5 Ways to Ease Your Rosacea

Rosacea, a skin disease which can be painful and disfiguring, is impossible to cure and difficult to maintain. The cause of Rosacea remains to be somewhat of an enigma. Supposedly your diet, the amount of stress you're experiencing, your heritage and other factors all play a role. Truthfully, however, nobody is quite sure what the real culprit is and therefore it is up to you personally to take charge of your own body - and figure out via trial and error what seems to help your skin the most. I put together a list of five suggestions for you to try in addition to any prescribed medications:


1. Avoid Heat.

Most people know that the sun can damage your skin, but what some may not realize is that for Rosacea sufferers it's not just about the sun's rays, but it's also about the heat. What it boils down is that Rosacea is about vascular dilation and an abundance of acid in the bloodstream. So think about it, heat causes dilation. Therefore, hot climates, hot showers, steamrooms/saunas, etc. are not really good for Rosacea sufferers. The next time you take a hot shower take a good look at your skin - which will no doubt be pink all over. Stay in cool environments, wash your face with calming cool water, and stay in the shade. Sunblock isn't enough. Additionally, avoid hot beverages too.

2. Pay Close Attention to and REVISE Your Diet.

Many people with Rosacea also suffer other symptoms suggestive of a food allergy, such as intestinal problems, migraine headaches, sinusitis and fatigue. Additionally, high calorie carbohydrates (i.e., pastas) and sweets are particular culprits adding to Rosacea redness. Quite frankly, after doing some research, it appears that almost anything edible could cause flushing and trigger Rosacea. This is something that I believe is individualized. The best thing one can do is consistently change their diet around and see if there are certain things that will trigger inflammation versus others. For me personally, red wine, spicy foods and foods high in sugar are the worst culprits. I also LOVE cheese and this may be a huge factor. I am not sure if I could actually give cheese up but I may do a little test to see if it would make a difference.

3. Flush Out the Flushing by Drinking TONS of H20.

"They say" that everyone should drink 8 glasses of water per day. Well if you have Rosacea, that's probably not enough. You probably cannot realistically drink "enough" water to flush out the irritants troubling your skin. So, with that being said, just always have a bottle of water handy and a bathroom close by. Avoid alcohol as much as possible (it dehydrates you), and other things such as coffee. Obviously, if you avoided everything that probably aggravates your Rosacea you'd be living on iceberg lettuce and ice cubes - so just think "moderation."

4. EXERCISE.

Exercise can cause your face to flush initially, but the long term benefits of exercise outweigh the temporary flushing. Hands down, cardio work is the best way to relieve stress and improve your mental and physical health. Another great form of exercise for Rosacea sufferers is swimming because of the simultaneous cooling affect it has over the entire body. It's best to wash your face with cool water prior to exercise, and get your exercise in a controlled environment, especially if it's hot outside and/or you live in heavily polluted area. So join a gym and hop to it!

5. Anger/Emotional Management

Strong, negative emotions can really antagonize your Rosacea. If you are angry or upset or distraught, take a cool washcloth and lay down with the washcloth over your face until you can calm down. Not only will this help limit the triggers of Rosacea redness, but it will help calm your spirit as well. I particularly like to scent my washcloths with lavender and have a bowl of ice water on the nightstand to refresh the washcloth.