rosacea blog

Rosacea and the workplace

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 | rosacea | 5 Comments

Anyone who has rosacea always dreads the first bathroom break at work, because it is in the workplace bathroom where you realize for the first time on any particular day, that your face looks really red. When you’re at home and look in the bathroom mirror, things are usually not so bad. Not so at work and in particular in the workplace bathroom: huge mirrors with the overhanging fluorescent lights make everyone look bad, but because of the greenish hue of the fluorescent light bulbs, the red in our face is being emphasized even more.

This can, of course, increase any feelings of anxiety you may have even further, so it’s important not to pay too much attention to what you see in the bathroom mirror at work. Since most workplaces have fluorescent lights (and are out of our control), there are a few things you can do to reduce the reddish appearance of your face.

First, what you wear will have an effect on how your face looks under fluorescent lighting. Wear dark neutral colors (black, gray, navy) and avoid anything green or red. At home, decide what clothes go best with your complexion and if you happen to have those energy-saving fluorescent bulbs, determine what of an effect the greenish hue has on your face.

Then, there are several good mineral (make-up) foundations that can cover up and reduce the redness of your face. I don’t think this is something that is solely reserved for women with rosacea. Men can benefit from this as well. Just perform a Google search on the term “mineral makeup rosacea green”, and do some research. Look for mineral makeup that does not have too many ingredients and is free of fillers, talc and parabens. Mineral makeup usually contains zinc oxide, which is a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient. So you are not just covering up reddish skin, you may actually reduce the inflammation and swelling in the process.

Rosacea may also be a factor of stress and anxiety when you are looking for a new job and have to go on an interview. Just keep what I mentioned above in mind and if you have the luxury of giving a presentation, just dim the lights a little bit. There are always many things during an interview that are totally out of our control, but if you have the choice of being interviewed in a room with no windows versus a room which has natural light, the choice is obvious. In the days before an interview, be sure to avoid to any rosacea food triggers and drink plenty of water.

Due to our increased activities and stress levels in the afternoon, our faces will often appear more red in the afternoon. It is always a good idea to allow yourself regular breaks. Anything will work, such as taking a short walk through the building, some breathing and stretching exercises in front of your desk and going to the water fountain.

More Reading

• rosacea and pregnancy – My husband and I have plans to start a family, we’re both in our early 30′s and I’m concerned that a change of hormones may worsen rosacea symptoms. There’re different ideas going around that rosacea may be related to the immune system, …
• How To Use Mineral Makeup To Alleviate Rosacea Symptoms & Benefits … – To find the best Rosacea makeup one must figure out those cosmetic ingredients that are healthy for their skin . The real cause of Rosacea is unknown but by. The rest is here: How To Use Mineral Makeup To Alleviate Rosacea Symptoms …

Tags: rosacea and work

How to deal with rosacea food triggers?

Monday, November 10th, 2008 | rosacea | 17 Comments

Rosacea can have many triggers, including heat, cold, stress, anxiety, embarrassment, certain beverages and of course certain food. While stress, anxiety and temperature can have an almost immediate effect on our facial flushing, it is a little harder to figure out what food ingredients trigger rosacea, in particular when you have been just diagnosed with rosacea.

In order to determine what food triggers aggravate your rosacea, you need to pay close attention to your diet and write down everything you eat for at least a week. Then, try to correlate increased facial redness with a particular food you ate the day before. You will then look for any improvements in your rosacea symptoms after you have eliminated the suspect food from your diet.

The list of potential rosacea food triggers can be extremely long and not all rosacea sufferers react the same. Frequently, rosacea sufferers have to avoid any aged foods that are high in histamine and tyramine (a breakdown product of the amino acid tyrosine). Foods such as chocolate, hot peppers, tomatoes, red (bell) peppers, raspberries, lettuce, certain cabbages etc. can often trigger rosacea flare-ups.

However, simply eliminating food ingredients will not always work. This is because many rosacea food triggers are “hidden”. What do I mean with “hidden”? For example, you may be sensitive to paprika. There are many food items that contain paprika, sometimes without it being mentioned on the ingredient label. This includes barbecue sauces, steak causes, certain chips etc.

Another example is citrus rind. You may not react to orange juice, but some brands of orange juice may contain large amounts of orange peel, which is a potential rosacea food trigger. The cheaper (store) brands often contain more orange peel.

Finally, there are some foods that increase the amount of nitric oxide (NO) in the blood, which acts as a vasodilator. Which foods can increase NO levels in our blood?

• Arginine-rich foods, such as nuts, chocolate, soy (tofu).
• Foods that are preserved or cured with nitrite or nitrates (cured meats for example)

If you know of some food item that is a rosacea trigger for you, feel free to share it with our readers and leave a comment.

Find out if our rosacea treatments could benefit your skin.

Tags: food, rosacea trigger

Top 10 Antioxidant Fruits and Nuts

Thursday, November 6th, 2008 | antioxidants | 12 Comments

Fruits and nuts are good sources of antioxidants and a number of exotic fruits have recently become very popular due to their high antioxidant content. Some people refer to these fruits as “superfoods” and are marketed aggressively to get the consumers’ attention.

If you must believe some of these marketers, each one of these exotic fruits has astronomical (ORAC) antioxidant values. For my list, I only used ORAC numbers that were either published in scientific journals or were available from publications by the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore, Maryland. The ORAC values listed here are micromoles of Trolox equivalents (TE is a vitamin E derivative) per gram.

The fact that a particular food has the highest levels of antioxidants, does not necessarily mean that that food offers the most health benefits. The bio-availability of each food is different and depends on how well it is being absorbed in our intestines, how it is processed by the liver and kidneys, and if it can cross the blood-brain barrier (for it to have a positive effect on the brain).

1. Acai (dried fruit) 1016/gram

Acai fruit (Euterpe oleraceae) has probably one of the highest antioxidant levels of any food, and is particularly effective against superoxide radicals. Because of this, acai has a very good effect on general health. It also has potential inhibiting activity against Cox-1 and Cox-2, and may therefore be helpful as a treatment for arthritis. Acai is used in many different drinks and foods. Personal favorites are “Rachel Yoghurt” and “Bossa Nova Acai drinks”.

2. Goji Berry (Wolfberry) 253/gram

Goji berry or wolfberry (Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense) belong to the nightshade family (potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes). Goji berries have a very high antioxidant activity and have been used in South East Asia for a long time. Compounds in goji berries increase nitric oxide levels in blood and could therefore be helpful to combat erectile dysfunction.

3. Mangosteen

The stem and roots of the Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) plant contain a number of compounds (xanthones) that have potentially anti-cancer properties. Many of these compounds are thought to inhibit the aromatase enzyme, an enzyme belonging to the Cytochrome P450 family that converts androgens (testosterone and similar) into estrogens. Mangosteen may also be beneficial to men over 40 who wish to increase their testosterone levels.

4. Noni

Noni (Morinda citrifolia) juice has been shown to have a protecting effect on the liver. It has a high antioxidant value and it has been shown to dilate blood vessels. For this reason it may not be suitable for use by rosacea sufferers.

5. Pecans 180 units/gram

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) trees are mainly found in the southern parts of the United States and some parts of Mexico. Pecan nuts have a buttery taste and can be eaten by itself or can be used in a variety of deserts (pecan pie). Research has suggested that the antioxidants in pecans can lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and that daily consumption of a handful of pecans may protect against heart disease.

6. Black Chokeberry 160 units/gram

Black chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa) contain high levels of dark pigments, mainly anthocyanins, which have antioxidant properties. Because of chokeberries’ high antioxidant level, chokeberries may be beneficial for a number of diseases, including heart disease, certain cancers, liver disease and chronic inflammation.

7. Elderberry 147 units/gram

The most common Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) produces black fruit when ripe. All parts of the plant except for the flowers and ripe fruit, are poisonous. Elderberry extract is rich in antioxidants and can be used to treat bronchitis and persistent coughs, since it is believed to act as an expectorant.

8. Walnuts 135 units/gram

Walnuts (Juglans regia) are high in antioxidants, ALA (an omega-3 fatty acid) and arginine. It has recently been shown that consumption of walnuts can protect against atherosclerosis by limiting the detrimental effect of high levels of unsaturated fats in peoples’ diet. Studies have also shown that walnut extract is able to keep beta-amyloid protein in a soluble form and preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine, both of which could delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

9. Pomegranate 105 units/gram

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is high in antioxidants and may be beneficial for cardiovascular health and high blood pressure. Pomegranate seed oil contains compounds that can inhibit estrogens and has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro.

10. Cranberries 96 units/gram

Cranberries have long been considered a “superfood”, containing high levels of antioxidants. Cranberry juice is beneficial for kidney and bladder health and is able to inhibit plaque formation (on teeth). A component of cranberry juice prevents the attachment of bacteria to the wall of the bladder and urethra.

Blueberries with an ORAC score of 65 units/gram, fell just outside the list, but have many health benefits as well.

Bon appetit!

Additional Reading

• Top 10 Superfoods for Spring « Moncler Jackets | Cheap Moncler Sale – Of the 50 foods highest in antioxidants, 13 were herbs and spices. One study found that oregano had 42 times more antioxidants than apples. Is it surprising that fresh herbs are so healthful? Not to me, on an instinctual level they …

Tags: antioxidants, food