Rosacea Lifestyles
Lifestyle changes are an easy, inexpensive method to improve your rosacea symptoms. We all have learned or inherited lifestyle habits or routines which have had a negative effect on our rosacea skin and ocular condition. A simple change in a lifestyle choice or routine can lead to a huge improvement.
Living with a skin condition can create its own stress, when add that to the daily stresses of work, home life, responsibilities and life in general, your rosacea can spiral out of control. What we present here are simply tips to help you take back your life, reduce the stress and in doing so you can effect a change in the severity of your rosacea. Some may consider this a natural or homeopathic solution to treating rosacea, we think of it as a healthy lifestyle option to manage and control the symptoms of rosacea.
1. Drink ‘alkaline’ water.
Alkaline Water
As we grow older, we often have a reduced “sense” of thirst and think we do not need more water to hydrate our body and brain; therefore, we deteriorate more quickly as our skin is the first organ of the body to inform us. If you are a small person you need to drink at least 80 ounces of ‘alkaline’ water per day. This would be the equivalent of two and half litres or ten 8- ounce glasses! Even more water would be necessary if you are overweight, outside for extended periods of time, participating in sports, or indulging in heavy physical activity.
More water is needed if the rosacea sufferer has a higher metabolism, anxiety, or stress level, or if one lives in a dry climate such as the southwest U.S. or at “Lake Disappointment” in Australia. People that live in colder areas where the humidity is “low”, especially when the home is being heated during a long winter; need more water because the air absorbs moisture from the body’s skin have a greater need for water. The skin also absorbs air pollution and whatever toxins are in the air environment just as it absorbs topical medications. Water is essential to maintaining bodily functions including good circulation, skin tissue regeneration as well as proper digestion, secretion and absorption. Water aids the blood in distributing nutrients throughout the body as well as the skin cells and aids in removing waste from the cells.
Professional models, who are usually between 17 and 29, drink an average of 12 glasses a day with a weight of 105-130 pounds. This not only helps them stay thin because they are drinking instead of eating, but also helps them keep their skin moist and beautiful the “natural way”. As we grow older, our bodies tend to dry out and it is even more important for us to consume enough water. Most of us are above 130 pounds and need much more water than a smaller model. As we grow older, our bodies tend to dry out and it is even more important for us to consume enough water. Most of us are above 130 pounds and need much more water than a smaller model. Christie Brinkley, a very well-known and attractive model with three children, (who made $23 million last year) consumes 12-16 glasses of water per day. When a red blinking light on the instrument panel of a car tells us the car is overheating, we give the car some water (or fix the broken hose, fan belt, or radiator leak) but when our faces flash a “red blinking light” in the form of rosacea or other skin problems, do we give it the water it needs? Are we not much more valuable than our cars?
Flushing results from heat generated by the body through a process of vascular dilation. The skin flushes or dilates for a variety of reasons – many women are familiar with flushing due to menopause or pregnancy, other sources of vascular dilation include spicy foods or hot beverages, heavy exercise or strenuous exertion, pain and dehydration. In these situations, consuming four litres or up sixteen 8-ounce glasses of cold or icy water per day will be helpful in cooling the skin, relieving the flushing, as it assists the body in maintaining proper hydration needed to flush toxins, acidic waste and allow for the excretion of oil and bacteria. Water should always be “alkaline” water with a pH that usually ranges from 7.2 to 7.4 in most places in the world to ‘offset’, ‘buffer’, or ‘neutralize’ the acidic foods and drinks. Bottled water is “almost always acidic” as it is needed to be to prevent bacteria from growing in the water.
Here are some recommendations for increasing the pH of your drinking water.
We have all experienced thatwarm flush of heat– as aspect of vascular dilation that occurs after consuming thermally hot foods, a steaming cup of coffee or tea or hot soup. Icy water by contrast, is a vascular constrictor. It cools the blood flowing to the hypothalamus (the brain’s internal thermostat), thus reducing or curbing the reactionary flush. Water also helps to open the pores, reduce pimples and hydrate the skin.
The body has an internal thermostat called the hypothalamus. Without adequate hydration, the hypothalamus cannot efficiently regulate our core body temperature. To learn more about the hypothalamus and it how it relates to rosacea, we suggest reading Brain Cell Loss, Sleep Disorders and Rosacea.
Everyone can improve their skin by simply drinking the proper amount of ‘alkaline’ water for their lifestyle, size, humidity environment, exercise, and other requirements.
2. Apply Jojoba Oil as the ‘perfect moisturizer’ – No other moisturizer is needed.
Jojoba Oil
An excellent moisturizer can be very beneficial in healing and protecting the skin from irritation and dryness. We suggest 100% pure Jojoba oil containing no preservatives. Jojoba Oil normally can be found at health and nutritional stores worldwide.
The importance of Jojoba oil derives from its similarity to the natural restorative oil produced by the sebaceous glands in the dermal layers of the skin. Jojoba oil is non-allergenic and will not clog the pores. While we highly recommend Jojoba Oil, in the event that one cannot find it, then use Safflower Oil found in most grocery stores. Purchase the smallest bottle as possible as it does go rancid (stale or decomposes) within a month or so as bacteria enters the bottle. True, your petroleum based moisturizer oils do not go rancid or stale as they are not natural and do not give good results but are part of the problem. Both Jojoba oil and Safflower oil are pure organic oils that are the most like natural human body oil and are very inexpensive. The sensitive or damaged rosacea skin needs small concentrations of Jojoba oil (or Safflower Oil) for the following reasons:
- To aid in reversing damage to the skin caused in the past use of harsh cleansers or soaps, facial washes, toners, and topical rosacea medications.
- To aid in replacing moisture loss resulting from exposure to the sun, wind and dry weather as well as the use of facial washes.
- To aid in promoting skin healing through cell division and regeneration from within the middle layers of the epidermis.
- To enhance penetration and absorption of topical Rosacea-Ltd IV® through the skin.
- To help regulate the production of prostaglandins (an anti-inflammatory substances) in the dermis of the skin.
After gently cleansing the facial area with a cleansing bar such as (Neutrogena “dry skin formula – fragrance free” or Dove ‘Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar’, place one to two drops of Jojoba oil in your still damp hands. Rub the hands together to disperse the oil evenly over both hands. Apply the oil equally to both sides of the face while the facial skin is still damp. After application of Jojoba oil, apply Rosacea-Ltd IV® according to the instructions that you receive from us with your Rosacea-Ltd IV® Order.
For those rosacea patients with dry skin or for women who need a moisturizer before applying their make-up, we recommend another drop of Jojoba oil approximately 2 minutes after the application of Rosacea-Ltd®. And for those with extremely dry or damaged skin, apply two or three drops of Jojoba Oil before the application of Rosacea-Ltd IV. To learn more about jojoba oil and purchase online visit JojobaCare.
Common stimulants to avoid
3. Avoid Stimulants
Stimulants such as excessive sugar from soda and sweets, coffee, tea, energy drinks, alcohol and cigarettes and are highly acidic and throw your body off-balance. They are also vascular dilators, which can directly cause facial flushing. Any chemical powerful enough to “wake you up” in the morning is obviously causing drastic changes in your body. Rosacea patients need the opposite of these acidic stimulants. A good alkaline “rosacea diet” will help to buffer or neutralize the harmful effects of stimulants.
4. Steroids should never ever be used for rosacea
In their book, Acne & Rosacea, copyright 1973, First edition; Dr. Plewig (Dermatologische Klinik Und Poliklinik der Universitat Munchen, Germany and Dr. Kligman (Dermatology-University of Philadelphia) reflect on the dangers of prescribing steroids for the treatment of rosacea. In their follow-up 1993 second edition they extend that recommendation to sharp criticism of dermatologists prescribing steroids as a rosacea tretament.
Avoid Alcohol during treatment
5. Reduce or Eliminate Alcohol Consumption
To reduce facial redness, restrict or reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol dehydrates the body, causing the pores to contract, clogging the pores and reducing moisture content in the skin. Alcohol increases stress and fatigue thus increasing facial flushing. On those occasions when you do drink alcohol, increase water consumption to keep the body and skin well hydrated to minimize rosacea redness and flares.
6. Avoid Hot Baths
To reduce flushing when cleaning the facial skin areas avoid both hot showers and very cold water. Vascular dilation or flushing occurs when water temperature applied to the rosacea affected areas of the skin is above 98.5 degrees. Avoid further irritating the skin by gently cleansing the skin. Harsh cleansers, vigorous rubbing or scrubbing, exfoliating and skin astringents will irritate and inflame the sensitive skin and their use should be avoided. Our skin is a vital part of our immune system and acts as a natural barrier against germs and bacteria. Cuts, abrasions and dry skin can all weaken this protective barrier.
Use a clean wash cloth and body towel each time you bath. Damp towels and wash cloths are breeding grounds for bacterial growth. Replace facial wash cloths and pillow covers daily to prevent redistribution of germs and bacteria on the skin. Washing bed linens, wash cloths and towels in Clorox can help to kill rosacea-related bacterial growth.