Discomfort from Rosacea or Eczema?
Eczema is the name given to a group of conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed or irritated.
And there are many different types of eczema as follows:
- Atopic dermatitis which is the most likely often starting when we are children with a link to asthma and hay fever. This type often becomes milder or disappears altogether. Symptoms appear as Itchy skin which turns red, burns and stings; the appearance of itchy bumps called hives on the skin; the appearance of fluid-filled blisters that may ooze and crust over and In time, the skin may thicken and feel scaly or leathery.
- Dyshidrotic eczema which can lead to small blisters forming on the hands and feet and is more common in women than in men. Symptoms include: fluid-filled blisters form on the fingers, toes, palms and soles of the feet that may itch or hurt while the affected skin can scale, crack and flake.
- Hand eczema as the name suggests affects the hands and is more likely when the hands are in constant contact with various chemicals. The hands become red, itchy and dry; going on to form cracks or blisters.
- Neurodermatitis is similar to atopic dermatitis causing thick, scaly patches to appear on the skin with these symptoms: thick, scaly patches that form on the arms, legs, back of the neck, scalp, soles of the feet, back of the hands or even the genitals; they can be very itchy particularly when relaxing or sleeping and those same patches can bleed and become infected. Neurodermatitis often appears in those who have other forms of eczema or psoriasis.
- Nummular eczema results in round, coin-shaped spots on the skin, making it very different to other eczemas. Itching is very evident and this type of eczema may be triggered by insect bites, an allergic reaction to metals or chemicals, dry skin or already suffering from another type of eczema.
- Seborrheic eczema or dermatitis and is a common skin condition caused by a change in the sebum content (oil production) of the skin, rather than too much oil as many might think. It causes the skin on the scalp to become red and scaly and can also cause dandruff and small pustules. The condition is more likely to occur in males.
How can you deal with eczema symptoms?
Our H-Eczema Formula works to
- Provide quick relief from itching and discomfort
- Decrease the severity and frequency of symptoms
- Soothe the skin
The Formula helps to reduce eczema outbreaks while assisting in smoothing, re-texturing and moisturizing the skin. It provides fast relief from symptoms such as itching and dryness or the discomfort of weeping eczema when applied three times a day to the affected area or areas and, with ongoing use, will help reduce outbreaks and control any skin irritation.
And then there is rosacea...
Rosacea is another skin condition that can cause considerable discomfort with redness, bumps, flushing or noticeable blood vessels, usually towards the center of your face. It is sometimes mistaken for acne and other skin disorders.
Because rosacea affects the face and your appearance, it can make you self-conscious, embarrassed and perhaps anxious, leading to a possible disruption to your social and working life.
What causes the redness in rosacea and how to know the symptoms?
The symptoms of rosacea can vary from person to person.
- Rosacea usually starts with flushing on your forehead, nose and cheeks. Over time (which can be a matter of months or even years) this flushing can change to a darker shade of red.
- Bumps and spots can also develop. These can be pimple-like eruptions.
- There may be small blood vessels visible.
- The skin can become extra sensitive with a burning, stinging or itching sensation. This sensitivity can become more noticeable in sunlight or when you become overheated.
- The symptoms of rosacea can come in waves with the redness flaring up for a period of time before diminishing again.
- Unfortunately, rosacea can also cause problems around your eyes, particularly affecting the eyelids so that they become red, itchy and sore.
Unfortunately, there are sometimes more complicated and severe symptoms of rosacea.
- The skin of the nose can thicken and look red and bumpy. This particular effect is known as rhinophyma. However, it is not so likely in women.
- When more severe conjunctivitis and inflammation of your eyelids occurs, it can feel as if you have grit in your eyes.
- In very rare cases, rosacea can affect the eye itself.
There are a number of triggers that can make rosacea worse for some people, but they are not the actual cause of the condition itself...
Triggers can make the symptoms worse or even bring on a flareup
- Sunlight
- Stress
- Alcohol
- Over exertion when exercising
- Hot and cold temperatures
- Spicy food
What are the different stages of Rosacea?
PRE-ROSACEA – This first stage is where the main symptom is frequent flushing that can affect the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. The skin can become so sensitive that a burning sensation may occur when cosmetics or creams are applied. The face may even become swollen. Triggers are a strong factor - and while these vary from person to person they can be emotional, chemical, environmental or even food related. In time the tendency to flush or blush easily will progress to a more persistent redness in the central portion of the face, particularly the nose. This redness results from the dilation of blood vessels close to your skin’s surface. By this stage, many will start to feel self-conscious so you can add depression, low self-esteem and embarrassment to the problem.
VASCULAR ROSACEA - This second stage is when small blood vessels on the nose and cheeks swell and become visible, showing through the skin as small red lines. The skin will feel warm and look puffy. The skin may become even more sensitive and the rosacea can be accompanied by oily skin and dandruff. Flushing and redness become persistent and then permanent.
INFLAMMATORY ROSACEA - The third stage is where, in addition to the redness, small, red bumps or even bumps containing pus may appear and persist. Nodules in the skin may become painful. This can spread across the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin. In severe and rare cases, the oil glands or sebaceous glands in the nose, and even sometimes the cheeks, become enlarged resulting in a build-up of tissue on and around the nose. This complication is more likely in men and the condition can develop very slowly over a period of years so that eventually the nose becomes red, enlarged and bulbous. Thick bumps may also develop on the lower half of the nose and nearby cheeks.
OCULAR ROSACEA - The final stage is one which can be classed as a serious condition that needs to be brought quickly under control as, in severe cases, it could lead to the loss of vision. The symptoms (in conjunction with rosacea) are irritation in the eyes, light sensitivity, a decrease in visual ability and an obvious inflammation of the lids or conjunctivitis. With this development, a sufferer would need to see an ophthalmologist quickly. The main problem with ocular rosacea is the possibility of a secondary infection. A dry environment plus ocular rosacea provides a good breeding ground for bacteria including staphylococci.
Although there is no overnight cure for rosacea, it can be tackled and even controlled.
How can rosacea be tackled and controlled?
- Protect your face from the sun in summer or the cold in winter
- Avoid touching or rubbing the skin on your face
- If using a topical medication, apply any moisturizer once the medication has dried
- Use skin products that are labelled noncomedogenic
- Keep your skin clean by using a daily gentle cleanser twice a day with soothing and natural ingredients, being careful not to over wash your skin.
- After cleaning, moisturize your skin by using a natural moisturizer, with ingredients that are helpful to your sensitive skin, night and day.
- Remember that it is best to stay cool at all times when you have rosacea so don't get overheated if you are exercising - and steer clear of saunas. Coolness is key to rosacea care.
- Use H-Rosacea Formula which is an all-natural product made from pure essential oils that is applied directly to the rosacea condition three times a day to help treat the symptoms of rosacea.
Sources
Rosacea. (n.d.).aad.org/public/diseases/acne-and-rosacea/rosacea. (Accessed, 2 August 2021).
Weiss E, et al. (2017). Diet and rosacea: The role of dietary change in the management of rosacea. DOI:
10.5826/dpc.0704a08
Written by Jane Chitty
Jane writes for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions as well as a range of beauty products. Apart from writing about those various conditions, she also covers general health, environmental and other subjects of interest. She has lived in Kenya as well as Cape Town, South Africa and spent time in San Diego, USA. She now lives in Somerset, England with regular visits from her far-flung children and grandchildren. She is a keen gardener and enjoys growing fresh fruit and vegetables with her husband on their joint allotment. As a result, there is something available to use in the kitchen virtually all year round. Her regular posts can be found on our blog.