Tag Archive for: Rosacea

Sugar is sweet but not when it comes to the health and look of the skin. Eating excess sugar is one of the worst things you can do to your skin. For starters sugar and foods with a high glycemic number (carbohydrates, fried foods and alcohol) trigger insulin which causes inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a culprit for acne-prone skin, eczema, rosacea and psoriasis. Sugar also breakdowns collagen: ie Glycation– when sugar binds to collagen and form AGES (advanced glycation end products ) this makes the collagen fibers hard and brittle which ultimately causes the skin to look old. Glycation equals loss of elasticity and collagen, which equals sagging, dull and aging skin.

Sugar weakens the immune system, dehydrates skin by pulling out moisture, creates a lackluster appearance and can cause breakouts and redness and dryness. So what should you do? Firstly, cut back on your sugar intake. Processed carbohydrates, alcohol and sugar-heavy foods should be limited.

If you’re prone to redness or rosacea and sugar is making this worse, try our Radical Difference serum. This concentrated rehydrating serum helps to rejuvenate the appearance of skin imperfections, illuminate dull skin and reduce the appearance of unwanted red areas to leave skin appearing glowing and vibrant.

If breakouts are your issue, try our Detox collection to get your skin in check and clear. Detox Facial Clarifying AHA Wash is a power-packed foaming cleanser specifically designed to address the appearance of problem skin, by reaching deep into pores and boosting out stubborn dirt and oils. Skin is left appearing smoother, feeling more refined and rejuvenated. Follow with Facial Detox, a purifying mask that works to draw out dirt and pore-clogging debris to reveal skin that looks clear and appears flawless. Facial Detox leaves skin looking even and appearing balanced, cleans blemish-prone skin and minimizes the appearance of pores and soothes and calms appearance.

Learning to balance your sugar intake will assure clean, clear and glowing skin in the future.

 

Are you red in the face? The culprits that generally cause facial redness especially during the summer can be annoying but are possible to manage and/or even avoid. Certain topical skincare products as well as warm temperatures, exercising outdoors, certain foods and drinks can encourage facial redness. Dr. G breaks down the culprits with tips and tricks to try this summer.


Exercise induced redness:

  • Occurs when the small capillaries widen to send more oxygen to the muscles
  • Facial redness generally affects those with fair skin more than others
  • Occurs due to the body temperature rising as extra blood rushes to the surface of the skin as a result of working hard

Solutions:

  • Try running indoor at the gym with the AC on
  • Take a cold shower post workout. Not only does cold-water help with redness it cools your body down fast
  • Keep a cold bottle of water and towel with you and use as a compress

Product induced redness:

  • Retinol is a necessary powerhouse but absolutely has side effects. Vitamin A (the ingredient that makes up Retinol) can cause redness, dryness and sun sensitivity
  • If you want to stay on your Retinol regimen, cut back on the number of days you use these types of products
  • ALWAYS wear an SPF + HAT
  • Limit acids, Glycolic, and aggressive exfoliators (go gentle on the scrubbing)

Alcohol + Food induced redness:

  • All alcohol can cause facial redness but wine tends to be the worst due to sulfites, tannins and histamines. * try mixing in a sparkling water or skip the alcohol all together
  • Caffeine (especially if you have Rosacea) but the heat of the coffee may add insult to injury of already redness prone skin
  • Spicy food * Dr. G says “reach for hydrating fruit instead”

Dr. G says increase anti-inflammatory, cooling and soothing ingredients /foods

  • Red Tea (Rooibos)
  • Alpha Lipoic Acid
  • Green Tea
  • Oatmeal
  • Cucumbers

If excessive redness does happen, try applying a cool compress, splashing your face with very cold water, going indoors and allowing your body to cool off. Wearing a little concealer on areas that do tend to get red can help too.

Niacinamide is made up of a combination vitamin B3 and nicotinic acid, and it’s a potent cell-communicating ingredient that offers multiple benefits for aging skin. Assuming skin is being protected from sun exposure, niacinamide can improve skin’s elasticity, dramatically enhance its barrier function, help erase discolorations, and revive skin’s healthy tone and texture. It is a vitamin that has excellent clinicals to substantiate its benefit in almost every skin condition and here’s what you need to know about it and why you should be using it.

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Image via StyleCaster

The Benefits:

  • Improves skin elasticity
  • Enhance skin barrier function
  • Reduce pigmentation
  • Elevate skin tone and texture
  • Minimize the depth and appearance of fine lines

How it works:

Niacinamide is a derivative of Vitamin B3 that offers major barrier protection to the skin and suppresses melanin from reaching the surface of the skin and protects the skin from further UV damage. Too much melanin (which is a naturally occurring substance in the body that is responsible for both its color the skin’s absorption of UV rays) can result in age spots, freckles, and hyper-pigmentation. According to a study done by Proctor and Gamble, data revealed that 5% Niacinamide applied to the face for 12 weeks resulted in reductions of fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness (yellowing). In addition, elasticity (as measured via cutometry) was improved.

“Topical application of Niacinamide has been shown to increase ceramide and free fatty acid levels in skin, prevent skin from losing water content, and stimulate microcirculation in the dermis” according to the British Journal of Dermatology in 2000.

Studies have also indicated niacinamide to be soothing and an anti-inflammatory, proving beneficial in the treatment of rosacea and acne solving properties.

Bottom line; it’s a powerhouse ingredient that works wonders for multiple skin behaviors and concerns.

Check out Wake Up Call and Hands To Heart from Goldfaden MD which both contain Niacinamide.