Reddening of nose
My skin is very fair and recently though, I am experiencing random attacks of severe reddening of my nose and across the cheeks. This occurs as a definite band of redness and is very embarrassing. I am getting married in the Autumn and will be distraught if this happens on my big day. Do you think I am allergic to something?
This sounds like Rosacea - pronounced rose-ay-shah - an inflammatory skin disorder now believed to affect one adult in 15. Most common in middle-aged women, the symptoms include the facial redness across the nose and cheeks that you describe and while no single cause has been identified, one theory is that it is due to a disorder of the blood vessels in the face.
The poor relation to acne, the conventional solution for both is roaccutane, an antibiotic cream which has been linked, especially in younger sufferers, to depression. There is no doubt that roaccutane works and it may well be the quick-fix solution for your wedding day but once you stop using it, the rosacea will return.
Natural health practitioners link rosacea to digestive disorders which are exacerbated by stress. It is true that certain foods, especially hot and spicy dishes, can trigger an attack but the list of reported food triggers is as varied as figs to spinach and liver to red plums. For gut healing and a general detoxification of the digestive tract, an amino acid called L-Glutamine can help but avoid this if you are pregnant, planning a baby or have liver problems.
A lot of people are reporting excellent results by following the recommendations of American doctor and fellow sufferer, Dr Geoffrey Nase, who has spent five years investigating natural remedies for rosacea. His current recommendations are to take a form of vitamin C called Ester C together with grape seed extract. This combination has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, strengthens the blood vessel walls and decreases swelling of the affected areas.
He suggests, if you weigh under 150lb, you work up to 1,000mg of Ester C and 200mg of grape seed extract, three times a day. Over this weight, aim for 2,000mg of Ester C and 200mg of grape seed extract. Be warned though, building up to these doses of vitamin C can cause temporary diarrhoea.
*Revital (0800-252875) sells both Ester C and grape seed extract. You can buy Ester C in powder or tablet form. Country Life’s 1000mg tablets cost £8.95 for 50 capsules. The recommended brand for the grape seed is Source Natural’s Proanthodyn. 30 x 100mg tablets cost £24.95. Add £1.50 p&p. L-Glutamine is on sale in all good health stores.