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This paper is full of technical terms, but contains some simply stated outcome for rosacea suffers. Researchers can see that rosacea sufferers have more water loss from the surface of their skin (i.e. their skin gets drier and potentially more irritated) , greater dilation of blood vessels and more rapid sweating than the general population.
This research is along similar lines to Dr. Drummond’s interest in Rosacea and the Sympathetic Nervous System.
J Neurophysiol 114: 1530–1537, 2015.
Metzler-Wilson K, Toma K, Sammons DL, Mann S, Jurovcik AJ, Demidova O, Wilson TE.Facial flushing in rosacea is often induced by trigger events. However, trigger causation mechanisms are currently unclear. This study tested the central hypothesis that rosacea causes sympathetic and axon reflex-mediated alterations resulting in trigger-induced symptomatology.
Twenty rosacea patients and age/sex-matched controls participated in one or a combination of symptom triggering stressors.
In protocol 1, forehead skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA; supraorbital microneurography) was measured during sympathoexcitatory mental (2-min serial subtraction of novel numbers) and physical (2-min isometric handgrip) stress.
In protocol 2, forehead skin blood flow (laser-Doppler flowmetry) and transepithelial water loss/sweat rate (capacitance hygrometry) were measured during sympathoexcitatory heat stress (whole body heating by perfusing 50°C water through a tube-lined suit).
In protocol 3, cheek, forehead, forearm, and palm skin blood flow were measured during nonpainful local heating to induce axon reflex vasodilation. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded via finger photoplethysmography to calculate cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC; flux·100/MAP).
Higher patient transepithelial water loss was observed (rosacea 0.20 ± 0.02 vs. control 0.10 ± 0.01 mg·cm(-2)·min(-1), P < 0.05). HR and MAP changes were not different between groups during sympathoexcitatory stressors or local heating.
SSNA during early mental (32 ± 9 and 9 ± 4% increase) and physical (25 ± 4 and 5 ± 1% increase, rosacea and controls, respectively) stress was augmented in rosacea (both P < 0.05).
Heat stress induced more rapid sweating and cutaneous vasodilation onset in rosacea compared with controls. No axon reflex vasodilation differences were observed between groups.
These data indicate that rosacea affects SSNA and that hyperresponsiveness to trigger events appears to have a sympathetic component.
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Prior to being diagnosed with rosacea I thought I had excessively oily skin as it always looked shiny and oily even after cleansing. As a result I used products designed to reduce the oiliness. This had the effect of making my skin very dehydrated but did nothing to reduce the oiliness. Eventually I started using a serum based on hyaluronic acid which added much needed hydration to my skin. My skin looked less oily and the texture was smoother. This also had a calming effect on my skin although it did not reduce the flushing episodes. I still incorporate hyaluronic acid into my skincare regime particularly in the colder weather when my skin becomes more dehydrated. It is important to remember that rosacea skin is challenged skin and needs extra care to improve its efficacy. Even though these measures might not have a measurable impact on reducing redness they will ensure that your skins natural barrier is maintained which is essential for healthy skin.