and foods preserved with nitrates (sausage and cured meats). Every person with rosacea needs to have a good understanding of their diet in order to figure out what food ingredients are triggering their rosacea flare-ups.

Keeping track of rosacea trigger factors in your diet and environment can make a big difference in the appearance of your skin. Knowing what these trigger factors are in combination with the right rosacea treatment, will help in managing rosacea symptoms for years to come.