Rosacea Causes and Effects
A condition such as rosacea causes an undue amount of awkwardness and embarrassment in an age where good looks are considered an important part of life. It is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that primarily affects the face, what many consider the most important part of the body.
The most common characteristic of rosacea is a marked redness around the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin that looks like sunburn. However, as the condition worsens, rosacea causes an acne-like rash to appear, followed by facial disfiguration and swelling around the nose and eye problems. There is no clinical test for it, so the symptoms of rosacea are often mistaken for eczema, acne or other skin allergies. It is very important to be able to understand what causes rosacea, because if it is left untreated it can cause permanent skin and eye damage.
At the Roots of Rosacea
Unfortunately, doctors have not yet found a connecting factor at the base of rosacea, but they do have several leads as to its nature that can be found below.
Vascular Disease
Microscopic Mites
Intestinal Bacteria
Hereditary Genes
Many scientists believe that the condition is actually a vascular disease since the symptoms include dilated veins. Flushing, or excessive blushing, also plays a key role in aggravating it. It may also involve the nervous system in so far as the blood flow may be accumulating faster than the lymphatic system can remove it. A type of bacteria that resides in the gut has also been identified as a possible cause, because it releases a protein that raises gastrin levels. This, in turn, stimulates flushing.
A certain kind of mite has also been marked as a possible cause; they live on our skin and usually eat dead skin cells. However, in affected victims, there is an abnormally large amount residing in the infected area. Finally, there is strong reason to believe that rosacea is hereditary since patients who have the condition often have close family members who are affected. It is also more likely for people with fair skin to contract the condition.
Triggering Rosacea Causes
While doctors are still conflicted over the root cause or causes of Rosacea, they have discovered many factors in our everyday lives, some of which can be seen below, that may aggravate the condition and possibly even help in its development.
Extreme temperatures
Stress, Anxiety and Embarrassment
Sunlight
Dairy Products
Wind
Intense Exercise
Caffeine
And this is only a fraction of the triggers that may be rosacea causes. Basically, any stimuli that can cause the flow of blood to accelerate to the surface of the skin could trigger the onset of rosacea. While it might not be possible to escape the extreme temperatures of the weather where you live, there are small lifestyle changes you can make that may help. For example, you can change your diet, by cutting out milk and soda and drinking more water.
Always wear a broad-brimmed hat and a scarf when you go outside to protect your skin from the sun and wind. With these precautions you can greatly reduce the duration of a flare-up and increase the length of your remissions.
The Damage that Rosacea Causes
Rosacea symptoms present themselves in many different ways and no two people show the same symptoms in the same order. This makes it even more difficult to diagnose, but doctors have organized the most common symptoms into four major types.
Type 1: Erythma: a reddening of the skin
Type 2: Populopostular Rosacea: redness mixed with puss filled bumps
Type 3: Phymatous Rosacea: swelling of the area around the nose, chin or forehead
Type 4: Ocular Rosacea: Red, dry eyes with swelling in the eyelids
Type 1 is the most common type of rosacea and is often not treated except with common cosmetics and moisturizers. Type 2 signals the beginning of serious inflammation. While this is often confused with acne, there are no blackheads present and there is a distinct burning sensation.
Type 3 is much more serious and is best characterized by the development of a bulbous nose. This symptom more commonly affects men than women. Type 4 is perhaps the most serious, because it can lead to secondary infections in the eye that can even lead to cornea damage and loss of eye sight.
Rosacea is still considered a mystery by doctors and scientists even though it affects so many people around the world. Hopefully, by understanding the triggers that aggravate the condition you will be able to negate the rosacea causes and stop its progression before any long-lasting damage can occur.
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