Rosacea Causes, Symptoms and Cures

If you’ve noticed a red flush to your cheeks, visible blood vessels on your skin, or visible red blood vessels that branch across your face, you could be suffering from rosacea (pronounced roh-ZAY-sha), a common skin ailment that, according to the National Rosacea Society, affects about 14 million Americans.

Rosacea mostly affects people over the age of 30 and can be controlled with topical treatments or laser treatments. It’s not life-threatening and many, many people have it (including myself!). Here, we run down the basics.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Rosacea?

Ruddiness, redness to cheeks, chin, and forehead are common symptoms of rosacea. The redness may come and go and although it appears mostly on the face, it can also show up on the neck, ears and chest.

There are several subtypes of rosacea. In the early stages, cheeks easily flush, or appear constantly sunburned. Visible blood vessels may develop on the skin.

More developed types can involve bumps or pimples on the cheeks. A more severe form is seen mostly in men and shows up as a thickening of skin around the nose (think W.C. Fields and his trademark “bulbous nose”). This is called rhinophyma.

There is no set proof that rosacea worsens, so if you suffer from redness, you won’t necessarily develop a bulbous nose if your rosacea goes untreated.

Who Gets Rosacea?

Research shows rosacea mainly affects people of both sexes over the age of 30. Rosacea also tends to affect people with fair skin. Studies show people of Irish or English descent may be susceptible to rosacea.

Because rosacea is a somewhat mysterious ailment, not many people are aware of it or know they have it. The emotional effects of rosacea can be far worse than the physical effects. In a study reported by the National Rosacea Society, nearly 70 percent of rosacea patients said it lowered their self-confidence and self-esteem. Forty-one percent said the condition caused them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements.

What Causes Rosacea?

The causes of rosacea are unknown, but several theories abound, including sun damage, blood vessels too near the skin’s surface and ethnicity.

Is There a Cure for Rosacea?

Rosacea can’t be cured, but in most cases it’s easily controlled.

How is Rosacea Treated?

Rosacea can be controlled with topical antibiotics including MetroGel and Rosac and oral antibiotics. Lasers can zap broken blood vessels and treat the overall redness. Better lasers are being developed each year.

To control flare-ups, doctors recommend usage of a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays (look for sunscreens with Mexoryl or Helioplex).

If you are suffering from rosacea, you should consult a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment options. A dermatologist can tailor the best treatment for your skin condition.

By Julyne Derrick, About.com Guide

Scaly skin is not to be taken lightly. It is a very real disease that often impacts a person’s self-confidence and self-esteem. Some people — including some doctors — tend to think that skin disease is trivial.

Not so according to research, which shows that the physical and emotional impact of psoriasis can be as great as cardiac failure or depression. For information on the impact on psoriasis, have a look at the rest of this site.

What is it?

Scaling, often painful, is called psoriasis, and while it may cause anxiety or nervous conditions, it is not triggered by these circumstances. It can manifest in a variety of ways, all of which can be extremely frustrating. For example:

• Your scalp is so itchy that it is driving you crazy.
• Shaking hands is embarrassing because of the rough scale on your skin.
• The cracks on your fingertips sting
• Simple activities such as buttoning your shirt are painful.
• You know all too well that others notice your brown, uneven nails.
• You need to vacuum when you take off your clothes because of the snow storm of scale when you undress.
• You are told to not use the hot tub at the local pool because you are at risk of infection others (psoriasis is not infectious).

Psoriasis:

• Does not occur because of anxiety or any nervous condition
• Occurs as small patches, or can cover most of the body
• Can vary in intensity over time
• In some people, may disappear for months or years
• Tends to run in families

Why does the skin ‘behave like this?’

Waterproofing is one of the important functions of the skin – it does this by producing a layer of fat mixed with protein on the surface. The skin is also the site where many of the immunological battles of the body take place. White cells called lymphocytes attack an as yet unknown immunological abnormality. These lymphocytes become activated in psoriasis causing inflammation in the skin. This not only makes the skin red, but drives the epidermis — the outer layer — to grow faster, thus becoming thicker and scalier.

At this time we do not know what exactly the lymphocytes are attacking in the skin. We do know that these lymphocytes produce an ongoing cascade of chemical messengers that induce changes in the skin, making it red, thick and scaly. In some people with psoriasis, these lymphocytes can also produce inflammation in joints, called psoriatic arthritis. Click on PsoriaticArthritisGuide for more information.

Is there any hope for severe psoriasis?

The good news is that this neglected disease is now getting some of the therapeutic attention it deserves.

Treatments in the past have been:

• Creams and ointments containing cortisone, Vitamin D, Tazarotene
• Ultraviolet lights
• Oral drugs including Vitamin A-like pills, methotrexate (anti-cancer drug) that slows down the abnormal inflammation

New treatments – New Hope

• A greater understanding through research has identified some of the cellular factors that play an important role in the development of psoriasis.
• The new generation of drugs called the ‘Biologics’ is much more specific in blocking the activated lymphocytes or neutralizing some of the important chemicals that they produce that encourages psoriasis.
• In Canada a drug called Alefacept (Amevive) has recently been approved for psoriasis. This drug blocks the activation of the lymphocytes that are specific in psoriasis.
• Another drug called Entaneracept (Enbrel) has been approved recently for psoriatic arthritis. It blocks the action of a chemical called tumor necrosis factor.

There are numerous treatment options for this skin condition; visit the rest of this site and PsoriaticArthritisGuide for more in-depth information. And of course, always ask your doctor or dermatologist for help.

By Dr. Charles Lynde

Dental problems are never any fun but the good news is that they can either be prevented or fixed for you.

We at Tracey Bell aim to provide you with a healthy, beautiful smile, allowing you to smile with confidence all day every day!

Tracey Bell provides a solution for all smiles where choice, education and information is of the upmost importance when choosing the correct treatment for you.

Our dental treatments include:

-Teeth Whitening
-Veneers
-Crowns
-Clear braces (Invisalign)
-Porcelain Bridges
-Fillings and Endodontics and much more…

At Tracey Bell a beautiful smile can be created having the greatest benefits of emotive beauty, increased self confidence, improved self-esteem and most of all a smile that you can and will be proud of.

Visit the Tracey Bell website to find out more about our Dental treatments and what we have to offer…

http://www.traceybell.co.uk/smilescription/smilescription.html

Acne affects more than just your skin. It can affect your entire life in very real ways.

Acne influences your self-esteem, self-confidence and can bring negativity to your life.

Many studies have shown that acne can result in depression, anxiety, embarassment and can make you feel very uncomfortable about going out with friends or meeting new people.

Treatment for acne can bring an optimistic attitude to a persons life quickly as you feel more confident and positive about your appearance.

We at Tracey Bell have a vast array of acne treatments and products to offer.

These include:

1. Medical Microdermabrasion
2. Purification Chemical Peels
3. Blue Light – to kill bacteria that sit in the skin pores
4. Lasers – at Tracey Bell we have a host of lasers to treat acne from IPL, Blue Light Therapy, Pixel Resurfacing, Erbium Yag or CO2 Lasers

We also have a product called AcnoBan.

AcnoBan is a light, non-greasy cream formulated for adults and teenagers to fight flare-ups and banish future breakouts in over oily and acne prone skin.
Its antiseptic formulation including Hyssop extract and Sea Buckthorn Fruit oil contains the perfect blend of blemish fighters and Salicylic Acid to gently exfoliate and eliminate impurities.
Yeast proteins control oily secretion and fend off future breakouts. Your skin is calmed, blemish free, healed and protected.

AcnoBan is recommended for acne conditions and skin problems such as ingrown hairs or enlarged oily follicles.

Gently apply once daily on localised areas or when necessary on affected areas
Best used after skin has been prepped with Radical Clean and Radical Spin

For more information on Acne treatment, visit our website at:

http://www.traceybell.co.uk/skinscription/acne-treatment.html

Teeth whitening or bleaching is one of the most popular dental treatments desired by dental patients.

Teeth whitening is a process where stains and discolouration are improved and in most cases removed, producing a whiter, brighter, more youthful smile.

Teeth Whitening can be provided in 4 forms:

Whitening Pen – A simple whitening pen which applied daily can whiten teeth by 1-2 shades – Cost from £18.00

Home Reservoirs – Take home teeth whitening kit – Cost from £345.00

In surgery whitening – At Tracey Bell ‘Zoom’, as featured on ‘Extreme Makeover’ and ‘10 years Younger’ is utilised. This utilises a light or laser whitening, as some refer to it, to whiten teeth instantly. Cost £445.00

Deep Bleaching – This is a combination of home reservoirs and in surgery teeth whitening producing the ultimate in surgery whiteness and long term, teeth whitening results – Cost £645.00

Benefits of Teeth Whitening

• Instant brighter, whiter teeth

• Affordable options for teeth whitening for everyone at Tracey Bell

• Has no long term side effects on teeth • Removes stains and discolouration instantly

• Boosts self confidence and self esteem, whiter teeth are associated with beauty and a healthier lifestyle

• Rejuvenates an ageing smile