What is Rosacea? Rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition of the facecharacterisedby areas of pink to red colour (called flushing) often spread in a butterfly pattern over the nose and cheeks. In time, rosacea often progresses to the chin and central part of the forehead too. At the onset this flushing can come and go, but after a while it becomes increasingly persistent and will eventually become permanent, this condition can then develop into a breakout of pimple-like bumps over the reddened area, then tiny networks of blood vessels can appear. Rosacea can also affect the eyes and really severe cases of rosacea manifest as a thickened bulbous skin. Who is affected? Rosacea affects primarily adults, usually between the ages of 30 and 60. It affects all segments of the population, but is most common in people with fair skin tones, especially those which blush easily. It is suggested that this condition could affect between 30-50% of the Caucasian population! This condition is diagnosed more so in women, however men experience more severe symptoms such as a swollen, distended nasal area and more broken capillaries. What causes Rosacea? There are many theories as to what cases Rosacea, many researchers think there is a genetic link. Another theory is that a mite commonly found on human skin, called the Demodex mite, triggering inflammation leading to Rosacea. Some blame improper functioning of digestive enzymes and concurrent malabsorption of vitamins and minerals and bacterial infection in the stomach. Lastly, some research points towards rosacea sufferers have a thinner, more delicate surface skin barrier than normal. Each case is different and may be a combination of these problems. Still the jury is out on the exact cause of Rosacea How do we treat a problem if we don’t know the cause? You will require a thorough skin consultation and analysis to determine what underlying problems you are experiencing and then we can plan a reparative skin care program.The first steps in the treatment of Rosacea is to strengthen your internal health by supplementing with zinc and a medical grade probiotic. Internal inflammation is also reduced with a natural supplement called Nalgestic containinganti-inflammatory turmeric in higher dose than available in over-the-counter supplements. Medical Grade Skincare All Rosacea skin’s need the heat and inflammation calmed with specialist skincare productsand medical grade skin care to strengthen the skin. Redless is our hero product here.Redless is a skin calming serum with sea buckthorn and coenzyme Q10, it is an amazing anti-inflammatory which reduces redness. It is topically applied to the skinAnother must have product is Multi B Serum containing vitamin B3 (or Niacinamide). Niacinamide strengthens the skin’s barrier, boosts immunity and is also an important anti-inflammatory. Vitamin C plays an essential role in the treatment of Rosacea. There are many studies showing that topical vitamin C can help to reduce the generalised redness associated with Rosacea. These studies have shown that free-radical release may be responsible for inflammation. Vitamin C has been proven to decrease UV-induced free radical damage and therefore the subsequent inflammation that persists with Rosacea. Vitamin C also helps increase collagen deposition and therefore strengthen the skin. There are many vitamin C products available today, we recommend only medical grade products which are scientifically proven to work at a cellular level. We will recommend a vitamin C product to suit your skin. Another potent antioxidant that has been shown to be of great benefit is vitamin A. Vitamin A works to rebuild blood capillaries and reverse damage done by free radicals to the cellular DNA. Vitamin A is a key ingredient in repairing sun damage and reversing ageing. Again we will recommend a medical grade version that is proven to make a difference to your skin.Medical Grade Procedures Once you have settled into your skincareroutine, we will focus on skin strengthening treatments with our dermal therapists. These can be performed as often as two weeks apart without any downtime and willheal the skin over time. If your Rosacea presents as a flushed, red appearance with individual vessels it can be treated very easily with an ND: YAG Laser. This particular laser is used to remove individual vessels or broken capillaries, and reduce redness and inflammation in the skin. This treatment can be performed at any stage and will require monthly treatments for approximately 6-12 months, depending on your particular problem. LED (Light Emitting Diode) light therapy is a gentle and effective healing treatment option for Rosacea which can be performed 2-3 times per week. This red/infrared low level light is often recommended after medical grade treatments to reduce inflammation and speed up healing within the skin. Medical grade skin treatments (aka “peels”), use a combination of Lactic Acid, Vitamin A and Vitamin C applied in the form of a paste and massaged into the skin. These medical grade treatments, performed within our rooms, offer a calming, anti-inflammatory effect as well as gently exfoliating the skin. Treatments would be spaced 2-4 weeks apart depending on your skin and availability. Avoiding Triggers Certain things trigger flushing and heat within the skin and should be avoided. Individual triggers are different but often include tea, coffee, spicy food and alcohol, sunlight and cold winds. Sugar, and carbohydrates that convert to sugar, can be a large contributing factor as they cause internal inflammation. A physical sunscreen without any irritant chemicals is an essential part of your regenerative treatment and will provide a physical barrier to both UV and wind.