Dry Skin Pathology And Its Effect On Rosacea

Under normal conditions skin cells throughout the facial skin utilize high amounts of water to grow, form a strong cellular matrix, maintain a healthy cell membrane, stimulate the production of anti-inflammatory substances and create a healthy, thick, strong protective outer barrier of skin known as the epidermis.  Yes, proper concentrations of water in the skin is that important; this makes sense as facial skin is basically 70% water, 28% proteins and 2% lipids.

The three main inflammatory skin disorders affected by moderate-to-severe dry skin are rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.  “Dry Skin Syndrome” in these disorders can greatly exacerbate the underlying skin disorder, worsen symptom severity and increase the intensity of skin flares.  Chronic inflammation from these skin disorders can disrupt water concentration in the skin and cause cells to dehydrate, malfunction and even result in widespread cell death.  Below is a more extensive list of the clinical findings and side effects that can occur under these conditions:

Side Effects of Severe Dry Skin caused by Inflammatory Skin Disorders:

  • Thins the epidermis – the outer barrier of skin responsible for protecting the facial skin can thin dramatically without proper levels of water inside each cell
  • Stimulates the release of inflammatory substances that cause inflammation in the epidermis and dermis – feeding the vicious inflammatory cycle of rosacea
  • Causes blood vessels to dilate and flush in order to try to bring extra water to the affected areas if dryness – obviously quite bad for rosacea and a strong stimulant for chronic facial redness
  • Dry skin cells release inflammatory proteins that cause or exacerbate uncomfortable skin sensations often experienced by rosacea sufferers such as burning, stinging and itching
  • Makes rosacea-affected skin ultra-sensitive to skin care products, cosmetics and outdoor extremes
  • The dry skin disorder makes rosacea much harder to treat due to the cellular dysfunction caused by excessive water loss — water loss and cellular water content must be normalized to successfully treat rosacea

Regular Moisturizers Largely Ineffective on Dry Rosacea-Sensitive Skin

There are two primary reasons why facial moisturizers are ineffective  treatment for most rosacea sufferers:

  1. Facial moisturizers, even those developed for “the most sensitive skin” are often ineffective because rosacea skin is often extremely hyper-reactive to most topical creams, serums and gels. Additionally, ingredients in many moisturizers can actually make your skin drier, interfering with the barrier on your skin that prevents moisture from dissipating; Emulsifiers, binding agents and penetration enhancers that allow oil and water to mix in moisturizers and lotions, leave a residue on the skin that disrupts your skin’s lipid barrier, allowing water to evaporate from the skin faster.  So, rosacea sufferers often get a fast shot of moisture that quickly fades. On top of this, most just reach for more lotion throughout the day — and the more lotion you use — the drier your skin gets — and the cycle just continues.  In fact, dermatologists specializing in this research suggest that a large percentage of rosacea sufferers may have moderate-to-severe dry skin due to the lotions they are testing and not the underlying disorder.
  2. Facial moisturizers, even the expensive high-end moisturizers are minimally effective at combatting moderate-to-severe moisture loss experienced in inflammatory skin disorders such as rosacea, eczema and psoriasis where water levels can dip well below half their normal range.  Moisturizers also rarely penetrate deeper than the epidermis, even though the dermal layer below is in dire need of moisture.  These moisturizers were simply not made to treat dry skin on top of inflammatory skin disorders

[message_box title=” Rosacea-Based Dry Skin Requires An Aggressive Two-Pronged Treatment Approach” color=”red”]Proper treatment of dry skin associated with rosacea requires intense therapy.  Over the last three years night-time treatment with next-generation ‘water droplet’ humidifiers combined with topical hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate) has  proven to be one of the most effective one-two punches for severe dry skin syndromes as proven by dozens of clinical studies, scientific studies and is now highly recommended for rosacea treatment by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) at national meetings.[/message_box]

Next-Generation Water Droplet Humidifiers Very Effective For Deep Moisturization

One of the most effective ways to moisturize dry rosacea skin according to the American Academy of Dermatology is to invest in a high-quality humidifier.

Experts in this field recommend using a high-end humidifier in your bedroom every night to get 6 to 8 hours of continual irritant-free moisturization from the new droplet dispersing humidifiers now available.  These humidifiers not only moisturize and reverse severe dry skin and inflammation in the outer epidermal lining but throughout the night they penetrate into the dermis which can make a significant difference in the duration and severity of rosacea symptoms and triggers – and greatly reduce skin hypersensitivity to harsh outdoor environments.

These next-generation humidifiers not only disperse air droplets (micro-droplets that penetrate the skin easily) throughout the entire room during the night for continuous deep moisturization, but they now have monitors that continually measure the room’s humidity level and temperature to make sure the moisture released from the humidifier is in the perfect range.  Just as important, they now utilize cutting-edge technology that eradicates 99.9% of bacteria, fungi and micro-organisms, ensuring that your facial skin gets pristine water hydration and your bedroom remains in its ideal, unadultered state.

Below are some examples of the new humidifiers and their benefits:

  1. Dyson Hygienic Humidifier Taking its cues from the American Academy of Dermatology clinical studies and presentations on the importance of humidifiers for the treatment of Dry Skin Sydrome, Dyson,  just developed an innovative humidifier to treat severe dry skin associated with inflammatory skin disorders.  In fact, the description of the device, released on October 20, 2014, says it all, “Dyson Launches Humidifier to Combat Eczema and Psoriasis”.   (available  in the fall of 2015)This humidifier treats a large size room for up to 18 hours and has incorporated a patented UV light into the device to kill 99.9% of bacteria and fungi.  Interestingly, this new technology ensures the finest mist and the best skin hydration through the use of a piezoelectric transducer in the base of the machine, vibrating up to 1.7 million times a second, breaking the water down into microscopic particles, which are drawn up through the loop amplifier and projected through the air of the entire room.
    • Hygienic humidification though “ultraviolet cleanse technology” that cand kill up to 99.9% of bacteria in the tank.
    • Even room coverage that disperses evenly throughout a 16m2 room
    • Accurate Climate Control.  The Dyson humidifier measures temperature and humidity and adjusts accordingly to create a comfortable environment that is healthy for you and your room. So there’s no over humidification.
  2.  Stadler Form William Ultrasonic Humidifer for rosacea and inflamatory skin issuesStadler Form William humidifier ($239.99)are one of the top next-generation humidifiers on the market due to their high-efficiency, germ-free mist dispersal
    • Covers large rooms up to 1,000 square feet
    • Ionic Silver Cube, inhibiting the growth of mold bacteria in tank with capacity of 1.5 gallons.
    • 3 Output Levels including warm and cool mist.
  3. Winix freshome aw107 humidifier and allergen cleaner.Winix FreshHome Air Washers AW107 Humidifier ($329.99)is at the top of its class with its ability to humidify a  room in a moisture perfect range and combine that with Freshome’s patented Air Purifier for a superb two-in-one device
    • 3 speeds with digital control panel, Sleep mode, and Auto mode
    • Low water indicator to let you know its time to refill
    • PlasmaWave Technology eliminates viruses and bacteria
    • Ideal for spaces up to 600 square feet

Hyaluronic Acid – The Second Key To Successful Hydration Therapy For Dry Rosacea Skin Types

Hyaluronic acid (Sodium Haluronate, HA) is a polysaccharide found naturally in the human body. It not only helps cushion and lubricate joints, but is also a major component of skin tissue.

The skin holds almost fifty percent of your body’s hyaluronic acid in the skin.  Hyaluronic Acid Serums not only moisture and strengthen skin, they also help heal skin, comfort skin and have strong anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory actions. These serums are a top choice for all rosacea sufferers.  Hyaluronic Acid Serums also prevent fine lines and wrinkles for those with aesthetics on their mind.    Hyaluronic acid is viscous but absorbs into the skin without any residue, making it a popular ingredient in serums – no more taut skin or irritation from well-meaning treatment serums!

As we age hyaluronic acid levels and skin moisture drop significantly.

Although part of aging this decrease in moisture and hyaluronic acid levels  makes the skin more prone to chronic dryness, inflammation — and if you have an  inflammatory skin disorder–  makes you more prone to advancing into the more severe stages of the skin disorder.  Hyaluronic acid plays a critical role in skin health with its unique ability to quell inflammation, heal individual skin cells, rebuild the epidermis and hold in an amazing amount of moisture (1,000 times its weight!).

Hyaluronic acid is also a “smart nutrient” as it can adjust its moisture absorption rate based on the humidity—relative to the season and the climate.

Hyaluronic acid not only moisturizes and protects the epidermis, but it penetrates into the dermis where dry skin is usually untreatable.  This is very important because a large portion of the water micro-particles from the humidifier bind to hyaluronic acid and are delivered to the epidermis and deeper layers in the dermis for superb moisturization, anti-inflammatory actions, healing actions, and normalization of the cellular membranes which are made up of over 75% water and do not function properly and even die when they dehydrate.

Below are some excellent hyaluronic acid serums suitable for the most sensitive rosacea skin:

  1. Hyaluronic Acid- organic and vegan by passport to organics paraben, gmo and sulfate free, rosacea friendly skin care100% Pure Hyaluronic Acid (Organic and Vegan) by  Passport to Organics($28.99) -Strongest HA concentration in the industry.
    • Paraben-free, oil-free, no dyes, no fragrances, no alcohol
    • Made in the USA in a USDA registered facility
    • Aloe juice base to moisturize and calm skin

     

     

  2. cosmedica hyaluronic acid serum Hyaluronic Acid Serum – 100% Pure – Vegan – 2oz-Cosmedica Skincare– ($14.95)Cosmedica Hyaluronic Acid Serum is made with 100% pure and stable hyaluronic acid at the highest concentration available on the market today to ensure you get maximum results.  3 simple irritant-free ingredients perfectly suitable for rosacea sufferers.

    Vegan, Paraben-free, oil-free, no dyes, no fragrances or fillers.

     

[message_box title=”Caution Regarding Hyaluronic Acid Serums and Creams” color=”red”]

In choosing a Hyaluronic Acid serum or cream, there are a few attributes to look for:

  • Hyaluronic Acid from a 100% organic vegan source is preferred.
  • Avoid hyaluronic acid serums that also contain alcohol, parabens, sulfates, or other ingredients that are harmful to the skin.
  • More often than not, a “pure hyaluronic acid” serum will contain alcohol or preservatives that counteract the benefits of hyaluronic acid as a topical. Avoid these products. Read the entire ingredient list before purchase.
  • Use the highest concentration available on the market (1%) as many only contain a small fraction of hyaluronic acid

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Comment Section:

Have you tried treating your dry skin with next-generation humidifiers or hyaluronic acid (or utilizing both simultaneously at night)?

If so, does this moisturize your skin deeply without irritation?

  1. Have you had success using this two-pronged dry skin treatment approach during the harsh winter months or during changes in the season?
  2. What type of humidifier do you recommend to your fellow rosacea sufferers?
  3. Do you have a favorite Hyaluronic acid serum?

 

We hope you found this article on treating dry rosacea skin informative.

Thank you for your important feedback and wishing you a rosacea-free future!

 

Health Disclaimer:  Informational article above not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have or think that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Before adding in or considering alternative supplements and treatments please consult with your medical practitioner first.  We do not claim to “cure” disease, illness or conditions, but to simply provide you with additional information and education nor is any product sold or discussed to be considered to replace your medical treatment, diagnosis, treatment or preventative recommendations.