Two of the most common skin conditions are Acne and Rosacea.  I have gathered some very good information on Acne and Rosacea to share with you in hopes that the information will help you or someone you know who suffers from the conditions.  Dana Anderson Skin Care offers various treatments and professional products that will help assist in the prevention & maintenance of these stubborn but manageable skin conditions.  Please call to schedule an appointment to find out more about what Dana Anderson Skin Care can do for you!

Rosacea

Rosacea is a common, yet often misunderstood, inflammatory skin disease that may cause facial redness, sensitive skin, burning, stinging, swelling, papules, pustules, broken red capillary veins, red gritty eyes, and in more advanced cases, a disfiguring bulbous nose. Often misdiagnosed as adult acne, allergy or eczema, Rosacea, if left untreated, tends to worsen over time. Men and women of all ages can be affected, with over 45 million estimated sufferers of Rosacea worldwide.

While there are many theories, the underlying causes have not been scientifically proven. Many believe it may be a vascular disorder because of its association with flushing, redness and visible blood vessels or perhaps it is aggravated by the nervous system since Rosacea is often triggered by emotional stress. It could even be caused by the presence of a microscopic mite called Demodex Folliculorum, a normal inhabitant of human skin where it consumes cast-off cells but has been found to be substantially more numerous in Rosacea patients.

Common triggers for Rosacea and Sensitive Skin include sun exposure, emotional stress, wind and cold weather, heavy exercise, excessive alcohol consumption, and certain skin care products.

Understand the stages of Rosacea for
early identification and optimum treatment

First Stage of Rosacea: Frequent blushes or flushes, skin that becomes irritated by topical creams, lotions, and other skin products that contain irritating ingredients such as dyes, fragrances, and certain preservatives (also indicative of a sensitive skin that is not prone to Rosacea).

Second Stage of Rosacea: Redness tends to become ruddier and more permanent. Dilated blood vessels (tegangiectasia) may appear and papules and pustules begin to form. Certain areas of the skin may take on a “baggy” appearance from swelling.

Third Stage of Rosacea: Deep persistent redness and many dilated veins, especially around the nose. An early sign of the third stage is fibroplasias (growth of excessive tissue) that can produce enlarged pores. Also referred to as Rhinophyma an is usually treated with surgery. The excess tissue can be carefully removed with a scalpel, laser, or through electrosurgery. Dermabrasion, a surgical method that smoothes the top layer of the skin, will help improve the look of the scar tissue. W.C. Fields trademark nose is a classic example of this stage of Rosacea.

While there is no cure for Rosacea, its detrimental effects to appearance and self-esteem may be controlled with proper skin care.

Treatment Begins With You
Ease Rosacea Symptoms with These Simple Steps

-back to top-

Acne

Acne is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by clogged pores, blackheads, and pimples. The oil glands, or sebaceous glands, are connected to hair follicles and release a substance known as sebum that lubricates hair and skin. Usually, sebum travels up the hair follicle and out onto your skin. But when the sebaceous glands produce too much oil and combine with dead skin cells, the follicles become blocked and inflamed. The nose, forehead, cheeks, chin, back, and trunk are the areas acne most often affects. Between 17 - 45 million people have acne, making it the most common skin disease in the United States. While it tends to last longer in women, men are more likely to get acne and tend to have more severe cases. Acne is most common in adolescents, and it generally disappears by age 30. Although it is not a serious health threat, severe acne can be painful and may cause permanent scarring, which can be upsetting for people who suffer from the condition.

Types of Acne Lesions

Lesions can cause scars ranging from small, depressed pits to large elevated blemishes, depending on the severity of the acne and the person's skin type.

Acne is caused by the combination of too much sebum and a buildup of dead skin cells, but no one knows what trigger the overproduction of sebum. During adolescence, rising hormone levels are thought to be a factor. The increased sebum blocks hair follicles, and small bacteria-filled cysts called comedones form. If these comedones do not rupture, they develop into whiteheads or blackheads. When comedones rupture, the inflammation can spread into the surrounding area. Papules, pustules, cysts, and nodules are types of inflammatory lesions.

The following may cause or worsen acne:

Retinoids and Acne
Retinoids (tretinoin or Retin-A, adapalene or Differin, and tazarotene or Tazorac) -- are medications derived from vitamin A that work by unclogging pores and reducing inflammation. Side effects may include redness, peeling, and photosensitivity (high risk of sunburn). Most retinoids are applied at night and should not be applied at the same time as benzoyl peroxide (with the exception of adapalene). Pregnant women should avoid all retinoids (those either taken by mouth or applied to the skin), isotretinoin, and the antibiotics tetracycline, minocycline, and doxycycline because they can be harmful to the fetus. The antibiotic erythromycin (in both forms applied to the skin and taken by mouth) is safe to use during pregnancy.

Your doctor may prescribe oral (taken by mouth) antibiotics either alone or in addition to topical medications for moderate-to-severe acne. For those with severe, inflammatory acne that does not improve with other medications, an oral retinoid called isotretinoin may be prescribed.

Some women may be prescribed birth control pills that seem to reduce acne.

Surgery or other procedures can help improve the appearance of skin scarred by acne. Chemical peeling (where a chemical solution is applied to the skin) can reduce minor scars, while dermabrasion (a procedure that uses a rapidly rotating brush to remove the top layers of skin) can help more severe scarring. Laser resurfacing uses pulses of light to remove the top layer of skin and reduce scarring.

Although some people with acne report that certain drinks and foods (particularly nuts) make their symptoms worse, there is no scientific evidence that any food (even chocolate) affects acne. It is possible that food allergies may play a role in adult acne, and people may want to avoid foods that appear to aggravate their symptoms. Some doctors may suggest a low glycemic diet, which helps keep blood sugar stable and under control.

Herbs and Acne

Tea tree oil ( Melaleuca alternafolia, 5% gel) -- Applied topically, tea tree oil may help reduce bacteria on the skin, lessening inflammation and improving symptoms. One study compared the effectiveness of tea tree oil gel with benzoyl peroxide lotion in 119 people with mild-to-moderate acne. People in both groups improved, and the people using tea tree oil reported less side effects (including stinging, itching, burning, and dryness) than those using benzoyl peroxide.

Guggul ( Commiphora mukul, dose equivalent to 25 mg guggulsterones or about 500 mg of guggul two times per day) -- In one study, taking guggul orally had the same effect as taking tetracycline. Guggul should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women. Guggul may have estrogen-like effects, and should not be taken by anyone with a history or family history of hormone-related cancers, including prostate cancer and breast or ovarian cancer. In addition, the herb may interact with anticoagulants (blood-thinning medications), tamoxifen, and birth control pills containing estrogen, as well as herbs that have estrogen-like effects (such as black cohosh, licorice, soy, and others). People who take these herbs or drugs should not take guggul.

Ayurvedic medicine -- Ayurvedic medicine may help improve symptoms, although further studies are needed. In one study, a combination of ginger (zingiber officinale) , Holarrhena antidysenterica, and Embelia ribes reduced the number of inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions. In another study, combined oral and topical use of Aloe barbadensis, Azardirachta indica , turmeric (Curcuma longa), Hemidesmus indicus, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia arjuna , and ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera ) also reduced the number of lesions.

There have been few studies examining the effectiveness of specific homeopathic remedies. Professional homeopaths, however, may recommend one or more of the following treatments for acne based on their knowledge and clinical experience. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's constitutional type. In homeopathic terms, a person's constitution is his or her physical, emotional, and intellectual makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate remedy for a particular individual.

-back to top-