by Audrey-Anastasia Alleyne

Created on: March 22, 2009

It started with my lips. They were becoming increasingly discolored each day. The discoloration then spread to my face; around my nose and eyes, until my face started looking like a mask. I tried hiding the discoloration with powder foundation, but I was not very successful. How could I go to work for people to see my face like this? How could I endure being questioned? I did not know at the time, that this was a very common disorder, called rosacea. I had never had any acne problems at puberty.

At the time I became afflicted, I was going through a really stressful period of life; and I believe that was the cause of my condition. A visit to the dermatologist, confirmed that it was rosacea. I was given two different ointments as treatment; one for the lips and one for the face, along with antibiotics, and I was also told that I would get relief, but the condition could recur within a number of years. Recur it did; but I nipped it in the bud, the minute it started on my lips. The second occurrence was within four years of the first, and I believe that it was also triggered by a stressful situation. It's now been five years since my last visit to the dermatologist, and I'm hoping and praying that I don't experience this discomfort again.

I have met other people who have suffered from the condition, and most of them said that it was due to stressful situations at work; like dominating and controlling bosses, hostile coworkers etc. However, I have since learnt that spicy foods and alcohol can also trigger rosacea. It's mainly people in older to middle age who are afflicted with this chronic skin condition. However it mostly occurs in those who are burdened by severe emotional disturbances, like I was. Chronic alcoholism is also a trigger, and people with gastrointestinal problems, which cause a lack of stomach acid, are also victims.

Rosacea attacks the face. It is also called acne rosacea because of its similarity to the pimply outbreak of teenagers acne, however the disorder can strike middle aged people like myself, who never had any acne vulgaris problems at puberty. It produces a pronounced redness or flushed appearance. In addition, the skin may also break out in pimple-like blemishes with scaly, flaky dry patches.

When men are afflicted with this disease there is a big increase in oil gland activity in the pores of the nose which causes a thickening of the tissues at the end of the nose. Their facial appearance is even more hideous than that of women, because the end of the nose looks bulbous and lumpy and misshapen. This condition is called rhinophyma or medicalese. It is only plastic surgery to which they can resort to correct this disfigurement.

No-one likes to have an ugly face, so controlling rosacea is of utmost importance. Before turning to potent medications to treat severe cases of rosacea, all of which have a potential for unpleasant side effects; utilizing vitamins and minerals is a good idea. Niacin should be taken orally with care; it helps in clearing skin inflammation. Talk with your pharmacist about possible side effects. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine can also be taken orally and daily to improve the pimpling and flaking symptoms. Vitamin B2 is known to heal that disorder around the eyes which is called rosacea keratitis. B complex vitamins by muscular injections may benefit those who lack sufficient stomach acid to orally absorb them. The oral form of Vitamin A will also give relief to the unsightly flakes.

Sufferers, who abuse alcohol, should reduce their intake or eliminate it completely in order to improve the skin and eye symptoms. If rosacea attacks and medication is used immediately it suppresses each attack effectively.

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