Q: I suffer from rosacea and it seems to get worse when the sun shines. My face gets so red. Is there anything I can do?

A: Rosacea is a chronic condition that causes varying degrees of inflammation, typically on the cheeks and nose. It often begins between the ages of 30 and 50 and affects up to three times more women than men. It is more common in those who have a fair complexion.

 

Sunshine and heat can trigger rosacea, but instead of avoiding sunlight use a lightweight sunscreen containing the mineral blocks titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Avoid chemical sunscreens as they will aggravate rosacea and only use skin care products and cosmetics that are free from chemicals, preservatives and artificial emulsifiers. (If you need help getting these natural products go to www.naturalhealthpractice.com and click on Natural Lifestyle Products.)

 

Making sure your diet is as healthy as possible will also help ease inflammation. Avoid processed food, red meat, artificial sweeteners, preservatives and colours as they can make the condition worse. Smoking, tea, coffee, alcohol and foods high in added sugar should also be avoided. If possible aim to eat an organic diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole foods and drink between 6 to 8 glasses of water a day to help flush out toxins. But avoid tap water as it contains chlorine and fluoride, which are toxins your body will have to process.

 

You may also benefit from daily skin brushing to improve lymphatic drainage. Lymph congestion is associated with skin inflammation and a daily skin brush before your bath or shower, going towards your heart and avoiding your face, will help. Cleansing herbs, such as milk thistle or yellow dock, can also help maintain lymphatic health.

 

There may also be a link between stress and bouts of rosacea, so watch your stress levels. As far as supplements go, you may want to take a daily vitamin B complex – the B vitamins are essential for healthy skin and glowing complexion. Taking a teaspoon of cider vinegar, or a glass of lemon juice diluted with filtered water, before meals aids stomach acid production – this may also be beneficial as many people who suffer from rosacea often have poor digestion and nutrient absorption.

 

Follow the advice above, eat healthily, exercise regularly and watch your stress levels and you should see an improvement within two or three months.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 at 12:40 am and is filed under Ask Marilyn, Skin and Hair. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.