Rosacea-Ltd Discusses Rosacea Triggers

Sir Isaac Newton in his work Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica,first published on July 5, 1687 presented concepts which changed our understanding of the Universe with his Three Laws of Motion. Newton used them to explain and investigate the motion of many physical objects and systems.

Newton's Third Law of Motion states:For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
This law is explains what happens if we step off a boat onto the bank of a lake: as we move in the direction of the shore, the boat tends to move in the opposite direction (leaving us face down in the water, if we aren't careful!).

This theory holds true for rosacea. Rosacea is a complex system of action and reaction. For every treatment process we apply to our skin, there is a reaction. Sometimes it is an equal and opposite reaction, sometimes the reaction is far more severe than the action or symptom we were treating, and occasionally we get it right and the reaction is positive and provides an alleviation of our rosacea symptoms.

Nothing demonstrates this better than the pH balance of our skin. The more pH balanced our skin and body are the less reaction to triggers and outside influences. Rosacea triggers result from "acidic stimuli" regardless of whether they are foods, drinks, stress, or activity. When our body suffers an acidic pH response, it can be a slow and gradual buildup as our skin demonstrates with our rosacea symptoms beginning with stage one rosacea involving redness that may persist for several hours or days. For some of us, it may never progress due to the fact that early on we recognize and address the core problem and cause of our rosacea. For others it can progress to stage three rosacea- namely large inflammatory nodules. The facial contours gradually become coarse, thickened, and irregular.

Among the common rosacea triggers sun exposure presents an obvious and basic reaction. When you are out in the sun without adequate protection, your skin turns red, it burns, it stings and in some cases it may blister. Some react more readily than others due to the sun sensitivity triggers such as certain medications you may be taking; the genetics of being fair-skinned; chemicals in your sunscreen may result in a more severe reaction; on a windy day at the beach the sand blowing on your skin can have an abrasive reaction similar to the effective of sandblasting to clean a building.

Stress as a rosacea trigger results in a more subliminal reaction. We may not relate our emotional responses with the condition of our skin, but the trigger for rosacea flushing is an immediate response in many cases. When someone gets very angry, his or her face may immediately become very red and flushed. The emotional response of stress on rosacea symptoms is quite defined. Flushing usually occurs when the body becomes fatigued and/or stressed which stimulates an immune system response, in case a redden flush of skin.

Exercise flushing can trigger a rosacea response caused by the heart pumping harder and faster due to exercise resulting in a flushed appearance.  Exercise can be a rosacea reactionary trigger but done properly it can become a positive action with the resulting reaction of reducing stress.

The purpose of medication is to alter conditions within the body to elicit a reactionary response. As we alter conditions within the body to treat one condition, there is often an equal and opposite reaction to other conditions within the body. Most medications list as a side effect, skin rash, skin redness and/or skin irritation. For a rosacea sufferer, this can act as a trigger and intensify your rosacea symptoms.

Skin care products are considered a silent rosacea trigger. As an adult you may have occasional bouts of acne due to stress and hormones  resulting in red blotchy rashes and increased skin sensitivity. Improper use of  OTC  products result in more damage and skin-related issues as the skin creates more oil as a protective barrier.  Facial toners and  witch hazel,  should be avoided, as they cause the skin to contract the resulting action is clogged pores by trapping more body oils in the skin.

Many soaps and cleansers contain ingredients, which can further irritate the skin. Moisturizers, which are promoted as soothing often, contain anti-wrinkle and anti-aging ingredients, which result in increased redness and skin irritation.

The red colorant in lipsticks and blushes is a potential rosacea trigger. Carmine extract has been used for thousands of years to provide coloring in a host of products, including foods. Carmine is often listed under many different names as a red coloring. Carmine is derived from the ground bodies of female cochineal beetles. Currently the FDA only requires that the ingredient is labelled as a 'color added' or 'artificial color', but fears over allergic reactions as well as consumer demands to be better informed if the products they buy are animal-derived are prompting the move towards change.

Food allergies as well as hot or spicy food can elicit as rosacea trigger response in the form of facial redness or allergic hives. Some foods are more inclined to create a response then others.

In the category of avoidable rosacea triggers are consumption of alcohol and smoking. Smoking depletes the body of oxygen causing an acidic response of excess carbon dioxide. As smoking causes the body and brain to be more acidic while living tissue needs to be alkaline, skin cell regeneration is slowed down tremendously. As cell regeneration slows down, our body’s healing response also slows.

Alcohol triggers a rosacea response due to the fact that alcohol dehydrates the body. All alcohol is fermented, but because beer and wines (red wine being the worst) are not further distilled, they can cause allergy redness for many rosacea sufferers.