Feverfew May Be A Useful Treatment For Rosacea

One of the primary active components of feverfew, parthenolide, inhibits serotonin release from platelets. Feverfew inhibits 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase, resulting in a reduction in human blood platelet aggregation. In a recent study by Martin and associates, 45 days of treatment with 1% feverfew PFE (parthenolide-free extract) - Aveeno Daily Moisturizer Ultracalming, improved mild inflammatory acne by inhibiting the release of inflammatory markers from activated lymphocytes and reducing neutrophil chemotaxis. It is these immunomodulating properties that suggest feverfew PFE[TM] may be a useful treatment for rosacea.

Another Look At Rosacea Makeup

How Does Rosacea-Ltd Work?

How does Rosacea-Ltd work in the treatment of rosacea?
The Four Mechanisms of Action by which the primary ROSACEA LTD III ingredients of sulfur and zinc work are as follows:
(1) Rosacea Ltd is anti-inflammatory, thereby reducing redness (better than antibiotics which your body becomes immune to after 3-5 months).
(2) Rosacea Ltd is a vascular constrictor, so it reduces the size of the capillaries that cause redness and blushing (on which antibiotics have never had an effect).
(3) Rosacea Ltd dehydrates bacterial cells.
(4) Rosacea-Ltd III has a pH of approximately 7 (neutral). Many oral and topical treatments for rosacea are very acidic, which often makes for a continual problem for many rosacea sufferers and especially so in pregnancy and breast feeding.

The Goal Of Effective Rosacea Treatment

The goal of a treatment for any condition is to “first do no harm”; therefore we recommend the following products which we have found to meet these criteria as effective treatments for rosacea.
For the cleansing of the skin, we have found that Cetaphil “moisturizing gentle cleansing bar for dry sensitive skin” is the cleanser that most thoroughly cleans to remove dirt, oil, and any topical products that may have been applied to the skin. Anything left for too long on the skin can clog the pores causing acne, pimples, etc… Be careful to choose the correct bar as some of the bars and the liquid cleanser may contain either harsh ingredients or alcohol which can further irritate the skin and increase redness. Even if the skin is oily, this is still the best choice as it will be the most effective in removing the excess oil from the skin. Cetaphil is available most pharmacy or drug stores.
For treatment of pimples or papules, an oral antibiotic can be effective, however keep in mind that bacteria become resistant to the antibiotic within a very short time and loose effectiveness. Antibiotics will not treat redness and may actually increase the redness if exposed to the sun. While taking antibiotics, remember to keep the body well-hydrated by drinking a minimum of 10 – 12 glasses of water each day. For an oral antibiotic you will need to contact your personal physician or medical practitioner.
Should you find that a topical antibiotic is needed, we suggest Noritate (a Metronidazole product) as the best choice. This is available by prescription in most countries.
Noritate™ is a treatment for rosacea which works due to the anti-inflammatory action of Metronidazole (an antibiotic) which is its active ingredient. Noritate is meant to help to reduce the spots and redness of rosacea through its anti-inflammatory action. It, therefore, may help to control, but not cure, rosacea.
Metronidazole is also the active ingredient in Rozex gel, Metrocream, Metrogel, and Metrolotion but Noritate is less irritating. It gets its name from non-irritating, i.e. No-irritate -Noritate.
Another safe, effective topical treatment for rosacea is Rosacea-Ltd III. The non-irritating, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory properties of its ingredients make it an excellent overall medication in the treatment of the redness, inflammation, and papules which occur with rosacea. The tan colored disk can be used effectively over and around the eye area to treat ocular rosacea. Rosacea-Ltd III is completely safe for use by pregnant or nursing women. Rosacea-Ltd III is currently available online at www.rosacea-ltd.com.
For drier skin conditions, Jojoba Oil (100% pure) is an excellent choice. This oil is the most similar to the natural restorative oil produced by the skin’s own sebaceous glands in the dermal layers of the skin. For this reason it is easily absorbed into the skin. Jojoba Oil is non-allergenic and will not clog the pores. Jojoba Oil is available at most health or nutrition stores.
Another good moisturizer is Vita-Oil for Delicate Skin by Linda Sy. It is a light; rapidly absorbed oil containing esters of vitamins A, C & D. Vita-oil is for those with sensitive, easily irritated skin. Unscented. Vita-oil is available online at www.lindasy.com.
An effective sunscreen is ZincO Cream, SPF 20 (tinted) by Linda Sy is the latest product development in the Linda Sy Skin Care line. It is a flesh-tinted cream, specifically developed for ultra-sensitive facial skin. ZincO Cream is available online at www.lindasy.com.
Physical sunscreen containing microfine zinc oxide that shields the facial skin from harmful UVB and UVA (both short & long wave) rays. -Protective barrier that soothes sensitive skin while protecting against wind, sun, cold, and heat (prevents skin from overheating).
ZincO is a physical sunscreen containing microfine zinc oxide that shields the facial skin from harmful UVB and UVA (both short & long wave) rays. It contains a protective barrier that soothes sensitive skin while protecting against wind, sun, cold, and heat (prevents skin from overheating).
Zinc-O gives facial skin a healthy tone while significantly diminishing redness and blemishes. This product washes off easily without the need for a harsh cleansing or rubbing.
Controlling rosacea is possible through positive lifestyle changes and avoiding the use of topical products which are damaging or irritating to the skin. As always with rosacea, “Less is More”.

Acne Treatments May Aggrevate Rosacea

Rosacea can result from abuse to the skin caused by products and treatments that have been applied to the skin the treatment of other skin conditions such as acne.
As adults when we get a pimple we tend to treat it the same way we did as teenagers – our old acne zit cream or lotion packed with high concentrations of benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and sometimes even topical vitamin A products. The only problem is our adult skin doesn’t respond the same way to these products as out teenage skin did. The result is red blotchy areas, more breakouts and increased skin sensitivity.
In trying to control this, we apply even more and stronger treatments to our skin, but instead of seeing an improvement, we actually see more damage and skin-related issues. To examine each of these traditional acne treatments more closely, we need to first examine what it is that we are actually applying to our skin.

What exactly is benzoyl peroxide?
Benzoyl peroxide is an oxygen-releasing chemical that causes drying, peeling and antibacterial action on the skin. It is the #1 topical treatment for acne lesions. The release of oxygen is important to combat the anaerobic bacteria present in the acne-affected follicles. The peeling and drying effects peel the acne pustules (vesicles filled with pus) and open up the comedones (non-inflammatory acne lesions, such as black heads or white heads). Benzoyl peroxide is absorbed in the skin where it is metabolized to benzoic acid and then excreted as benzoate in the urine. Side effects consist mainly of skin irritation including burning, blistering, crusting, itching, severe redness, and skin rash. Use of benzoyl peroxide for adult acne can often lead to a more serious skin condition called rosacea.
Rosacea is defined as a hereditary; chronic (long term) skin disorder that most often affects the nose, forehead, cheekbones, and chin. Groups of tiny micro vessels (arterioles, capillaries, and venules) close to the surface of the skin become dilated, resulting in blotchy red areas with small papules (a small, red solid elevated inflammatory skin lesion without pus, that is minor when the size is of a small measles lesion, moderate when about the size of a pencil eraser, and severe when the papule is the size of a small currency coin or the tip of the little finger) and pustules (pus-filled inflammatory bumps). The redness can come and go, but eventually it may become permanent.
Benzoyl peroxide based products seem to flood the market in acne treatment options. But how safe is benzoyl peroxide? The International Rosacea Foundation mentions these precautions when using benzoyl peroxide based products: Do not use this medicine in or around the eyes or lips, or inside the nose, or on sensitive areas of the neck. Spread the medicine away from these areas when applying. If the medicine gets on these areas, wash with water at once. Do not apply this medicine to wind burned or sunburned skin or on open wounds, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is especially important to avoid using the following skin products on the same area as benzoyl peroxide:
Any other topical acne product or skin product containing a peeling agent (such as resorcinol, salicylic acid, sulfur, or tretinoin);
Hair products that are irritating, such as permanents or hair removal products;
Skin products that cause sensitivity to the sun, such as those containing lime or spices;
Skin products containing a large amount of alcohol, such as astringents, shaving creams, or after-shave lotions;
or Skin products that are too drying or abrasive, such as some cosmetics, soaps, or skin cleansers.
This medicine may bleach hair or colored fabrics.

Salicylic Acid is another common ingredient in many acne products. Commonly known as aspirin, salicylic acid is also used for wart removal. Salicylic acid removes the outer layer of skin and is toxic in large amounts. Salicylic acid can irritate or damage healthy skin surrounding the application site. On rare occasions, salicylic acid treatment causes scarring. Retinols or Vitamin A based products act as a chemical peeling agent which helps the skin to renew itself more rapidly. By increasing the rate of turnover of the skin, it reduces pimple and blackhead formation. It is commonly used to treat acne as well as to treat fine wrinkling. Topical vitamin A has a number of common side effects--such as burning, redness, itching, peeling, and stinging; but it is very effective at increasing the shedding of coenocytes, the cells of the topmost layer of the epidermis, contributing to smoother-feeling skin. It also reduces pigmentation and more evenly distributes pigment in the epidermis, resulting in the improvement of mottled hyper pigmentation. This really limits your ability to use these products as part of your daily skin care regimen.

Is there a better way to treat pimples without the resulting dryness, redness, flaking and irritation to the skin?
Many have found the use of zinc to be effective for acne. Topically applied zinc has been used for decades by various medical physicians for the treatment of inflammatory acne. They have used zinc either as the primary ingredient or in conjunction with other anti-acne medications. Currently, zinc is found in several different active forms in hundreds of over-the-counter skin care products and anti-acne medications. Topically applied zinc has been shown to have a potent anti-septic effect. More specifically, evidence suggests that zinc has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal actions, as well as mild anti-inflammatory actions.