Rosacea is a serious skin problem that normally affects the chin, cheekbone, forehead and nose body
areas. Groups of capillaries close to the surface of the skin become dilated, resulting in blotchy red areas with small bumps and, sometimes, pimples. The redness can come and go, but eventually may become permanent. The skin tissue can swell and thicken, and may be tender and sensitive to the touch.
The inflammation of rosacea can look like acne, but it is normally a more
chronic condition, blackheads and whiteheads are usually not present, and it usually begins in middle age or
older. It is a fairly common disorder about 1 in every 20 Americans is afflicted with
it, but many never realize they have it. The underlying cause or causes of rosacea are not understood, but certain factors are known to
aggravate the condition, including the consumption of
alcohol, hot liquids, spicy foods; exposure
to sunlight; extremes of temperature; and the use of makeup and skin care products containing alcohol.
Stress, infection, and vitamin
deficiencies, can be contributing factors. Note the things that aggravate one
person's rosacea may have no effect on another person.
Rosacea normally starts with frequently occurring flushing of the face,
especially the nose and cheeks. The flushing
is caused by the swelling of the blood vessels under the skin. This "red mask"
should serve as a
warning sign to get your attention. Rosacea can also cause a persistent burning and feeling of grittiness in the eyes or
inflamed and swollen eyelids. In some severe cases, the person's vision
may even be affected.
Rosacea is more common in white women between 30 and 50 years or age.
However, when it does happen with men it is often more severe, and is usually accompanied by " rhinophyma"
a health condition where the nose that becomes red and
enlarged. Fair skinned persons seem to be more vulnerable to this
problem than are darker
skinned people. People who flush easily seem to be more prone than others to develop
rosacea. In somewhat rarer cases, rosacea may affect the skin in other parts of the body
other than the persons's face. It is not a
dangerous condition, but it is chronic and can be distressing for cosmetic
and social reasons. Without the proper care and treatment, Rosacea can cause disfiguration.
Good nutritional supplementation and dietary changes can help
both heal and prevent rosacea and related health issues.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains
vitamin A, vitamin E,
vitamin C, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium
which all are helpful in prevention and healing from rosacea and
other skin problems. These nutrients are also required by the human body
for general good health and well being. |
Omega
fatty acids |
10 |
They aid in healing
skin tissues and reducing inflammation problems. Essential fatty acids
are found in omega
fatty acids from fish oil, flax seed oil, and
borage seed oil. |
Borage
seed |
10 |
promote skin health and skin tone
|
Zinc |
8 |
the mineral zinc is required for
tissue and skin repair. It also helps to strengthen the body's
immune system.
|
Dandelion |
9 |
herb that helps to detoxify and
boost immune function
|
Aloe
vera |
8 |
this herb helps with
stress and has healing properties
|
Nettle |
8 |
herb that nourishes the skin
|
Ginger |
8 |
herb that promotes healing of the
skin
|
Alfalfa |
9 |
herb that has detoxify properties
and is a good source of chlorophyll.
|
vitamin
A |
9 |
needed for
both healing and building new skin tissue |
vitamin
B complex |
9 |
the B vitamin family are good anti-stress vitamins and are required
for most cell functions. They help promote and maintain healthy skin. |
vitamin
E |
9 |
protects
against free radicals and helps strengthen the body's
immune system |
Selenium |
7 |
this mineral helps skin
tissue retain elasticity and it is a good anti oxidant to
promote healing in the body. |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|