These factors include :

• systemic heliobacter pylori infection;
  
  
• invisible infestation of skin by demodex mites;
  
  
• sun damage / photoaging;
  
  
• free radicals;
  
  
• fragile or dysfunctional capillaries;
  
  
• allergies (to topical and ingested substances);
  
  
• psychosomatic factors.

Cause #1 — Heliobacter Pylori

Evidence for heliobacter pylori playing a role is controversial. It has been suggested that intestinal bacteria and inflammation sensitize facial neurons, causing capillaries to become dilated, producing redness and leaking pro-inflammatory substances into the facial tissues.

Cause #2 — Demodex Mite Follicular Infestation

Damage to collagen in the dermis (the skin's deepest layer) and to follicles is strongly associated with rosacea. This finding has led some academic dermatologists to suggest that the inflammation seen in rosacea patients is a result of demodex mites and/or bacteria occupying follicles and causing an immune response not found in patients without rosacea.

Stronger evidence exists for rosacea patient's skins' bearing an excess of MMP-9, an enzyme which breaks down the collagen necessary for healthy skin structure and functioning.

Where levels of MMP-9 are greater than the skin's ability to inhibit their action, inflammation and degradation of skin occurs. A similar situation appears to underlie the pathophysiology of ocular rosacea.

Moreover, other studies have shown that poorly regulated levels of MMP-9 are found in rosacea patients both with and without follicular demodex infestation, and that the levels of deleterious MMP-9 are greater in those with demodex than without.

Cause #3 — Irregular Vascular Function

Flushing/blushing and dilated or broken capillaries are associated with all rosacea patients.

The phenomenon of flushing and blushing can be due to a combination of two or more of the following aspects:

• greater superficiality of facial capillaries, increasing the likelihood and frequency of environmental provocation;
  
  
• an increase in blood flow;
  
  
• irregular capillary function, due to immune (humoral) and/or neural factors.

Irregularities in neurotransmitters such as serotonin and histamine may also play a role in the development of visible facial redness (erythema) in rosacea.

Individuals with rosacea have also been found to have excess amounts of certain proteins involved in the skin's immune response against bacteria, viruses and fungi.

High levels of these proteins have been shown to produce all the signs of rosacea: erythema (redness), inflammation (free radical damage), capillary dilation, growth (angiogenesis) and permeability.

In subsequent updates I will detail some of the prime and superior ways in which to manage to manage pre-existing rosacea and prevent frequent exacerbation or permanent worsening or pre-existing rosacea.

If your rosacea is only mild (characterized by only transient flushing/blushing or mild erythema), there is much to be hopeful about, as relatively minor changes to the overall management of your rosacea can produce remission.

• FAQ: What Causes Rosacea?
• Heliobacter Pylori
• Rosacea/Diet: Intestinal Health

Improvements to intestinal health through diet appropriate to rosacea appear to lessen inflammation in the body in general, bringing about a reduction in facial redness and skin-damaging rosacea symptoms.

As facial capillaries in rosacea are excessively permeable, lessening blood-borne inflammation reduces the release of damaging and inflammatory chemicals into skin.

In turn, the reduction in stress to the skin provides it with greater opportunities with which to repair itself naturally.

Comprehensive improvement to intestinal health can also reduce heliobacter pylori, a gastrointestinal infection which may worsen rosacea symptoms and give rise to stomach ulcers.

As time goes on, we expect more research to be published regarding the limiting of oxidative stress and inflammation in rosacea as a means by which to protect functional facial tissue and capillaries, and help reverse pre-existing damage.

Whatever the future of research may hold, it is important to remember that as a multifactorial disease, no dietary cure for rosacea exists.

Certainly, correct use of rosacea sunscreens remains critical and non-negotiable.

Appropriate cleanser and moisturizer use are also highly important.

Rosacea patients should review the success/avoidance list when considering how they approach and take responsibility for their own treatment as the list pertains to dietary as well as topical considerations.

For other rosacea dietary information, see the section rosacea diet.

For general information on inflammation and the free radical theory of aging, see Melbourne Dermatology's sections "Oxidative Stress and Free Radical Damage," "The Cause of Disease," "Inflammation" and "The Skin and Free Radical Damage."

The video features Annie Jubb — author of Lifefood Nutrition, Whole Brain Functioning Technology, Lifefood Recipe Book: Living on Life Force and Secrets of an Alkaline Body: The New Science of Colloidal Biology — whom mentions Methyl Sulfonyl Methane (available in Jan Marini Age Intervention — not generally recommended for rosacea, however) and Magnesium and claims that we are all deficient in these.

Annie mentions that there is an abundance of poor quality of foods available.

Regrettably, skin care in general (let alone rosacea skin care) are at least as generally deficient in actual benefit as mainstream foods.

Unfortunately, most skin care is of markedly lower quality and potential benefit than the hollowest of foods.

Review an example Nutritional Program for Fasting by Elson M. Haas MD at Health World Online.

About.Com Alternative Medicine features Detox and Cleansing Information.

Ethnomed features an article concerning Nutrition and Fasting in Cambodian Culture by Paysha Stockton and Jeniffer Huong.

Please note that the clinic does not endorse all views discussed and does not encourage dieting or fasting of rosacea patients outside of strict professional attention.

Use of an infrared sauna, like using a cleanser with hot water, is definitely contraindicated.

This information submitted via Dr. Xavier Hawkings.