Acne and Rosacea – Why It's Important You Know the Difference

Hannah Clapham

Hannah Clapham is the author of the Acne Skin Care Center website, a complete online resource for all your Acne and Rosacea questions

Acne and Rosacea are very difficult condition for anyone, young or old. But of course acne and rosacea are not the only problems that you can have with your skin, whether it's the skin on your face or anywhere else. Cysts, moles, and blackheads are also very common problem that many people have, and what is unfortunate is that many people just don't know the difference. They put acne medication on their cysts or think that moles are blackheads, and so on.

One of the easiest mistakes to make is confusing rosacea for acne itself. If you don't have a proper understanding of what the difference is between these conditions it's very possible to not only ignore acne at the source but to actually make the condition even worse; especially with rosacea as the skin become inflamed and irritated if it's not treated properly. But how is rosacea different from acne?

Acne is a very unique condition of the skin wherein dirt, oil and bacteria get trapped in hair follicles or pores and a thin layer of skin or a skin cell forms over it so that it can't be washed away. This then grows into what we call a pimple. Because pimples are usually red and the area around these breakouts is typically also red, itchy, and inflamed, it's easy to see how it can be confused with rosacea and vice versa.

But it's important to understand that it is not acne because it is not a collection of dirt, oil and bacteria. Instead, rosacea is a condition wherein the skin becomes red, irritated and inflamed. It can also be somewhat dry and scaly. You can have small bumps with this condition, but these pustules are not the same as acne. As a matter of fact, using acne medication on rosacea can actually make the condition worse, since most topical treatment options for acne are very drying and contain harsh ingredient such as peroxide and alcohol. Imagine adding any of these to an open wound or scrape you have on your skin!

The best way to understand rosacea is to compare it to a skin rash. There are many reasons for rashes, and those with rosacea can inherit it from their parents or it just may develop over time. While sadly there is no overnight or quick cure for rosacea, it can be successfully treated and treatment is important as it does seem to get worse if ignored. Sufferers will be well aware that it's difficult to cover or hide rosacea, but with the right treatment options its impact can be lessened.

Rosacea Skin Condition and Mineral Makeup

Rena Sperling

Rena Sperling is a natural health and mineral makeup enthusiast who lives in California.

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder that causes redness and swelling primarily in the face. Other areas that can be affected are the scalp, neck, ears, chest, and back. Rosacea can progress from frequent flushing of the skin to persistent redness, pimples, and visible blood vessels in the face.

What type of cosmetics are recommended for a Rosacea skin condition?

Many people prefer to use natural products on their sensitive skin to prevent flair ups and treat Rosacea. Natural products are gentle on the skin and do not carry the risk of side affects. The best approach for treating Rosacea starts with using safe natural products with herbs and botanicals, rather than synthetics and chemicals. Cosmetics having synthetic ingredients are far more likely to irritate your sensitive skin. It is recommended to try a natural product for more than 3 months. You will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of the product and the number of flair ups. During this time period, take the time to journal and record flair ups, skin sensitivity, and skin appearance.

What irritating ingredients should be avoided that are found in some cosmetics?

Cosmetics that are natural mineral based or water based and oil free are highly recommended for Rosacea. However, be careful in selecting your product because the majority of mineral products on the market are still loaded with preservatives like parabens; they also use dyes and fillers. Ingredients can be evaluated at the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Report. Do your research to become knowledgeable about what ingredients are in your cosmetics and products.

Some of the ingredients to look out for that may irritate your sensitive skin:

alcohol, fragrance, menthol, talc, fragrance, petrochemicals, peppermint, eucalyptus, GMO , gluten, parabens, dyes, bismuth oxychloride

Quality mineral based cosmetics nourish the skin with certified organic antioxidants. Some of the organic antioxidants include grape seed extract and pomegranate extract.

How do I use mineral based products?

Select a mineral based foundation that matches your skin tone and doesn't irritate it. To cover up blemishes, apply mineral based foundation sparingly with a small tipped brush. Apply again if needed. Apply the foundation again with a larger kabuki brush. If you would like a bit more coverage, add a translucent powder/mineral veil over this. Finish with a beautiful blush. Make sure to brush, brush, brush to polish and achieve a lovely glowing complexion.

A few other tips:

Apply mineral based cosmetics over dry skin. If you use a moisturizer, allow it to dry. Mineral based cosmetics are highly concentrated and should be applied sparingly to prevent caking. Less is More. Ample brushing brings out the beautiful glow. Cosmetics with a green or yellow base are good for redness issues. Bronzers can take away reddish tones and help your make-up last longer.

Rosacea: Fight Flushing and Blushing

From the Rodale book, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Women:

Elizabeth has fair, almost translucent skin that turns a glowing pink whenever she's hot, angry, embarrassed or somewhat tipsy.

But now, barely into her thirties, the pink is changing to red, the red is coming more often and small bumps, pimples and tiny broken blood vessels are appearing around Elizabeth's nose.

Elizabeth's doctor says that all the flushing she experienced was actually a prelude to rosacea, a skin condition in which blood vessels in the face tend to widen, engorge with blood and can turn your face red as a fire truck.

No one knows what really causes rosacea, although doctors have noticed that fair-skinned women of Irish or Celtic ancestry are genetically predisposed, says Karen S. Harkaway, M.D., clinical instructor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a dermatologist at Pennsylvania Hospital, both in Philadelphia.

What triggers the flush to begin with? "The big five are spicy foods, alcohol, emotional stress, heat and humidity," says Mary Lupo, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.

Unfortunately, rosacea is a chronic condition that comes and goes, says Deborah S. Sarnoff, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York University in New York City. Doctors frequently treat rosacea with prescription antibiotics such as tetracycline, or Metrogel, a topical medication originally developed for parasitic infections.

STOP FLUSHING COLD

Sometimes medicaitions don't work, says Dr. Sarnoff. So here's what you can do when the flush hits.

Apply a cold compress. Soak a cloth or paper towel in ice-cold water and apply it to the flushed areas of your face, says Dr. Harkaway. The cold will constrict the dilated blood vessels and halt the inflammatory process.

Use tinted makeup. If you're prone to frequent flare-ups, use a green-tinted under-foundation cover, for everyday wear, says Dr. Harkaway. The green combines with any red in your face and neutralizes it completely.

PREVENT FUTURE FLARE-UPS

Fortunately, keeping rosacea under control is frequently as simple as treating your skin gently and avoiding anything that's known to trigger a flush, doctors agree. Here's what women doctors suggest.

Soothe your skin with chamomile. Since chamomile is known to soothe rosacea-prone skin, Dr. Lupo suggests using cleansers, soaps and moisturizers containing chamomile, an herb related to the ragweed family. One caution though: If you are allergic to ragweed, you should avoid these cleansers.

Avoid abrasives. Any type of abrasion can cause a flush, says Dr. Lupo. So leave abrasive products such as scrubs, buff puffs or cleansing powders to others.

Keep wrinkle creams to a minimum. If you have rosacea and want to use an anti-aging cream that contains alpha hydroxy acids to prevent wrinkles, proceed cautiously, says Dr. Lupo. Read product labels carefully and only buy creams that keep the percentage of acid under 2.5 percent, she says. If package directions urge you to use the cream twice a day, don't push your luck. Use it once a day, tops. If there is any redness at all, discontinue using the product.

Gently apply a cucumber moisturizer. After you cleanse your skin (and also if you apply an alpha hydroxy acid preparation), smooth on moisturizers that contain cucumber extracts, says Dr. Lupo. Although no one knows why, cucumber lotions soothe rosacea-prone skin.

Select cosmetics for sensitive skin. Since the chemicals used in most cosmetics will irritate rosacea-prone skin, use only cosmetics that are labeled "for sensitive skin," says Dr. Lupo. Although not chemical-free, they usually have fewer and less-irritating chemicals than regular makeup.

Stay in the shade. "Stay out of the sun, period," says Dr. Lupo. "The sun will set off a flare-up"--and no cover-up or sunscreen will prevent it.

Use only a titanium dioxide sunscreen. Even in the shade, you're exposed to indirect sunlight, so use a sunscreen whenever you go outside, says Dr. Lupo. Avoid all the chemical sunscreens and stick to a sunscreen that lists titanium dioxide as its major ingredient. It's less irritating to rosacea-prone skin.

Stay cool. Since heat is a major cause of flare-ups, dress in layers of light clothes that you can peel off to keep your body cool, no matter where you are, says Dr. Lupo. And take tepid (not hot) baths and showers.

Avoid wool. If you have rosacea, says Dr. Lupo, you're better off avoiding wool--it tends to keep you too warm and seems to cause redness and rashes in those who have rosacea.

Choose cool food. Spicy food is known to make those with rosacea flush, so Dr. Lupo recommends that women with rosacea avoid it as much as possible. Avoid foods prepared with chili peppers, Tabasco sauce, horseradish and the like.

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Now for the good news...

We have developed a specially formulated cucumber lotion with additives for sensitive skin. We would like to test the lotion on a few lucky readers that have rosacea or eczema on their faces. We will provide you with a 1 ounce sized bottle of cucumber lotion for you to use, in return for your thoughts and experience with the lotion. The sample can be picked up in the store or can be mailed to you for a $3 shipping fee.

The first 5 readers to contact us at pam@thegoldengoatllc.com will get the samples. After that, we will be making the lotion available for sale in our store and online.

Why Worry About Skin Care?

by Kyle Richey

A lot of us don't pay too much attention to our skin. Maybe we think that those people with gorgeous skin are just lucky, have good genes, or the like. Perhaps you're one of those people for whom the notion of skin care is limited to splashing a little bit of water on your face before bed and really nothing else at all.

In reality it’s actually a very good idea to think about our skin care routine as there is much that we can do to improve our skin tone and to prevent things such as blemishes and wrinkles, if we start early enough and follow this routine regularly.

While sometimes our skin’s condition is just genetic and there are some things we can’t do much about, there are many problems we experience with breakouts and blemishes that can be avoided with a good skin care routine, and with making sure this routine is appropriate for our face and our skin in particular.

A lot of people make the error of over cleansing their face. They may use cleansers or soaps which are too harsh and may contain irritating, even harmful chemicals and additives. These sorts of products strip the skin of its natural oils and dry it out, causing irritation. This irritation leads to breakouts and other problems. Don't be too aggressive in your cleansing, a good skin care routine consists in large part of gentle cleansing.

It is important to moisturize your face on a regular basis. People with oily skin might consider this step unnecessary but there are a lot of places on the face without oil glands near them. These are the places where wrinkles develop and include around the mouth and eyes.

Even if your skin tends to be oily, it is important to moisturize as part of your skincare routine. If you don’t moisturize, your body might produce more oil, since it does this when it feels the skin is too dry. The oil glands will produce more pore-clogging oil. If you choose a light moisturizer and use it daily all over your face, even in the places you consider too oily already, you should notice that your skin becomes more healthy and even.

Wrinkles are a fact of life, as are blemishes and other skin problems. Even with the best skin care routine you’ll probably have something you’ll need to deal with at one time or another.

But, just like eating a healthy diet and making sure you take enough exercise are good tools to use against obesity, regular skin care tailored to your individual skin type is the best way of taking care of your skin. It is the best tool to guard against serious skin problems and the way to ensure you have radiant, healthy, glowing skin.

Do you need vitamins?

There are certain vitamins and minerals that your body needs in order to function properly and stay healthy. Ideally you would get all the vitamins that you need from food but it’s very hard to eat a diet that includes the right amounts of all the vitamins and minerals that you need. When you add in other factors like diets, stress eating, restaurant food, and other things that impact how often you eat and what you eat it can be even tougher to try and get all the nutrients your body needs from food.

In order to stay healthy and to get the vitamins and minerals that are missing from your daily diet you need to take vitamins and minerals as supplements. These supplements don’t replace the need for food but they can make sure that your body gets the bare minimum amount of vitamins that it needs to function everyday so that you have enough energy and mental clarity to get through your day.

When you don’t get enough vitamins and minerals you will be able to tell because you will feel sluggish and sick. You may get very tired, or you may just lose interest in life in general. If you take too many of one particular type of vitamin you might become physically sick. If you normally don’t eat a very well balanced diet and you start to notice yourself becoming weaker and more tired it’s a safe bet that a lack of vitamins and minerals is to blame. If you start taking a high quality multivitamin and eating a better diet you will probably feel good again in no time.

In addition to keeping you healthy and keeping your body running properly vitamins and minerals can do a lot of other things for the body. Vitamins and minerals can fight aging, help your skin and hair, help you stave off age-related illnesses and impairments, and even help you fight disease. Vitamins and certain types of herbal supplements can even help you manage chronic conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other long term conditions that can make life uncomfortable and difficult.

Some cultures believe that vitamins and supplements can be used as medicine and that the body can heal itself when it is given the right amounts of vitamins and supplements to use as fuel so that prescription medicines aren’t needed. While there is still a lot of debate about that topic there is some evidence to show that the body can heal itself of serious diseases under the right circumstances without the intervention of Western medicine.

Because vitamins and minerals are so essential to staying healthy people that have vitamin deficiencies can suffer from all kinds of health problems ranging from slowed growth process in children to malnutrition and even starvation in older people. Vitamin deficiencies are no laughing matter, and can happen to anyone.

Hair Care Tips

• A strand of healthy hair should be able to stretch up to 30 percent of its normal length before breaking. Healthy hair will grow on average 15cm each year.
• Brush tangled hair from the ends, working your way slowly to the roots, or you will have knots throughout. Work gently to avoid ripping the hair shaft.
• If the skin on your knees and elbows is dry but you have no moisturizer to hand, massage a small amount of creamy hair conditioner into the skin instead.
• Condition dry, damaged hair by applying a protein hair mask, then blasting with a hair-dryer. Heat helps active ingredients get to work far more effectively.
• If you have colored your hair, you should avoid using anti dandruff shampoos, as these have been found to accelerate color fade in some instances.
• Never rinse your hair in dirty bath water, as it will probably contain alkaline soap residues which will cling to the hair, making it dull and lifeless-looking after styling.
• If you have fine hair, use a voluminous spray containing polymers before blow-drying. The heat will swell the polymers, making the hair appear thicker.
• If your hair feels rough when you finish shampooing, this could be an indication that the shampoo you are using is too harsh and not suitable for your type of hair.
• Choose a haircut which complements the shape of your face and you find styling products which work in harmony with your hair type and you use the appliances which make involve light work of styling. These are the secrets of successful hair-styling.

Natural Homemade Skin Care Tips

by Herb B. Lewis [edited]

A good skin care regimen has nothing to do with the latest makeup tips. Your skin is a mirror that reflects the qualities of your inner health. No amount of make-up can hide the look of unhealthy skin. Healthy skin is attractive even without makeup.

The good skin care regimen starts with you taking care of yourself from the inside. Eat fruits and vegetables and drink purified water. This will improve the moisture of your skin, as well as improving your general health. Moisture is what you need to make your skin firm and elastic.

Get an ample amount of vitamin A. The body requires vitamin A every day to preserve healthy skin. Lack of vitamin B2 may result in oily skin and hair, and premature wrinkles. Nutritional yeast and wheat germ are good places to get vitamin B2 in your diet. Vitamin E and vitamin C have antioxidant properties; they help in preventing skin damage.

Try drinking herbal teas made from red clover, dandelion root, burdock, and echinacea to clean the blood. All these herbs are found in extracts at your health food store. You can also get these herbs by the ounce at most health food stores. Red clover is better fresh, it makes a good ice tea just by itself. Goldenseal is a great internal cleanser but it does not make a good tea, it is better to take it in a capsule form.

Alfalfa is an herb that you can take every day for a lifetime. Alfalfa is nutritional and a cleanser that removes toxins from the body Alfalfa provides beta-carotene and vitamins C, E, and K. Alfalfa roots grow deep, they pick up high concentrations of nutrients not always found in the surface soils. This can supply the trace minerals that are lacking in most diets. Alfalfa sprouts are in groceries and salad bars or you can sprout your own. You can find alfalfa leaves and seeds in capsules or tables as well as the bulk powdered herb in most health food stores.

Learn to make your own natural skin care products. Here are a few skin natural skin care products you can make yourself to get you started.

Aloe vera gel straight from the plant on your skin is a wonderful natural skin care product. If you do not have a plant, you can sometimes buy it in the produce section, by the leaf. When you stress out and need an herb bath put a leaf in the freezer for 30 minutes to get it cold. When taking your hot bath pull the leaf open and rub it on your face to cool you down. It soothes the skin on contact.

Half a cup of aloe vera juice (different from aloe gel from the leaf) twice a day with your favorite juice will do wonders for your insides. Do not take internally if you are pregnant. Add aloe vera juice to orange or grape juice, an organic banana and a little ice and blend in a blender. This is a good drink to cool you down and sooth the mind.

To make a salve, remove the thin outer skin and blend the leaves in a blender, add 500 units of vitamin C powder to each cup add a tablespoon of honey to help preserve. It is best to use fresh but you can store it in your refrigerator for a couple weeks. This salve is great for skin.

Honey is also a natural skin care product. A natural skin care recipe using honey is to make a cup of oatmeal, just like you would for breakfast. While the oatmeal is thickening and cooling down, mix in 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of plain or strawberry yogurt and the juice squeezed from one lemon. Lemon contains natural astringents. This should form a good paste. Apply a layer to your face, avoiding the eyelids. If you get any in your eyes, rinse it out with warm water. After it dries wash it off with warm water, follow with cold water.

You can mash just about anything into oatmeal and smear it on your skin. Make sure it is something natural and good for you and the oatmeal has cooled down. Always start with honey and fresh lemon juice. You can add avocado, avocado oil, olive oil, fresh strawberries, any fruit yogurt and just about any kind of essential oil.

Play around with it and see what you like. It is important you test your skin before you try anything new. You do not want to wash the oatmeal mask off and look at yourself in the mirror and see a face full of bright red blotches. Use a little caution.

Be sure to practice organic skin care as much as you can. Organic skin care just means you read the labels to make sure the ingredients are labeled organic. It also means shopping for fruits and vegetables that are organic.

Nothing in this essay should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Nothing in this essay is approved by the Food & Drug Administration to treat of any disease.