Rosacea Flushing
Rosacea-Ltd Examines Exfoliant-Related Flushing
Exfoliant-related rosacea flushing often occurs due to the use of retinols, salicylic acid based products, and vitamin A or C additives in products. When a rosacea patient is treated for a prolonged time with topical exfoliants the disorder may at first respond, but inevitably the signs of exfoliant irritation emerge with dryness and facial peeling of the skin as well as marked increase in telangiectasis (spidery veins). The appearance is shocking with a flaming red, dry peeling face. Exfoliant-related flushing is an 'avoidable condition' which is accompanied by severe discomfort and pain.
Chemical peels and retinoid products are used for the purpose of skin exfoliation. The objective is to help your body get rid of dead skin cells and to make your body build new skin quicker. Various products available today such as Retin-A, Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA), and glycolic acid are all designed to burn dead skin cells off. The active agent in all these products is fruit acids.
The problem with using fruit acids such as AHA and BHA is that either you get acids that are very weak that do not remove many dead skin cells and, therefore, you see little results, or they increase the strength of the acid, and once the acid has burned through the dead cells, it continues on and begins to attack your living skin. If this happens you may experience one or more of the following; burning, redness, irritation, and light sensitivity.
Another problem with using acids is that the dead cells do not come off immediately; your skin gets white, flaky, and tight as the dead cells fall off over the course of a few days. Using acids is not only uncomfortable, at times it can do more damage than good.
Alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids are simple organic fruit acids found in nature or synthesized in the laboratory. Beta Hydroxy acids are somewhat different from alpha hydroxy acids in their structure and mode of action.
Salicylic acid, a common beta hydroxy acid,has been used for treating acne for decades. In fact, acne treatment remains the primary use for beta hydroxy acids. There are no studies showing that beta hydroxy acids are superior or even equal to alpha hydroxy acids in skin exfoliation or reducing fine wrinkles; however, for acne, beta hydroxy acids are clearly superior to alpha hydroxy acids.
Over the last decade, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) have increasingly appeared as ingredients in cosmetics intended to reduce the signs of aging in the skin. More recently, beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), or a combination of AHAs and BHAs, have appeared as ingredients in these skin care products. While both AHAs and BHAs act as exfoliants, it has been claimed that BHAs are effective in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improving overall skin texture, without the occasional irritation associated with the use of AHAs.
Each of the following items below is part of a complex interaction of several systems. YOU MAY CLICK ON THEIR LINKS BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE SYSTEMS:
Systemic flushing | Sugar/carbohydrate flushing | Steroid flushing | Exercise flushing | Cigarette flushing | Adrenaline flushing | Shower/bath flushing | Alcohol flushing | Cold weather flushing | Food allergy flushing | Pollen/contact flushing | Asthma flushing