Lifestyle Changes to Combat Rosacea
The Effects of Exercise on Rosacea
Exercise used correctly can reduce the facial redness of rosacea! Used incorrectly, it can cause the rosacea sufferer increased facial redness, and clogged pores! The key for rosaceans is to exercise in moderation to reduce stress and to exercise aerobically to reduce facial redness.
Exercise for stress reduction! It is best to exercise in moderate temperatures: in the early morning during the summer, and during the heat of the day in winter. Confine outdoor sports to cloudy days, or early morning or evening on sunny days to avoid direct sun, or in an air conditioned area.
To prevent the body from getting "stressed", the three basketball coaches with the most wins in the world (from UCLA, Duke University, and UNC at Chapel Hill) taught the players to drink 18 to 20 glasses of water per day (they are huge as you know) and to drink exceedingly heavily six hours prior to "the game". I think the coaches have known how to prevent the body from being "stressed" or "fatigued" before a big exercise event!
Body stress and fatigue has much to do with rosacea redness and rosacea papules. Don't work out 'heavy' when you are already stressed; just take a positive walk for 15 minutes, or enjoy an exercise that is positive and mentally uplifting that can be considered an easy exercise to get the mental wrinkles out. Also, "water again" in washing the face well before the exercise program will keep the face cooler and keeps the film of oil, etc. from blocking the pores in preventing acne pimples. You may have watched many working out in various health spas alternate between working with weights, a cooling shower, a swim in the pool and back to the weights, back in the shower, back in the pool, etc.
The most ideal exercise is swimming in a properly treated indoor chlorinated pool (bromide treated pools are too harsh on the skin). Chlorine kills fungi, bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can worsen rosacea as well as acne and seborrheic dermatitis. The swimming pool water is usually 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, which is well below normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees. Thus, it cools the entire body, including the rosacea affected areas, while providing excellent exercise to reduce mental stress and physical tension.
The rosacea sufferer has to keep a positive attitude! Remember that you can not control everything but 'you can control your own attitude'!!! Management studies show that people with a good sense of humor are promoted faster and go further in corporations than humorless people. Also, they usually have more social friends.
Try the following:
- a. Moderate the intensity of the exercise
- b. Break up the exercise into smaller sets, not a 1 hour workout, but two half hour sessions or four 15 minute sessions. Or, just 15 minutes daily.
- c. Exercise in the cool - early or late in the day.
- d. Ideally 10 to 12 glasses of water daily for the average size person.
- e. Put a freezer block (that you place in a lunch box to keep food cold) and an extra towel into your exercise bag and use to cool off during exercise. Try to blot, cool and absorb moisture instead of 'wiping and irritating the skin.'
* Keeping aerobic (with oxygen) is most important. Remember when you held your breath for one minute with your face turning red.