drnase
23rd June 2005, 02:50 AM
Just pertaining to rosacea:
1. Modest exposure to sunlight with a low SPF (8 to 15 SPF) after 3 PM is good for rosacea as long as there is no major flushing during or after. Sunlight is the single best way to build a thicker, stronger epidermis. So, we are caught in a catch-22 sometimes. Stay out of the sun to avoid the trigger, but this does not allow our epidermis to thicken and be a better protective barrier to the sun and heat as the sun progresses. Every rosacea sufferer is unique in their response. Just know that if done wisely (no sunburns and always some degree of protection even an SPF of 4) should actually help deal with summer sun and heat when you are forced to do afternoon errands or outdoor activities. We dont even need to talk about skin cancer or Vitamin D or any of that stuff. It is about doubling the thickness of our thin epidermal lining so that the blood vessels and nerves are placed behind a stronger fortress.
2. The same thing applies to enviornmental influences such as wind and cold. A little bit of steady exposure tells the body to fortify the epidermis and you gain more protection....... but once again in moderation. Very modest.
3. DOES SUN CAUSE ROSACEA?
Sun damage plays a role in many rosacea sufferers; however, the overall importance of sun damage in causing rosacea is still unclear. There are currently three schools of thought on the importance of sunlight in the development of rosacea: (1) Sunlight is the sole cause of rosacea, (2) Sunlight does not cause rosacea, but is important in making rosacea symptoms worse, and (3) Sunlight has very little effect on any part of rosacea.
Over the last three decades, most medical textbooks suggested that rosacea was caused by sun damage because several well-known dermatologists found evidence of solar elastosis in their rosacea patients. Due to the great respect that these dermatologists had earned over the years, this speculation was considered to be fact. Well, this speculation is now known to be incorrect – rosacea is not primarily due to sun damage.
The leading medical authorities now feel that #2 is the most probable – i.e., sunlight does not cause rosacea, but UV rays can cause significant damage to facial blood vessels and skin, making rosacea symptoms much worse. Below are some medical references on this important subject:
• In the article, “The Role of Sunshine in Rosacea”, medical experts conclude that sun damage was not needed for the development of rosacea. (203) These experts did warn though, that sun damage to facial blood vessels can make rosacea symptoms much worse.
• Dr. Soybe indicates that while sun may aggravate rosacea in some patients, it is not the sole cause. (190)
• Drs. Logan and Griffith agree with Dr. Soybe, suggesting that sunlight was important in aggravating rosacea, but was not needed for the development of rosacea. (204)
• Dr. Matton and colleagues indicate that sun damage does not cause rosacea. (205) Many of their patients are business executives, office workers, and store clerks who report little sun exposure and demonstrate very little evidence of sun damage.
• In agreement with the above, Dr. Elliot and colleagues conclude, “Perhaps exposure to sun is a factor in some cases, but it clearly is not a universal cause.” (206)
4. DO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SUCH AS SUN, HEAT, COLD, AND WIND CAUSE ROSACEA?
This is a very interesting subject because these are all MAJOR TRIGGERS. But, the findings below clearly indicate that rosacea is a genetic disorder -- you must have the genetic predisposition to rosacea for these triggers to bring rosacea to the surface. If you do not have the rosacea gene(s) then you can get bombarded by the harshest triggers and never show rosacea or a broken capillary. It is important to note that while environmental factors may be important in worsening rosacea symptoms, they are not the sole cause of rosacea. Dr. Soybe performed in-depth examinations on 33 male laborers who worked for several years in extremely high temperatures all day (smiths, riveters, moulders, and factory hands); 40 women who worked in high temperatures all day (ironers, laundresses, cooks, and factory hands); and 30 men who worked outside in the daily heat and sun (fisherman and sailors), and found ABSOLUTELY NO signs of rosacea in any of these subjects. (190) This suggests that environmental factors are not the sole reason for rosacea.
1. Modest exposure to sunlight with a low SPF (8 to 15 SPF) after 3 PM is good for rosacea as long as there is no major flushing during or after. Sunlight is the single best way to build a thicker, stronger epidermis. So, we are caught in a catch-22 sometimes. Stay out of the sun to avoid the trigger, but this does not allow our epidermis to thicken and be a better protective barrier to the sun and heat as the sun progresses. Every rosacea sufferer is unique in their response. Just know that if done wisely (no sunburns and always some degree of protection even an SPF of 4) should actually help deal with summer sun and heat when you are forced to do afternoon errands or outdoor activities. We dont even need to talk about skin cancer or Vitamin D or any of that stuff. It is about doubling the thickness of our thin epidermal lining so that the blood vessels and nerves are placed behind a stronger fortress.
2. The same thing applies to enviornmental influences such as wind and cold. A little bit of steady exposure tells the body to fortify the epidermis and you gain more protection....... but once again in moderation. Very modest.
3. DOES SUN CAUSE ROSACEA?
Sun damage plays a role in many rosacea sufferers; however, the overall importance of sun damage in causing rosacea is still unclear. There are currently three schools of thought on the importance of sunlight in the development of rosacea: (1) Sunlight is the sole cause of rosacea, (2) Sunlight does not cause rosacea, but is important in making rosacea symptoms worse, and (3) Sunlight has very little effect on any part of rosacea.
Over the last three decades, most medical textbooks suggested that rosacea was caused by sun damage because several well-known dermatologists found evidence of solar elastosis in their rosacea patients. Due to the great respect that these dermatologists had earned over the years, this speculation was considered to be fact. Well, this speculation is now known to be incorrect – rosacea is not primarily due to sun damage.
The leading medical authorities now feel that #2 is the most probable – i.e., sunlight does not cause rosacea, but UV rays can cause significant damage to facial blood vessels and skin, making rosacea symptoms much worse. Below are some medical references on this important subject:
• In the article, “The Role of Sunshine in Rosacea”, medical experts conclude that sun damage was not needed for the development of rosacea. (203) These experts did warn though, that sun damage to facial blood vessels can make rosacea symptoms much worse.
• Dr. Soybe indicates that while sun may aggravate rosacea in some patients, it is not the sole cause. (190)
• Drs. Logan and Griffith agree with Dr. Soybe, suggesting that sunlight was important in aggravating rosacea, but was not needed for the development of rosacea. (204)
• Dr. Matton and colleagues indicate that sun damage does not cause rosacea. (205) Many of their patients are business executives, office workers, and store clerks who report little sun exposure and demonstrate very little evidence of sun damage.
• In agreement with the above, Dr. Elliot and colleagues conclude, “Perhaps exposure to sun is a factor in some cases, but it clearly is not a universal cause.” (206)
4. DO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SUCH AS SUN, HEAT, COLD, AND WIND CAUSE ROSACEA?
This is a very interesting subject because these are all MAJOR TRIGGERS. But, the findings below clearly indicate that rosacea is a genetic disorder -- you must have the genetic predisposition to rosacea for these triggers to bring rosacea to the surface. If you do not have the rosacea gene(s) then you can get bombarded by the harshest triggers and never show rosacea or a broken capillary. It is important to note that while environmental factors may be important in worsening rosacea symptoms, they are not the sole cause of rosacea. Dr. Soybe performed in-depth examinations on 33 male laborers who worked for several years in extremely high temperatures all day (smiths, riveters, moulders, and factory hands); 40 women who worked in high temperatures all day (ironers, laundresses, cooks, and factory hands); and 30 men who worked outside in the daily heat and sun (fisherman and sailors), and found ABSOLUTELY NO signs of rosacea in any of these subjects. (190) This suggests that environmental factors are not the sole reason for rosacea.