A chronic medical condition affecting more than 3 million people, rosacea can appear on the skin for a short time, several years, or be a lifelong problem. It can be caused by anything from food allergies and sun exposure to environmental toxins and genetics. 

Commonly mistaken for acne or other skin conditions, rosacea can affect just about anyone, but is more common among middle-aged women with fair skin. For many people, rosacea causes more than just facial flushing and redness. Symptoms of the skin condition may also include acne-like bumps, eye irritation, and thickened skin. Although there is no consensus among medical professionals about the reasons some people develop  rosacea when others do not. It cannot be cured and left untreated, this skin condition can get worse with time. 

Though various treatments can control symptoms of rosacea, this chronic condition is ultimately best managed by avoiding certain triggers.

Rosacea Triggers to Avoid 

Rosacea triggers vary from person to person, but heat, cold air, extreme exercise, sun exposure, stress, and medications that increase blood flow to the surface of the skin can aggravate rosacea. 

Foods do not “cause” rosacea, but some ingredients are known triggers.

Spicy Food

Adding hot peppers or ordering food with an extra kick, spicy foods may be one of many underlying causes of rosacea flares. Cayenne pepper, red pepper, black pepper, curry, paprika, and other spicy ingredients can cause tiny blood vessels underneath your skin to dilate, resulting in flushing. By substituting other ingredients like oregano, sage, and basil, your dishes will get that added flavor without triggering rosacea symptoms.  

Alcoholic Beverages

Red wine, bourbon, gin, vodka, champagne, and beer can all be triggers for certain people prone to rosacea symptoms.

Sun Exposure

Basking in the sun might be fun, but if you suffer from rosacea, it might not be a day at the beach for you.  Sun exposure is the most common  trigger of rosacea that stimulates the blood vessels to dilate.  

Stress

Stress is among the things that make rosacea worse. And though you can’t always avoid stressful situations, you can help minimize their effect on your life and your skin.

Exercise

Exercise is good for the body and the soul, but it’s also a factor that can aggravate rosacea. Exercise elevates your heart rate, which causes flushing from increased blood flow to the skin. Instead of exercising during the hotter peak hours of the day, working out during off-peak hours when the sun is low and temperatures are cooler could help to alleviate symptoms. 

Hot Drinks

36% of rosacea sufferers point to hot drinks as their primary trigger.   Hot chocolate, tea, and coffee,  which cause the blood vessels to expand, can cause flushing and redness.

Hot Temperatures

Heat is among the things that make rosacea worse. And it’s not just a challenge during the summer — it can be a year-round problem. The winter is the time we close our windows and turn up the heat, so open some windows to keep your living spaces cool and less dry. In summer, seek out air conditioning whenever possible.  Avoid saunas and hot tubs.

Extreme Cold

Winter winds and cold temperatures are common things that trigger rosacea. Cover your face with a scarf or ski mask, be sure to wear sunscreen, and limit hot beverages if that’s a trigger for you. Ask your dermatologist about a skin barrier ointment that could protect your skin from the cold weather elements. Get to know your personal rosacea triggers, advises Stuart. “Avoiding triggers does not seem to slow the progression of this skin condition, but a thorough knowledge of them will help you coexist with this disease more easily,” she says.

Makeup

Applying makeup can be a double-edged sword for people with rosacea. On one hand, it can cover up redness, but on the other hand, it can aggravate rosacea. Using water-based, non-allergenic,fragrance-free makeup helps. Cosmetics that contain alcohol, menthol, witch hazel, and eucalyptus oil tend to be irritating for people with this skin condition. 

To avoid cosmetics that trigger your condition, test all new products on your neck before putting them on your face. If you have a reaction, take note of the product’s ingredients to try to isolate which ones aggravate your rosacea.

Mask-wearing

Maskne, or mask acne, is caused by excessive wearing of PPE face protection and has become problematic for people of all age groups, especially those on the front line. Caused by breathing and talking under the mask which produces a wet heat, causing excess oil and sebum production, rosacea sufferers may experience flare-ups when wearing masks for prolonged periods of time.

Tips to Help Reduce Symptoms

Moisturize 

Moisturizer is an essential skin-care product for rosacea sufferers. They create a barrier that locks out irritants and can help keep symptoms at bay, but choosing the wrong one can actually make your condition worse. When choosing a moisturizer, opt for one that’s oil-free, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic-–the fewer ingredients, the better.

Use Gentle Cleansers 

The type of cleanser you use can also affect rosacea symptoms. Harsh cleansers and astringents can actually make rosacea much worse.  Although rosacea might look like acne, it’s not. Many acne treatments will irritate rosacea, including products that contain retinoids or salicylic acid. Your cleanser should be fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and free of harsh exfoliants as scrubbing can make the condition worse and cause scarring.

Be Wary of Facials  

Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and spa facials may be good for your best friend, but they could be your skin’s worst enemy.  Many of these medical-grade treatments can irritate the skin, which can aggravate rosacea. If you want a rejuvenating treatment to make your skin look younger or smoother, you can work with your dermatologist to find other skin-care options.

Opt for Mineral-Based, Fragrance-Free Makeup 

Makeup may be used to help cover up ruddy cheeks, but products containing certain ingredients could worsen rosacea symptoms.  The formula of any makeup specifically for rosacea matters too. When choosing a foundation, opt for pressed powder over liquid which can clog  pores and make rosacea symptoms worse.

Practice Sun Safety  

The top trigger for rosacea flare-ups is sun exposure. So, whenever you’re in the sun, practice sun safety. Apply sunscreen, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and stay in the shade as much as possible. Be wary of sunscreens containing harsh chemicals, however.  Opt for sunscreens with physical barriers such as zinc oxide or titanium instead and apply generously and reapply often.

Get to the Bottom of it

Finding ways to reduce stress and minimize situations that increase blood flow to your face can help minimize rosacea symptoms. 

While there is no cure for rosacea, there are ways to avoid triggering its symptoms and treatments available that can be tailored to the individual’s needs. 

Taking notice of which make-up causes breakouts, paying attention to foods that trigger symptoms, and keeping track of external factors can help you get to the bottom of the cause of your rosacea. Treatments that prove effective include everything from topical medications like creams, lotions, and gels, and medications that may help reduce inflammation and redness. 

Oral antibiotics can be effective for more serious symptoms. For patients with dilated blood vessels, permanent redness, and other changes on the nose and cheeks, there are advanced procedures such as Laser Genesis available.

Treatment

At Specialist Skin Solutions, we offer a range of services that provide the best treatment for rosacea. Choose from our tailored and comprehensive 8-session program involving peels, laser, and home care or mix and match products and services to help find your own balance.

8-session program

Our 8-session program for comprehensive treatment for rosacea includes a full facial assessment,  4 sessions of Vitamin C peels, and 4 sessions of Laser Genesis. We also provide medical-grade products and Actinic sunscreen to continue your recovery journey.

If you’re ready to stop seeing red when you look in the mirror, call Specialist Skin Solutions @(02) 4934 1500 today to book an appointment. Reduce rosacea symptoms with our range of medical-grade in-office or at-home treatments by contacting Specialist Skin Solutions and booking your free consultation.

We’re dedicated to helping each one of our clients feel their best by bringing out their natural beauty and loving the skin they’re in. We look forward to speaking with you!

Offering a thorough consultation prior to treatment, we’ll discuss the areas of concern and the range of treatment options suggested to produce optimal results. The amount and type of product, as well as our pricing structure, will also be discussed during the consultation process so there are no surprises.

The post Stop Seeing RED: Triggers and Treatments for Rosacea appeared first on Specialist Skin Solutions.

But the good news is, you don’t have to let stress get under your skin (both physically and metaphorically.) 

In this article, we’ll explain the connection between the mind and the body, how stress can negatively impact good skin health, and what you can do to keep anxiety at bay before it wreaks havoc on your skin.

The Mind-Skin Connection

There is a strong correlation between the body and the mind and the way the body responds to changes in our psychological state. And it all starts before we are born.

When we’re small, as in just after conception, we’re just a mass of cells that divide, develop, split, and stretch. From a single layer of embryonic tissue, two separate but inherently interconnected systems are born—the brain and the skin. And they are bound for life.

When the brain senses embarrassment, the skin blushes; when the skin senses pain,  the brain processes it; and when the brain gets anxious about events like political unrest, global warming, or a highly contagious virus, the skin shows it—with a zit, an eczema outbreak, or a psoriasis flare-up, depending on the individual.

There are two different types of stress—acute and chronic. A sudden surge of stress, the kind that comes and goes, can be a good thing. It can enhance mental clarity, heighten senses, and create wound-repairing collagen.  But it’s the chronic stress—the ongoing and continuous kind—that can take a serious toll on the skin.

The last two-plus years have been that kind of stressful for most of us. Between the pandemic, political unrest, riots, and war, it’s no wonder we’re all feeling stress, and it’s written all over our collective faces.

Cortisol

Conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress can cause new skin problems to develop or existing issues to worsen. And much of this is caused by the overproduction of cortisol, the primary stress hormone, and its effect on the skin barrier, the barrier that traps moisture in and keeps allergens, irritants and pollutants out. 

During times of stress, cortisol slows the production of beneficial oils, which causes the skin to get dry, rough, and irritated. Without adequate lipids to seal in hydration, the skin starts to leak water in a process known as transepidermal water loss.

At the same time, cortisol stimulates the overproduction of sebum, which is why our skin seems oilier when we’re under stress, leaving it open to acne breakouts. 

All of this alters the skin’s pH and creates a hostile environment for the trillions of symbiotic microorganisms that exist on and in the microbiome, also known as the skin barrier.

Some microbes feed off sebum, which helps sustain healthy oil levels; others feed off dead skin cells, nature’s exfoliation; some produce peptides and ceramides that keep skin firm and moisturized; and still other microbes offer protection from pollution, sunlight, and pathogens.

Stress also prompts the body to produce free radicals, which target various cells in the body. When free radicals target DNA, it can lead to skin cancer. When They target collagen, it can lead to wrinkles. And when free radicals target lipids, it can lead to dehydration and acne.

Long-term exposure to cortisol can also inhibit the production of hyaluronic acid and collagen, the chemicals that keep skin plump and youthful.  

Oddly enough, skin-care products containing hyaluronic acid and collagen are actually not meant for people under stress. They are really meant for people who have healthy skin. That’s because most topical ingredients can’t penetrate deep down to the lower layer of the dermis. Exposing a broken barrier to too many topical agents can, in fact, exacerbate existing issues.

Ingredients like glycolic acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinol  are very ineffective on stressed-out skin because they deplete the normal, healthy barrier function, so it’s best to remove them from your skincare routine when you’re under stress.

Inflammation

Psychological conditions like stress and anxiety can also cause internal inflammation because when your brain perceives a threat, the immune system sends out a response to protect and heal the body. A body under stress causes the immune system to go hog wild, sending out an inflammatory response. And the same response happens in the skin, which can cause conditions like cystic acne.

On top of all of that, stress can also cause inflammation in the gut, causing another reaction that affects the skin. This gut-skin connection impacts the balance of bacteria in your gut, which leads to a release of inflammation that can work to magnify chronic inflammatory skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis,  which can flare up when a person is stressed.

Managing stress

Managing stress may seem nearly impossible these days with so many stressful factors bombarding us every day. But a majority of our stress-induced issues do not actually come from the stressors themselves. Instead, they come from the way we deal with the stressors.

Tips for Keeping Your Skin (and Your Head) Stress-Free 

• Maintain a healthy skincare routine: A consistent and thorough skincare routine every day, even on days when you feel tired or stressed, is critical to quell the effects of stress on the skin. Never forget to take off your makeup and wash your face before bed, no matter how crummy you might feel, because neglecting your skin worsens existing skin issues or can cause new ones, creating a vicious cycle. 
• Exercise regularly: Exercise releases feel-good hormones that can boost energy, mood, and outlook. Exercise also increases antioxidants and lowers cortisol levels, meaning fewer breakouts and a stronger skin barrier. 
• Maintain a healthy diet: To prevent free radical damage, fill your plate with antioxidants, which stabilize unstable molecules to leave skin clearer, calmer, and brighter. Vitamins A and C, lycopene, astaxanthin, and polyphenols are all great options that can be obtained from eating a healthy, well-balanced diet with whole foods.  Equally important, avoiding processed and sugar-laden foods that trigger more inflammation inside your body is essential.
• Get plenty of rest: Sleep gives your body the time it needs to heal. It also improves your mood, boosts energy levels, and aids in cognition.
• Take time for self-care: Find time to relax and participate in re-energizing activities that make you happy. Take a bath, read a book, get a massage, listen to music, meditate, practice yoga, pet a dog, hold a baby, or do whatever it takes to make you feel good.
• Spend time with nature: Simply getting outside and witnessing the strength of a tree, the scent of flowers,  or the songs of birds has been proven to lower inflammation in the body. 
• Have a good cry: Crying is a stress reliever that helps decrease cortisol levels,  which can result in fewer breakouts. 

Sadly, no matter how hard you try, stress can leave lasting damage to your skin. And we’re here to help. Specialist Skin Solutions offers a variety of treatments that are effective in restoring skin health that’s been impacted by stress. Give us a call @ (02) 4934 1700 if you have any questions or contact us today to set up a consultation. Our team is waiting to help you love the skin you’re in!

In conclusion,  we can’t stop stressful situations in the world from occurring. They’ve been happening since the beginning of time. But you don’t have to let stress show on your face. There are ways we can deal with stressors, things we can do for our skin,  and ways we can treat ourselves that can prevent stress from getting under our skin.  
Contact us to book an appointment today!

The post Written All Over Your Face: How Stress Affects Skin appeared first on Specialist Skin Solutions.