Is It Acne or Rosacea?

What Is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a long lasting, non-scarring skin condition of the face that is often misdiagnosed as adult acne. It varies in severity and does not always worsen with time. Typically, you will experience inappropriate facial flushing that is not usually associated with sweating and/or persistent redness of the face. It is common to have broken blood vessels (telangiectasias) on your cheeks. You may also experience bouts of inflammation that cause red papules (small bumps) or pustules. However, comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) are not part of rosacea.

About 50% of those with rosacea suffer eye involvement, including such conditions as conjunctivitis, blepharitis, dry gritty eyes and recurrent sties. Nose enlargement (rhinophyma) is uncommon and mostly seen in men. It is only very rarely seen in women.

Key Features:

• Facial flushing
• Background redness of the central face
• Blanchable redness
• Cheeks are not warm
• Telangectasias
• Pimples
• Eye symptoms
• Growing, knobbly nose (mostly seen in men)

What Else Looks Like Rosacea?

• Acne - AcneGuide.com
• Perioral dermatitis - PerioralDermatitis.com
• Seborrheic dermatitis - SeborrheicDermatitis.com
• Lupus erythematosus - Lupuserythematosus.com
• Photosensitivity reactions
• Drug reactions
• Contact dermatitis - ContactDermatitis.com

Who Gets Rosacea?

This condition is most commonly seen in those who have fair skin and is sometimes referred to as the “Curse of the Celts” or a “Peaches and cream“ complexion.

Where Does Rosacea Occur On The Skin?

You will usually see rosacea around the central area of your face. It may occasionally be isolated to one patch.

When Does Rosacea Usually Start?

Usually onset of rosacea occurs between the ages of 20 and 50.

What Causes Rosacea?

The cause is poorly understood. Flushing is an essential part of the condition, so experts believe that blood vessels are a significant component to the cause.

H. pylori is a bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the stomach that has been suggested as a cause of rosacea in some because there is a hormone that the stomach produces which encourages skin flushing. H. pylori is the same bug thought to cause stomach ulcers.

It is possible to clear the infection with a combination of antibiotics taken by mouth, but its eradication has not been conclusively effective. Demodex are mites found in the follicles of about half of those with rosacea. Doctors and clinical investigators who have been studying rosacea are debating their role as a possible cause of rosacea.

The use of stronger cortisone creams can certainly produce rosacea, but it usually does not persist for very long after discontinuing the creams.

What Other Factors Aggravate Rosacea?

Certain medications that cause flushing can flare your skin. Vasodilating drugs (ones that cause your blood vessels to enlarge) such as ACE-inhibitors and some cholesterol lowering agents may play a part. You should avoid Niacin. In addition, perfumed cosmetics can aggravate your skin. You should also avoid other topical irritants such as scrubs, toners, acetone and alcohols.

If you have flushing because of menopause, you should be treated, as long as there are no contradictions (that is, if there is no risk to you because of other health concerns or medications you may be taking).

Sun protection is a must and we recommend sunscreens that have broad spectrum protection.

How Does Rosacea Affect Us?

• Rosacea can be very embarrassing, the flushing can be a source of social discomfort, and many may feel that they are perceived as heavy drinkers
• Eyes can be gritty and uncomfortable

Fantastic Acne Facial Mask Recipes From Home

If you are looking for some great homemade facial mask recipes to save some money, keep reading. Some of these facial skincare tips I found on the web, others were notes from herbal classes I took.  So, depending on your skin type, here are lots of great facial masks to try at home. When possible always try to use organic or natural ingredients to prevent possible allergic reactions. Enjoy!

FOR OILY SKIN

For oily skin use some plain Milk of Magnesia, rub it on your face and neck area and let dry, then rinse with lukewarm water. It absorbs oil wonderfully!

I haven’t tried this one personally, but I heard it works well too.  Said to have a cleansing and softening effect: mix regular clean kitty litter, the clay kind, with water and strain out the grit. Mix in a little water and appy to a damp face for 10-15 min.

For normal to oily skin, use an egg white.

FOR NORMAL / COMBINATION SKIN / ACNE

Why buy acne products when you use strawberries? Strawberries are a natural source of salicylic acid which is found in most over-the-counter acne medicines, according to Janice Cox, the author of “Natural Beauty at Home.” This is Cox’s recipe. The yogurt is great for soothing skin.

Ingredients:

* 1/4 cup strawberries (fresh, not frozen please)
* 1/4 cup sour cream or non-flavored yogurt

Preparation:
Mash together the strawberries and yogurt or sour cream. Spread on face and wash after 10-15 minutes.

ADDITIONAL FACIAL MASK RECIPES

Mix one egg and 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal and a teaspoon olive oil until smooth. Spread on your face and leave 15 min then rinse.

For trouble-prone skin, mix oatmeal with water to form a paste.

FOR DRY SKIN

For dry skin, mix one egg yolk, one teaspoon honey and a teaspoon olive oil and some vitamin E oil if you have it. Smooth on and leave on for 15 min. Rinse in lukewarm water and pat dry. If your skin is a bit dry you can put a dab or two of either extra virgin olive oil, or any light organic oil, like jojoba or almond if you need a heavier moisturizer after cleansing or a good moisturizing facial mask.

Homemade Facial Scrub Instead of Soap

For a homemade facial mask. First, clean your face with water only. Never use plain store-bought soap. If you do use soap, make sure its a n organic or natural blend that won’t strip your skin of it’s natural acid mantel. You can also open your pores with hot compresses (washcloth).

For a great facial scrub, moisten oatmeal to a “gooey” consistency, use it to scrub your face (not around your eyes). Wash off with cool water.  You may also make a paste of the oatmeal and allow it to dry..remove with cool water.

Sliced fresh cucumber placed on your closed eyes will reduce bagginess and dark circles.To make your hair shine, rub in some regular mayonnaise,shampoo out after 15 minutes.

Honey wins for Best Organic Facial Treatment

One of the best facial masks that I have found is honey. Honey is a antural anti-micoribal and an excellent wound healer. First, use a warm cloth to open pores, smear on organic or herbally infused honey, leave on 15 to 30 minutes, rinse off with warm water, and then use cold water to close pores. Use for 3 days in a row and then once a week.
You can also mix a little gound oatmeal with the honey, which makes an excellent natural face mask.

Exfoliating Facial Mask
For an easy exfoliating mask, mix three tablespoons olive oil or any skincare oil (almond, jojoba) and one tablespoon kosher salt mix and gently rub into dry skin. Do not use around eye area. This works great on elbows and feet, but it can also be used on cheeks and forehead

Egg Whites / Egg Yolk Facial Masks

Just beat one egg white until it is frothy. Spread it all over your face. Wait until it dries. Rinse it off. My face feels very clean and “tight” after this application. And then you can use the yolk for cooking.

Some reccommend using a raw egg yolk. Just apply the raw yolk to your face and neck for 30 minutes and rinse with cool water. Egg yolks are high in vitamin A. The mask is very effective in healing blemishes.

Match Your Facial Mask to Your Skin Type

For normal to oily skin, use an egg white.
For dry skin, use an egg yolk.

In all cases, spread mixture on face and allow to dry. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

For oily skin, witch hazel makes an inexpensive toner.

For dry skin, you may want to add moisturizer while skin is still damp.

One reader said ” The cheapest and best facial mask I have ever come up with is oatmeal processed to a powder in the blender and either skim milk. If you are trying to fade spots, use lemon juice. Really works well for dry skin.”

More Facial Mask Ingredient Choices.

Having fun playing around in your kitchen - mix and match for the best facial treatment for you!
The kind of the mask you want to use depends on your skin type.

For dry skin, try:

* an egg yolk mixed with olive oil and warmed honey

* sour cream

* plain olive oil

* avocado

For oily skin:

* dissolve a teaspoon of baking yeast in a small amount of warm milk, wait until foamy, then apply (best done in the bath tub)

* puree flesh of a tomato and mix with some potato flour to make a paste;

* cucumber (it will whiten your skin);

* beaten egg whites with a few drops of lemon juice (great for getting rid of blackheads);

* carrots (but don’t use this one more than about every other week because it can overdry your skin). This one will make you look tanned.

General refreshing masks:

* grapes (just cut a berry in half and rub lightly)

* strawberries (test behind your ear first, because many people are alergic to strawberies used this way even though they can eat them just fine)

* honey and ricotta cheese

Many fruits and vegetables can also be used to good effect. Anything acidic (lemon, strawberries, etc) will tend to whiten and refresh your skin, but you need to be careful if your skin is dry.

In general, don’t apply masks more often than about twice a week, and try to vary the ingredients.

It is a good idea to test the mask first for allergic reactions. Apply a small amount behind your ear, wait 20 minutes, then wash off. Then wait 24 hours. If the skin behind your ear is normal, then go ahead and use the mask.

Treating Acne with Natural Zinc Moisturizers

There has been a lot of press recently about Zinc and Zinc Oxide in skincare and cosmetic products. Zinc can be found in many natural sunscreens ans well as moisturizing lotions and creams.  Zinc - or Micronized zinc oxide -  is produced by high temperature processing of minerals that contain zinc. Some brands contain micronized zinc oxide, combined with an inert ingredient derived from silica. The result is a naturally protective product to protect you from the sun’s damaging UV and UVB rays.

Zinc is a mineral and it is also believed that it has curative properties on a skin where there are acne growths and can reduce the symptoms of acne. Many alternative studies have indicated that this is not the case. So is there a connection between the two?

According to research carried out in recent years, zinc has the same properties of antibiotics such as tetracycline and it can fight the acne bacteria efficiently without the negative effects of antibiotics. Reportedly, zinc also enhances the immunity of the body when ingested as a supplement. So what is zinc and what is the zinc acne connection all about? How does the zinc acne treatment affect the sufferers and what is the best way to use this treatment?

You will find traces of the zinc mineral in various food items such as mushrooms, soybeans, legumes, fish, sunflower seeds, egg yolks, soy lecithin and also in whole grains. Zinc is also present in many herbs such as dandelion, eyebright, cayenne, chamomile, mullein, nettle, milk thistle, alfalfa and in the burdock root. Zinc forms a part of insulin and can be found in the tissues.

There are many useful properties of zinc like providing the person with energy, prohibiting blindness, aiding the process of digestion by being a part of enzymes, supporting the reaction of more than 30 enzymes, strengthening the immunity, regulation of Vitamin E in the blood, helping the body absorb Vitamin A and B, speeding up the process of healing, regulating insulin, and it also fights bacteria. Zinc is also present in estrogen, testosterone and growth hormones.

So how does zinc help a person suffering from acne?  Zinc moisturizers and sunscreens may be a good first step to taking care of your skin from the outside.

The causes of acne are all internal and they are imbalance in the level of hormones and build up toxic materials within the body. The hormones are responsible for producing oils, and the zinc can regulate the oil glands, and so if you can take them correctly (that is in the right quantity, quality and the correct essential fatty acids) you will be able to have some control over the level of hormones and this will ease the symptoms of your acne greatly.

Zinc also helps absorb Vitamin A, and fights the bacteria that causes acne by strengthening the immune system, helps the body heal wounds and contains anti oxidant properties. All these are useful in tackling the secondary causes of acne and will help you greatly reduce the symptoms of acne.

Another ability of zinc for acne is that it can regulate the production of hormones, which is a main reason one acquires acne. However for this to happen, it needs to be taken in the correct quantity and in combination with essential fatty acids. This mineral needs to be properly absorbed within the body and work together with other nutrients for the hormones to be balanced.

While zinc as an acne treatment may be effective, it is very important however to take care and not mix it with some chemical substances, supplements and food items because they will make the zinc less effective.  You should always consult your doctor or research a supplement before taking any internal treatments.

There are some food items, ( inhibitors) like supplements and physical conditions that can prevent zinc from being properly absorbed in the body. This may significantly reduce the impact of zinc on the acne.

One of these inhibitors is Phytic acid.  Usually found in high levels in grains. The acid can reduce the absorption by about 15%.  And thus, those who are suffering from acne need to reduce their grain consumption to one to two servings a day. Grains may lead to mucus and acidity and taking them with zinc for acne can be a challenge.

Another zinc inhibitor is soy protein. If you are using zinc for an acne treatment, you need to eat less soy as it can bind to minerals and lead to less zinc absorption. Then there are other minerals like copper and inorganic iron. They also come in the way of zinc for acne bio-availability. However this issue can be solved easily, unless of course you are suffering from copper toxicity. Try not to take copper more than 2-3 mg a day and also do not take inorganic iron supplements.

Too much of physical exertion may lead to an increased demand by the body for zinc and thus, when you are exercising, you need to also take more zinc for acne treatments.

Following these tips and zinc guidines should have you well on your way to beautiful skin in no time!

THINK PINK to Help Fight Breast Cancer

So, if you’ve been living in a cave like me for the last few weeks, you might have noticed a awful lot of PINK happening out there…even on your favorite Sunday Football Team. I was watching the Broncos and the Cowboys on Sunday, wondering, “What’s with all the pink?”

After a few web searches, I discovered all this powerful push for PINK is due to the 25^th annual National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Ahh-ha!

Almost every blog and website I’ve visited has something to offer in the pink package or draped with the famous crossed pink ribbon. While I personally have been blessed to be cancer-free, my mother has not. She beat her cancer, but many other family members did not. I’m sure many of you personally have experience with this ravenous illness.

Cancer is a scary disease that shows no predictability; some may make it, some may not. But it is up to us to keep the pressure on to find a cure. Many of you may be aware of natural food alternatives and the outcries of those in the know saying the cancer is treatable, but the pharmacies and big business won’t let that happen.

I can’t be sure that a cure is being suppressed, but I can be sure, when we continue to live in contaminated environments and ingest and use products and foods that are filled with chemicals, we are only promoting the inevitable inability of our bodies to cleanse and filter for our optimal health.

It is up to us as wise consumers to make the best possible choices for our health, including the foods we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe and the products we use – including skincare products.

According to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, “192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected in women in the United States by New Year’s.” October is the month organizations struggle to raise awareness and funds to battle the disease.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month began Oct. 1. For the rest of the month, organizations dedicating themselves to help prevent and cure the disease will be going all out to raise awareness and funds. You’re not imagining it if you feel surrounded by pink.

According to the LATimes, “The annual observance was started in part by the American Academy of Family Physicians, pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca’s HealthCare Foundation and nonprofit CancerCare Inc. Nonprofit Susan G. Komen for the Cure linked breast cancer awareness to the color pink in 1982, when the first Komen Race for the Cure logo design was an abstract female runner outlined with a pink ribbon. The idea really took off in 1992 when, while working on Self magazine’s second Breast Cancer Awareness Month issue, editor in chief Alexandra Penney created a ribbon and worked with cosmetics companies such as Estée Lauder to distribute them in New York City stores.”

Over the years, all kinds of companies and products have jumped on the bandwagon, and this year you can buy anything from household products to high end jewelry in pink, with part of the proceeds going to fight the disease.
To get an idea of the month’s impact, consider that the nonprofit support organization Living Beyond Breast Cancer earned a third of its annual budget through last October’s events and product promotions.

Join the cause in helping to save lives in communities around the world by registering today at www.passionatelypink.org.
If you aren’t exactly liquid these days, don’t feel alone. there are plenty of things you can do to help. Volunteer your time with a local cancer organization or shop promoting the cause. There are many links to sites out there looking for the help of someone like you. You can start here : http://ww5.komen.org/getinvolved/getinvolved.html

I found this list below from a local newspaper of some great beauty products and supporting businesses and who want to help make a difference.

Beauty.com
Purchase any product with a Cancer and Careers logo and participating brands will donate a portion of the sales to that charity.

Darphin
Darphin will donate $20 from each sale of the Arovita C Energic Firming Cream, (which retails at $80) through October to the BCRF.

Dermstore
Head to www.dermstore.com for do-gooder products like Jane Iredale’s PureMoist LipColour in Christina, named for cancer survivor Christina Applegate, or in the Pink PureGloss; Mama Mio Skincare’s parabine-free Boob Tube bust and neck firmer and gloMinerals’ gloMarvelous in Pink Kit with a bronzer and lip gloss.

Diptyque
Twenty percent of sales of its Pink Roses candle at BeautyHabit.com ($68) goes to the Pink Agenda nonprofit.

Elemis
Inside the fuchsia “Essential Beauty Secrets” cosmetic bag are four Elemis products and a five-step breast check guide. A portion of the $95 price will go to Breast Cancer Care.

Essie
Fight from your fingers to your toes: 10% of the proceeds from Essie’s Yes We Can, Pink! polish ($8) will go to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, which raises awareness and funds for women coping with the disease.

ghd
It looks like something found in a “Mad Men” powder room: the baby pink hair-styling iron. It comes with a matching hair brush, sectioning clips and a tote bag. Fifteen dollars from every $255 Pink Limited Edition Box Set sold goes to the Young Survival Coalition, which helps women younger than 40 who have been affected by the disease.

Japonesque
A little pick-me-up: The makeup brushes and tools brand is giving 20% of proceeds from their pink pocket-sized eyelash curler ($11 at Ulta.com) to breast cancer research.

MelangePerfume.com
Perfume owner Denise Estrada will give 30% of all sales of her pink solid perfumes in honeysuckle, iris, lilac, Polynesia, frangipani, Japanese tea rose and Melati jasmine ($15 for .35 ounce) to the NBCF.

Philosophy
Relax a bit: All of the net proceeds from the $20 Shower for the Cure and She Colors My Day Charity Bubble Bath will go to the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund to support the early detection of women’s cancers.

Prescriptives
A limited-edition Pink Ribbon Palette for Cheeks and Eyes with four eye colors and two cheek colors retails for $48.50, with $20,000 in proceeds from North American sales going to the BCRF.

Purple Lab
It’s not just the ingredients — like vanilla, echinacea and super-fruit mangosteen — that make the beauty brand call SWAC (or Sealed With a Kiss) a “feel-good lip gloss.” They’re available at Kitson and Fred Segal Melrose, and the company is donating 20% of proceeds from the gloss to Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation.

Sephora
The beauty product mecca will give $1 from each sale of its Super Shimmer lip gloss in Forever Pink ($10) or its pink eyelash curler ($16), and $2 from its refillable blush brush ($22) to the BCRF.

VMV Hypoallergenic
BCRF will get a dollar from the purchase of any of VMV’s gentle-to-use pink products, such as Glow Lip and Cheek Tint in Debutante or Blush Crush ($21 each) or Lip Bliss Lipstick in Pink Diamond and Pamper Me ($23) .

~ Jordan Dupree

Removing Blackheads and Reducing Acne

Eliminate blackheads and whiteheads

Blackheads are tiny, dark spots caused by a small plug in the opening of a follicle (pore) on the skin. Blackheads are also called open comedomes. A blackhead is a type of acne vulgaris. It is caused by excess oils that have accumulated in the sebaceous gland ’s duct. Blackheads are typically caused by excessive oil and makeup, which can facilitate the multiplication of the bacterium propionibacterium acnes, the predominant anaerobe of the normal skin flora. The substance found in these bumps mostly consists of keratin and modified sebum (an oily secretion of the sebaceous gland ), which darkens (resembling dirt) as it oxidizes.

If you suffer from blackheads or whiteheads and need to know which products are best. Look for non-comedogenic products - they are less likely to cause blackheads (called open comedones) or whiteheads (closed comedones). Most brands of make-up are non-comedogenic, which means they won’t clog your pores. If your skin is prone to acne or
especially sensitive, try to find products that are non-comedogenic, oil-free (water-based), hypoallergenic (unlikely to cause an allergic reaction) and fragrance free. It may be helpful to remove make-up before exercise, as the products can travel across the face through sweat and clog your pores. However, since no product is non-comedogenic for everybody, it’s a good idea to first test any new product on a small area of your own skin.

Blackheads are the slightly different sibling of pimples, and like pimples, squeezing them can be damaging. Composed of the same oil, or sebum, that contributes to the production of pimples, blackheads result from a building up of this oil in pores. The difference in appearance than that of a pimple is the result of the blackhead’s exposure to the air.
The oxidation (or darkening)  of the the oil causes the trademark black color of these blemishes.

While blackheads are more easily obscured by makeup, they can seem less offensive to the sufferer, and as a result, less damaging to squeeze. But squeezing is not good for blackheads. It can leave a permanent scar on skin and also leaves your skin open to infection. Comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) are caused by the densely packed skin cells. Comedones, commonly appear on the face and shoulders, but they may also develop on the trunk, arms, legs,
and buttocks. They are most common in teenagers but can occur at any age, even in infants.

Treatment for whiteheads and blackheads depends on the severity of the condition. Treatment may include lotions or gels placed on blemishes or sometimes entire areas of skin, such as the chest or back (topical medications). Oral medications, such as antibiotics, may be prescribed.

Causes of Blackheads

Blackheads are caused when excess skin oil, sebum and congesting toxins are expelled through your skin from the blood and lymph fluid that supplies your skin with nutrients. These congesting toxins combined with skin oil and sebum clogs your pores causing blackheads, whiteheads, and full blown acne. Dirt also plays a big role in developing skin blackheads. The dirt stored on the face or other parts of body help the bacteria to develop.

Symptoms of Blackheads

Blackheads and whiteheads are a combination of oils, sebum and cellular fragments that form firm to hard plugs within hair follicles. Blackheads are open to the skin’s surface and become darkened at the surface by exposure to oxygen (oxidation). They are called open comedones (or comedo, singular). Whiteheads are closed from the skin’s surface by
cellular debris at the follicle opening. Because they are closed from oxygen they do not oxidize or turn brown. They form a light or yellow-white lump and are called milia (or milium, singular). When bacteria is added to these plugs, the condition can lead to acne.

Treatment of of Blackheads

Mild cases of acne can be self-treated with over-the-counter topicals (applied to the skin) creams typically with benzoyl peroxide. Zinc Oxide is also a safe natural alternative to reduce infections. There are also a variety of different medications that your family physician might prescribe that come as creams, ointments, and pills. Some of the stronger medications for acne are not to be used if you are pregnant, so make sure you tell your doctor if this is a possibility. Most acne medications work by reducing the next “crop” of acne, so don’t get discouraged if the treatment does not work right away.

Home Remedy for Blackheads
1. In 3-4 cup boiled water, add 2 tsp of soda bicarbonate. Steam a towel with this. Thereafter, place the towel gently on your face. Do it for about 5-6 times. Make a paste by mixing 1 tsp curd and 1 tsp rice flour.  Apply the paste on the affected area. After some time, wash your face with cold water.

2. Take about 1 tsp of juice extracted from fresh coriander leaves and add ½ tsp of turmeric powder in it. Apply this mixture while going to bed. Wash your face the next morning with cold water.

3. Take a pinch of soft portion of glycerin soap and mix with a pinch of table salt. Apply this mixture on the blackheads. Do it for about a week and see the magical results.

4. Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzyl peroxide, etc. can be counter-productive to softening and dissolving blackheads and whiteheads as they can dehydrate dry, normal and combination skin

5. Make a paste by mixing 1 tsp limejuice and 1 tsp of finely powdered cinnamon. Apply it on the affected area before going to bed. Wash it off in the morning.
When looking over other strategies on how to remove blackheads, you want to make sure that you are not using your fingernails to squeeze. Your fingernails could be loaded with all kinds of bacteria, which could cause infections. If you do decide to squeeze, make sure you are properly cleaning and sterilizing your hands or using a tissue, to reduce the risk of infection.

Exercize caution. Squeezing a blackhead too much or too soon may lead to the rupturing of a blood vessel. Even though this is a rare occurrence, it can still happen. If you find this happening to you, do not continue to squeeze the blackhead because you may make it worse.