Food and Skin Problems: Rosacea

Do you find yourself with an embarrassing skin affliction and are reluctant to go out in public because of it? You are not alone. There are many natural ways to combat skin problems which all start from educating yourself and nutrition! This is a three part skin condition series that will help to clear up those uncomfortable and irritating skin complications and questions.

Part 1: Rosacea

What is it?

About 14 million Americans have rosacea. It causes red, splotchy and inflamed skin, usually on the cheeks and nose. The disease usually affects people with fair skin and tends to be progressive, which means that it gets worse if left untreated. It can also be cyclical, clearing up at times and getting worse at others.

Symptoms include:

■Redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead

■Small visible blood vessels on the face

■Bumps or pimples on the face

■Watery or irritated eyes

What causes it?

At one time, rosacea was thought to be a telltale sign of alcoholism. Alcohol does not cause the disease, though it may cause flare-ups. In fact, scientists are unsure what causes it. Some believe it is hereditary, while others think it is caused by chronic bacteria or even microscopic mites.

How is it treated?

Frequently used medical interventions have included topical and tablet antibiotics, steroid ointments and light/laser treatments. However, none of these treatments fight the cause, only the symptoms – which is why so many people have turned to nutrition as a way to lessen the effects of Rosacea.

Alkaline Diet and Rosacea

Turning to the alkaline diet as a way to combat Rosacea is the most effective and natural way to prevent flare ups. The alkaline diet consists almost entirely of cleansing vegetables, low sugar fruits, pure water, soups and juices, salads, and omega oils; because it provides the skin and organ systmes with all of the nutrition it needs to remain healthy.

Note that acidic foods and stimulants such as sugar, coffee, tea, alcohol, trans (and other bad) fats and cigarettes are predominantly the cause of vascular dilation/flushing. For instance it has been noted that fizzy drinks and junk drinks containing aspartame and or artificial sweeteners cause excessive redness in approximately 30% of rosacea sufferers and should be cut out entirely.

Stimulants such as coffee, tea, alcohol, cigarettes, and excessive sugar from sweets and soda are vascular dilators, the cause of vascular dilation, or flushing, and should be avoided as they are all “acidic foods” or “toxins”. Once these foods are consumed, they act like poison in our bodies and tax the organ systems which are trying to detox the body and process the foreign matter out of the body as quickly as possible. These stimulants thus create stress, redness, flushing, rosacea papules and acne pimples and worsen the Rosacea.

■Eat a diet high in fiber, with plenty of raw and lightly steamed vegetables, and whole grains such as brown rice, millet, buckwheat, oats, amaranth, quinoa and spelt.

■Use fresh vegetable juices. Consider buying a juicer and a book on juicing.

■Eat berries (low sugar fruits), e.g. bilberry, blueberry, blackberry, etc. for vitamin C and bioflavonoid content.

■Avoid foods which cause flushing, e.g. hot drinks, spicy foods, alcohol, coffee.

■Avoid beef, pork, lamb and the skin of chicken and turkey, as well as dairy produce. These promote inflammation.

■Avoid fried foods for the same reason.

■Avoid excessive salt and sugar.

■Allow food to cool slightly before eating.

■A vegetarian or vegan diet may be best suited.

Remember to take your:

■ A multi-vitamin and multi-minerals

■Digestive Enzymes, and Amino-acids

■Omega oil blend

eczema

What is it?

Eczema is the common name for atopic dermatitis, which is simply inflamed, red skin. An estimated 15 million Americans have some form of atopic dermatitis, which accounts for about 20% of all dermatologic visits.

There are many types of eczema; here are six of the most common.

Allergic contact eczema is a localized reaction caused when a patch of skin comes into contact with an allergen or a chemical, usually something acidic or a cleaning product.

Dyshidrotic eczema consists of clear, deep blisters on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Neurodermatitis is characterized by scaly patches of skin on the head, the lower legs, the wrists or the forearms. These patches become very irritated when they're scratched.

Nummular eczema consists of coin-shaped patches of irritated skin on the back, the arms, the buttocks, and the lower legs that can be itchy, crusted and even scaling.

Seborrheic eczema manifests itself in yellowish, oily, scaly patches of skin that usually appear on the scalp and the face, but can also affect other parts of the body.

Stasis dermatitis is found on the lower legs and is usually related to circulatory problems.

What causes it?

Doctors don't know exactly what causes atopic dermatitis, but they think it's hereditary. It may also be caused by an immune system imbalance that triggers an immune response without an irritant.

Common allergic irritants include wool and/or synthetic fibers; harsh soaps and detergents; certain perfumes and cosmetics; chlorine, mineral oil, solvents, and other such substances; dusty or sandy environments; and cigarette smoke.

If you think you have chronic atopic dermatitis, your doctor can test for it in several different ways. A topical allergy test can determine if the eczema is caused by an allergic reaction. Your doctor will also refer to your medical and family history to determine how your skin condition can be treated. Because there are so many causes for eczema, it may be difficult to pin down an exact one. Still, there are many treatments that can effectively relieve the symptoms.

How is it treated?

A new family of drugs called immuno-modulators can greatly reduce the symptoms of atopic dermatitis. They usually come in cream or ointment form, such as pimecrolimus cream (Elidel) and tacrolimus ointment (Protopic).

Corticosteroids may also be used to help suppress immune reactions at the site of the irritation. They are most often prescribed in cream form, but there are also pills (prednisone). Antihistamines may also be used to relieve itching and antibiotics can effectively treat any infections that may have developed as a result of scratching.

psoriasis

What is it?

Your skin is constantly repairing itself by shedding dead cells at the surface and replacing them with new ones. The whole cycle usually takes about a month. When you have psoriasis, the process can happen in a few days; new skin cells are pushed to the surface before they mature. The result is sore, red and itchy patches of skin covered by a silvery plaque. Psoriasis usually crops up on visible areas of the body, such as the knees, elbows and scalp; however, it is by no means restricted to these areas.

Psoriasis affects between 5.8 million and 7.5 million people in the United States alone.

What causes it?

Scientists believe that the disorder is due to an overactive immune system that causes the rapid skin turnover and inflammation. It could be hereditary -- about one in three psoriasis patients have a family history of the disease. Stress, infections and dry climates can also trigger outbreaks.

How is it treated?

Your doctor will likely start by prescribing a topical ointment to help relieve symptoms. These include corticosteroids, calcipotriene (Dovonex), retinoid (vitamin A), coal tar, anthralin, salicylic acid, and clobetasol propionate. Most topical treatments work by either soothing the affected areas or suppressing localized immune response.

If topical treatments aren't effective, or are only partially effective, your doctor will prescribe sunlight and ultraviolet light therapy, which effectively slows disease progression by killing immune system T-cells at the site. If a combination of these therapies doesn't work, your doctor may prescribe a drug that can suppress the immune system, such as methotrexate, retinoids, cyclosporine, 6-thioguanine or hydroxyurea.

A new line of drugs called biologic response modifiers are also used to treat psoriasis. They are made from the proteins of living cells and interfere with specific immune system processes. These drugs include alefacept (Amevive), etanercept (Enbrel) and efalizumab (Raptiva). The drugs are effective, but they can have some serious side effects -- a suppressed immune system can't effectively fight off some infections and diseases. Patients who take these drugs must be closely monitored by a doctor.

skin sorrows

If you find yourself with an embarrassing skin affliction and are reluctant to go out in public, don't despair; there are treatments and procedures that can effectively clear them up.