Rosacea unfortunately is still largely a medical mystery, though there are a few hypothesis as to its cause. One theory is that the condition is genetic as it is quite common for several members within a family to have the condition. A second theory focuses on nutrition as food is can be a trigger for flare ups. A third hypothesis, is that rosacea is caused by an inflammatory condition of the blood vessels. Yet another theory suggests that the condition could be caused by mites that infest the skin.

Until there is a cure, lifestyle changes, knowing what your triggers are as well as using a cosmetic preparation or doctor prescribed medication designed to calm flare ups should they occur are the best ways to keep rosacea symptoms to a minimum. Lifestyle changes such as simplifying your skin care routine can be really beneficial. Over exfoliating can seriously irritate the skin encouraging flare ups! Limit exfoliation to mild chemical exfoliants and try to avoid exfoliators with scrubbies or brushes. Cleansers should never leave the skin feeling pulled tight like plastic wrap. Look for calming ingredients such as green tea, French rose oil, Frankincense, and licorice. Try to avoid chemical irritants in cosmetics, hair sprays and body sprays. Make sure to protect your skin during temperature extremes. Wearing a titanium dioxide or zinc oxide based sunscreen with a minimum protection factor spf 30 will protect the skin without being overly irritating during warm weather, and a soft fleece balaclava or scarf covering the face will offer sufficient protection during cooler temps. Finally, keep a food journal. Track what you’re eating and when you have flare ups to determine what foods might be a trigger for you. Common food triggers are tomato’s, red wine, caffeine, and spicy foods.

You can find more information about rosacea, and rosacea support groups at rosecea.org and www.rosacea-support.org.

References

http://www.newswise.com/articles/skin-care-tips-to-keep-rosacea-flares-at-bay

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rosacea/DS00308

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-rosacea-basics

http://rosacea.org/

http://rosacea-support.org/

Support Groups

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/rosacea-diet-users-support-group/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/rosacea-support/

What exactly is rosacea? Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects millions of people all over the world. While the condition typically expresses itself as redness of the forehead, cheeks or chin, it can also present itself in the eyes, on the chest, neck, back and scalp. Symptoms usually first appear at around 30 years of age and can vary widely from person to person. Ethnicity is not a factor as the condition affects both light and dark skins, although fairer skin that blushes easily seem to be more at risk. Though ethnicity is not a factor, gender seems to be. More women than men are afflicted with the condition, while men appear to have more severe symptoms.

Rosacea begins as a blushing typically, as we stated before, on the forehead, cheeks or chin and may fade with time. Over time the redness may become more prominent and the development of  pustules, small red solid bumps and small blood vessels may appear. Because of the small bumps and pustules, rosacea has often been confused with acne, but it is very important to note that they are actually two completely different separate conditions. Some people also complain of stinging sensations during flare ups.

The condition is progressive. Over time the skin can thicken, the eyes (if affected) can appear bloodshot and feel irritated, and in extreme cases the nose may become swollen and deformed.

Stay tuned for the next part of our Rosacea Awareness Month series as we discuss the four subgroups of rosacea, its causes and triggers.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-rosacea-basics

http://rosacea.org/patients/allaboutrosacea.php

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rosacea/DS00308

First off, let me say how excited I am about this blog post because it all started with a question from one of you!

                                     “Dear Hair & Body Works,

                                      I was wondering if you had any advice in covering my dark circles

                                      under my eye. Sometimes foundation in that area isn’t enough.

                                                                                                                              S.S.”

Great question! Before we talk about how to deal with dark under eye circles, we should first talk about some of the things that can cause this situation.

Causes

1. Genetics

Unfortunately, you can’t escape genetics. Irregularities in pigmentation, loose under eye skin and larger than average fat pads beneath the eyes can all be predetermined by genetics.

2. Allergies / Nasal Congestion

An allergic reaction can cause irritation of the eyes and inflammation of the skin, sinuses and airways resulting in puffiness and discoloration beneath the eyes. Nasal congestion can dilate and darken the veins that drain from the eyes to the nose.

3. Lack of sleep (Poor sleeping habits) / Smoking & alcohol consumption / Going to bed with makeup on

Poor lifestyle habits can cause the skin to age prematurely. Sleeping in makeup can irritate the delicate skin of the eye, causing fluids to pool in the area. Excessive alcohol consumption causes dehydration, weakening the skin around the eye potentially causing the skin to sink in like a pouch.

4. Rubbing your eyes / Sleeping on your side

If you’re a side sleeper and are starting to notice bags underneath your eyes, gravity could be to blame. Gravity encourages fluids to pool, especially on the side you normally sleep on.

5. Sun exposure

Sun exposure causes the body to produce more melanin, exaggerating pigmentation irregularities

*6. Thinning skin and common changes to facial features due to aging

In the last couple of years, research has discovered that in addition to our skin losing its firmness and elasticity, our skulls continue to change shape as we age. A combination of the skin thinning and the ocular cavity continuing to enlarge can present itself as darkness under the eyes.

Solutions

Before we talk about some of the possible solutions, I would like to address a cosmetic procedure that was once considered a solution but is quickly proving to be very dangerous. Usage of cosmetic fillers in the areas between the eyebrows, the smile lines and to correct under eye hollows can result in severe pain and permanent blindness due to a blockage of the retinal artery. Scary!

Happily there are safer solutions to try. The least expensive and easiest to try would be making lifestyle changes. If you have a habit of rubbing your eyes, try resisting the urge. Not getting enough sleep? Try to get to bed one hour earlier and aim to get 6-8 hours of sleep each night. Remember to take your makeup off every night and try to kick the nicotine habit. If you’re a heavy drinker try alternating one 8 ounce glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you drink. Hopefully the excess water will fill you up making you want that next drink less, but remember if drinking really is a problem seek help. All of you side sleepers can try sleeping on your back with an extra pillow.

Some products you can try for under eye darkness are vitamin K creams or caffeinated under eye rollers. Vitamin K works to strengthen blood vessels and helps the blood to clot which can reduce the appearance of leaking blood vessels or pooling fluids around the eye. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor. Under eye roller ball treatments use caffeine to tighten and shrink the blood vessels to reduce the appearance of under eye discoloration. Another surprising vasoconstrictor remedy is hemorrhoid cream. Hemorrhoid creams use witch hazel, a naturally occurring vasoconstrictor. One contraindication to using hemorrhoid cream under the eye is if the cream has a petroleum base. The petroleum base will feel heavy on the skin and can leave the skin feeling oily and looking shiny. Worse, for oilier skin, the petroleum can clog the pores of the upper cheeks.

If it turns out that your under eye darkness is due to irregular pigmentation make sure to use a sunscreen with an spf of 30. Remember to reapply every 20 minutes if you’re perspiring or swimming and when possible try to wear a hat to shade your face from the sun to prevent the irregularity from becoming more prominent.

Hope that answers your question about under eye dark circles. Thank you to our guest for sending in her question and we’d love to hear from you too! Have a question about health or beauty? You can reach us by clicking this link to the Contact page or contact us through the Hair & Body Works Facebook page.

References

http://beautyhigh.com/research-shows-cosmetic-injections-blindness/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22456369

http://www.drosman.com/blog/liposuction-dermatology-los-angeles/how-our-skull-changes-with-age-makes-us-look-older/

http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/features/banish-the-bags-under-your-eyes

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dark-circles-under-eyes/MY00346/DSECTION=causes

http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/features/banish-the-bags-under-your-eyes

http://www.ia-houston.com/_blog/Dr_Cain’s_Blog/post/Vitamin_K_Shown_Effective_at_Treating_Under-Eye_Circles/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/188050-how-to-get-rid-of-dark-undereye-circles-naturally/

http://www.truthinaging.com/eyes/do-eye-rollers-work

So what exactly is eczema? Well it gets a little confusing. Why so confusing you ask? The word Eczema is often loosely used to describe any type of itchy rashes. When a dermatologist refers to eczema the doctor is referring to a disease called Atopic Dermatitis that can cover the whole body, but typically affects the elbows, back of the knees and the face. Atopic Dermatitis is a chronic condition characterized by skin that is red and inflamed, cracking and peeling, potentially having weeping pustules and is accompanied by severe itching. Generally, families challenged with atopic conditions also have a family history of asthma and hay fever. The condition appears to be genetic. A child having one parent with an atopic condition has a one in four chance of developing an atopic condition themselves. If both parents have an atopic condition, the chance of incidence goes up to one in two that the child will develop an atopic condition.

Complications
Due to scratching, the skin can be easily broken causing open sores which can quickly become infected as people with Atopic Dermatitis have high amounts of staph naturally on their skin. Prolonged scratching may increase the intensity of the itching which can possibly lead to the skin becoming raw, thick and leathery _ a condition called Neurodermatitis. Permanent scarring and changes to the skin’s color can also occur due to excessive scratching. In more serious conditions the eyes can also be affected.

Prevention
All is not lost. Millions of people live happy lives with minimal flare ups. The key is learning what triggers your flare ups. Flare ups can be caused by irritants such as fragrances, acidic foods or tobacco smoke, emotional stress, allergens, heat and sweating. Also be careful not to dry out your skin. Try bathing less frequently and when you do, use warm instead of hot water.Also limit baths and showers to 15-20 minutes. Try using a bath oil to seal the moisture in your skin and be sure to use a heavy moisturizer daily. For mild flare ups an over the counter hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion can help with the itching. Most importantly, work with your health care professional to create a plan that works for you.
For more information regarding Eczema, please follow the links below:

Mayo Clinic_Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

National Eczema Association