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Identify Your Rosacea Triggers With This Helpful Tool

December 23rd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are like many rosacea sufferers, identifying your rosacea triggers may seem like unraveling a murder mystery. Possible catalysts for rosacea flare-ups can be very elusive and hard to pinpoint without a plan and the proper tools.

As you have probably read, there are a large number of lifestyle and environmental factors that may be responsible for triggering your flare-ups. One issue in identifying your rosacea triggers is that no individual will be affected by all of the potential triggers, but only be a few factors.

How to Identify a Rosacea Trigger

In an attempt to de-mystify the process for identifying your triggers, there is a logical and methodical process that must be followed. The key to finding out what triggers your rosacea flare-ups is to track your skin condition over a period of weeks.

This tracking process can be simplified by using a log which details the events and environment just prior to a flare-up and what action appears to relieve your symptoms. This is very important because you will begin to see a pattern over time that will make your rosacea triggers much more obvious to you.

Keep Track of Your Rosacea Flare-ups

The National Rosacea Society offers a diary checklist that assists in your documenting any exposure to various common rosacea triggers on a daily basis. These common triggers can range from weather to emotions (i.e. stress), activities (i.e. workouts) and various foods (i.e. spicy). We highly recommend that you use this rosacea diary checklist and, best of all, it is free. You can get your diary at www.rosacea.org

Avoiding Your Rosacea Triggers Is Key

Once you have identified your personal triggers, it is up to you to avoid the specific environmental factor or food that will result in a flare-up in your symptoms. There will be situations when you cannot totally avoid one of these factors, but small adjustments can make a significant difference.

If hot air is one of your triggers and you find yourself at a restaurant where the heat vent is blowing directly on you, ask for another table or change seats with your partner. It becomes very important to be fully aware of your environment and how it may affect you (if environmental factors are your triggers).

We hope that this advice will help you to identify your rosacea triggers and help you to control rosacea flare-ups in the future. Be methodical and persistent in your record keeping and you will enjoy the benefits of fewer flare-ups and a more normal lifestyle.

Finding the Cause of Rosacea is Closer Than You Think!

December 20th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Based on a recent study, sponsored by the National Rosacea Society, delving into the cause of rosacea, it was found that the incidence of rosacea is very likely higher than what was previously thought. A study conducted at the Harvard Medical School of 2,933 women from ages between 10 and 70 disclosed an incidence rate for rosacea of 16% in Caucasian women.

It had been thought that the prevalence rate for the same group stood at 14% for women and 6% for men, based on studies conducted in 1989. As a percent of the total population (including Hispanics, African-Americans, Asians and Indians), the overall incidence of rosacea was estimated at 10%.

Subtype 1 vs. Subtype 2 Rosacea

Additional findings found that it was the subtype 1 form of rosacea (facial redness) that was the most prevalent. This form of the skin disorder was identified in 14.8% of the Caucasian women in the above referenced study. This compares to a 1.5% rate of subtype 2 rosacea (characterized by pimples and bumps). The study subjects were women from across the globe, ranging from Los Angeles to Akita Japan.

Who Is Most Affected by Rosacea? 

The skin condition of rosacea was found to be much more prevalent in the English subjects with 20% showing symptoms of rosacea. But it was the American group that had the highest incidence of subtype 2 rosacea.

Will This Rosacea Study Make a Difference?

From these studies it was fairly clear that rosacea is actually affecting more people than originally thought, or the incidence of this skin disorder is on the rise. It affects fair complexion individuals more than the darker skinned groups and subtype 1 rosacea (flushing) is the predominant symptom amongst those studied. Because of these new findings, researchers are looking in new directions in their search for the cause of rosacea.

Hopefully, each new finding will add another piece of the puzzle in finding a cure for this aggravating skin condition. In the meantime, symptoms should be managed through lifestyle changes with the help of effective rosacea treatments and medications.

Can Rosacea Patients Also Suffer From Seborrheic Dermatitis?

December 14th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are rosacea sufferer who also suffers from the skin disorder called Seborrheic Dermatitis, you have plenty of company. It is not uncommon for people with rosacea to have facial skin with the propensity to contract other skin diseases or disorders.

Seborrheic dermatitis is considered a chronic and recurring inflammatory skin condition that is characterized by a red, scaly or itchy rash. These symptoms are often found in the creases around the nose, the inner eyebrows or as dandruff on the scalp.

According to a study conducted by a noted dermatologist, rosacea is the most common facial skin disorder that overlaps with seborrheic dermatitis. In fact, it was found that 26 percent of rosacea patients had facial Seborrheic Dermatitis and 28 percent had the disorder on the scalp.

So, if you have noted what appears to be a different type of rash on your face(rather than a typical rosacea symptom), consider that the skin irritation could be Seborrheic Dermatitis. If you suspect that this may be the issue, a visit to your dermatologist is definitely in order.

Source: Dr. James Del Rosso, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Nevada

Rosacea Treatments - Can Vitamins Help Control Rosacea?

December 12th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

This is a question that is asked often by those affected by this skin disorder and are looking for the best rosacea treatment that will help control their symptoms.   In many cases, certain vitamins can make a difference in the treatment of various skin diseases, and even help eradicate the disorder, but there has been no proof that vitamins will help control rosacea flare-ups.

As a matter of fact, there are really no documented studies that would support a claim that a specific vitamin helps control the signs or symptoms of rosacea.   So, for instance, taking Vitamin E (a well-known vitamin for skin health) to control rosacea symptoms has no real scientific support in the medical community.

On the other hand, it is a fact that certain vitamins will exacerbate your rosacea condition.  Niacin, one of the B complex vitamins found in certain foods as well as supplements, can act as a vasodilator and actually cause or intensify flushing.  So, if you are taking vitamin supplements that include niacin and you believe that it may be affecting your flushing, try to find a multiple vitamin without niacin and also avoid foods containing this element.

Natural foods with higher concentrations of niacin include organ meats (like kidney or liver), pork, lean meats, prawns, and even cow’s milk.   Other sources of this vitamin include seeds and almonds, wheat products, rice bran, beans, turnips, green vegetables, carrots, and celery.

So, should you try to treat your rosacea with vitamin supplements?  Probably not.  However, the evidence does point to a possible problem with a vitamin such as niacin.  At this time, you are probably better to a prudent approach and avoid taking any large doses of a specific vitamin in the hopes of treating rosacea symptoms or minimizing flare-ups.

Enjoy Your Dining Experience By Avoiding Your Rosacea Triggers

December 8th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

It’s time for a night out and you want to dine at your favorite restaurant, but you wonder, “Is it really worth the risk of exacerbating one of my rosacea triggers?” Well, the truth is that by being careful about your food choices and dining environment, you should be able to enjoy a nice meal and have a pleasant dining experience.

With rosacea, the first step in controlling any potential flare-ups is to be prepared. What do I mean by this? You need to know your personal food triggers, and make sure to avoid these foods if you see them on the menu.

But there are additional steps that you should take to ensure a pleasant night out. These include:

Don’t be Afraid to Ask!

If you are uncertain about the ingredients of a dish, ask the server to find out the ingredients. If it contains hot spices (black pepper, wasabi, cayenne pepper, etc.), find out if the meal can be made without them. If not, move on to your next selection.

Watch Your Alcohol Consumption

If alcohol is one of your rosacea triggers, minimize your intake. Alcohol, especially red wine, is a popular trigger with over 52% of respondents on a recent survey reporting that it was a serious contributor to flare-ups.

Manners be Damned - Blow on Your Soup!

Hot beverages are a well known rosacea trigger. So, if you have a desire for a hot soup, let it cool down before consuming. Or as an alternative, try one of the cold soups.

Avoid Foods that Irritate Your Condition

If you have identified certain foods, vegetables, or fruits that trigger a flare-up in your rosacea, try to avoid any entree or appetizer that may contain these items. Common food items that fit this category include:

• tomatoes
  spinach
  chocolate
  eggplant
  citrus fruits
  chicken livers
  bananas
  yogurt
  sour cream
  figs
  avocados
  liver
  yeast extract (but bread is alright)
  nuts
  peas
  beans
  soy sauce

Choose Your Table Wisely

If you are like most diners, you want a table with a view, close to the musicians, or just a favorite spot. But don’t forget to avoid a hot location, such as, near a fireplace or heating vent. Dry heat is another common rosacea trigger and should be avoided.

As you know, rosacea can make your social life a little more challenging. But with a little thought and care, it doesn’t need to ruin your dining experience at your favorite restaurants. Just be aware of your triggers and try your best to avoid those that result in a flare-up of your condition.

Rosacea Triggers - Does Alcohol Effect Your Symptoms?

November 20th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

For many rosacea sufferers, alcohol can trigger their rosacea symptoms.  This can vary from a mild flushing in the cheeks to a full blown flareup.  So, with the holidays almost upon us and the temptation for food and drink everywhere, keep your guard up when consuming alcoholic beverages.

How Much is Too Much

In a recent study by the National Rosacea Society, they determined that certain alcoholic beverages may affect rosacea more than others.  The study results also showed that exacerbations were not caused by heavy drinking but could also be caused by only a small quantity of certain alcoholic beverages.  This certainly dispelled the common myth that rosacea flareups were limited to heavy drinkers.

In the survey,  10% said they rarely or never drank alcohol, while another 10% reported that  alcoholic beverages did not affect their rosacea.

Wine as a Rosacea Trigger

Of those surveyed who were affected by alcohol, it was red wine that caused rosacea flareups in 76% of the cases.  White wine, another culprit, aggravated their rosacea condition for 56% of the respondents.  And lastly, champagne triggered symptoms in 33% of those surveyed.

Other Alcoholic Triggers

Wine, though being the most prevalent alcoholic drink to aggravate symptoms, there were others that were nearly as bad.  Beer was next on the list with 41% responding that it caused their rosacea symptoms to flare-up.

For those who favor the hard liquors, vodka was cited as the leading rosacea trigger, affecting 33 percent of those surveyed. In descending order, the following were also noted; tequila (28%), bourbon (24%), gin (24%), rum (24%) and scotch (21%).

Overall, one of the most interesting findings in the survey was that for those who were affected by alcohol, 64% stated that it only took a single drink to cause a rosacea reaction.  So, as you head out to another holiday gathering, perhaps you should be careful about consuming that tantalizing alcoholic libation - even just one!

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