High Cortisol and it's Destructive Effects

 

Make no mistake — cortisol is a lifesaving hormone. When you are under stress it comes to your rescue, mobilizing carbohydrates and fat for instant energy. It also keeps our blood sugar steady while we’re sleeping and helps us wake up in the morning.

But when this “helpful” hormone is over-produced, our bodies suffer.

Cortisol runs unnaturally high as a result of our stress-filled lives, and that causes all kinds of symptoms and long-term health problems down the road. High cortisol levels can be deceiving — they allow you to be ultra productive, but at the same time they rob you of much needed sleep and keep you feeling wired too much of the time.

Sustained high cortisol levels have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, insulin resistance, obesity and type 2 diabetes. We can now say very clearly: normalizing cortisol levels is crucial to lifelong health.

Cortisol’s natural rhythm gone wrong!

Cortisol has a natural rhythm that is tightly connected to your daily cycle, which is called your circadian rhythm. Cortisol is usually lowest between midnight and 4:00 AM and then gradually increases until around 8:00 AM, in time for you to wake up and start the day. After 8:00 AM, cortisol declines incrementally throughout the day to gradually prepare you for sleep. This daily rhythm is the norm unless you encounter a stressful event. Your body should increase cortisol and adrenaline temporarily to handle the stressful event and then return to normal.

That’s the way it’s supposed to work. Yet when we live in a constant high-alert state, our cortisol levels remain unnaturally high and can cause all kinds of health problems, including:

• Impaired healing and cell regeneration
• Disrupted digestion, mental function and metabolism
• Weakened ability to fight infection
• Imbalances in other important hormones such as DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone
• Loss of muscle and bone
• Mood swings and depression
• Hair and skin problems
• Thyroid imbalances
• Low sex drive
• Sleeplessness
• Weight gain (especially around the belly)

How to know if your cortisol is too high

Unfortunately standard tests of adrenal function aren’t very helpful. If your primary care practitioner calls for a typical laboratory cortisol test, it will be difficult to see anything more than the most severe cases of adrenal dysfunction, such as Addison’s disease or Cushing’s syndrome. We recommend finding a practitioner who is willing to do salivary cortisol testing, which measures cortisol levels and a hormone called DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) throughout the day. This kind of test provides a more accurate assessment of cortisol levels and whether they have become imbalanced. We typically suggest testing between 6:00 and 8:00 AM (within an hour of waking), between 11:00 and Noon, between 4:00 and 6:00 PM, and then again between 10:00 PM and Midnight. This should give you a good overview of how your cortisol levels vary throughout the day.

But a lab test isn’t necessary to determine if you have adrenal fatigue or high cortisol. You can simply check in with how you feel. If your energy level is very low in the morning but seems to increase right around the time everyone else is getting ready for bed, your cortisol cycle is probably out of whack. It’s a good indication that you will reap huge benefits by taking steps to rebalance your adrenal glands.

You can’t restore healthy adrenal function without balancing cortisol

Cortisol levels that remain high often lead to a downward health spiral, where you go from feeling wired to feeling tired and wired, and then ultimately to feeling exhausted. This final stage of adrenal imbalance is known as adrenal exhaustion. Restoring your cortisol to its natural levels is the only way to regain adrenal health.

We’ve worked with women at our clinic and in our Personal Program to help normalize their cortisol levels naturally. Doing so will eliminate symptoms, increase energy (without feeling “wired”) and encourage better sleep. And you can balance cortisol in several ways, including taking adrenal-supportive herbs and nutrients, and making dietary changes and lifestyle modifications to calm the stress response.

Food and lifestyle choices matter too for adrenal health

Most women with stress issues simply don’t have the energy to face multiple changes to their diet and lifestyle all at once. That’s another reason why starting with the supplements is a good idea.

But the truth is, if your symptoms are severe, making a few key diet and lifestyle changes will really help your supplements heal your adrenals.

Supplement Support

I've found the following herbs in PRL's ADAPTOGEN to be the most effective in resolving adrenal imbalance:  

Premier Research Labs Adaptogen-R3 

• Maximum performance
• Increased energy
• Endurance
• Enhanced oxygen & nutrient uptake
• Enhanced fat loss when used with a balanced diet
• Supports healthy adrenal function
• Optimal neurotransmitter
• Improved Memory & Mental function
• Broad spectrum endocrine rejuvenator, especially the pituitary-adrenal axis

Premier Adaptogen-R3 is not a “jolt product,” loaded with stimulants that rev up weak adrenals such as high dose guarana or ephedra. Instead, its unique, adaptogenic botanicals are synergistically combined to focus on nourishing the glands and organs, including the adrenals, as well as creating maximal oxygen and nutrient transport to the muscles and connective tissue to ensure optimal support, detoxification and immune function. Higher levels of energy and strength can be yours. It can produce profound improvements across the full spectrum of fitness: from the competition athlete looking for better running times – to the couch potato who wants to get rid of the flab.  Contact Kassandra @ Kasia Organic Salon for adaptogen support. 

Here's our four-step diet and lifestyle checklist, plus examples of the changes that are easiest to make:

Eat for energy. Focus on eating choices and patterns that allow you to achieve more stable energy levels throughout the day. Don’t skip meals or starve yourself — that’s too stressful for your adrenals. We recommend eating at regular times — ideally three balanced meals and two snacks a day. Start making changes to your diet by including protein at every meal and fewer carbohydrates, especially sugary snacks.

Focus on stress reduction and make emotional wellness a priority. One simple change is to practice regular deep breathing. Practice breathing in through your nose so that your lungs fill and your belly rises and then exhale slowly through your nose. Repeat for a few breaths, ideally for several minutes. As you move forward, try to find other ways for “self-care,” especially by identifying and focusing on meeting your own needs. You’ll find this will help change your attitude towards stress, which research shows, can actually lessen the negative effects of stress!

Assess your exercise routine: “chill out” vs “work out.” When your adrenals are imbalanced, high-intensity exercise only adds to the stress load you’re already bearing. We recommend that you choose an activity you enjoy, and be sure to pace yourself. If you feel invigorated after your exercise, it’s probably fine.

Make it a priority to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. If possible, go to bed by 10:00 PM. Sounds incredible, doesn’t it? But you need the rest to break your patterns. A good night’s sleep is one of the best ways to restore your adrenal glands, and the greatest adrenal healing occurs hours between 7:00 PM and 9:00 AM. If you describe yourself as “wired” or “tired and wired,” try a phytotherapy option to reduce cortisol levels that cause stress-induced sleeplessness.

Resource:  Womentowomen.com and Premier Research Labs

Eat Pretty: YUM Spring Salad Dressings

Orange Sesame Miso Dressing

This savory-sweet dressing contains skin-friendly probiotics from fermented miso paste, and is packed with beautifying omega-3s thanks to crunchy hemp seeds.

Juice of a half an orange 1/4 cup toasted sesame oil 1 tsp miso paste 1/8 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp hemp seeds

Blend the first four ingredients in a food processor or blender. Transfer to a jar, add hemp seeds and shake to combine.

Creamy Tahini Sage Dressing

Fresh herbs are brimming with beauty benefits. Use anti-inflammatory sage in this dressing, or substitute basil or a small amount of thyme. The tahini and grapeseed oil in this recipe are two beauty-friendly fats.

1/2 cup Grapeseed Vegenaise or other dairy-free mayonnaise 1/4 cup fresh sage leaves 1 clove garlic 2 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp tahini

Blend all ingredients in a food processor or blender until creamy.

Vinaigrette with a Twist

The raw apple cider vinegar and lemon in this dressing give your digestion a boost (a plus for clear skin and a flat belly). Feel free to swap the oregano and dill for other favorite fresh or dried herbs.

1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar juice of half a lemon 1/4 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp dried dill sea salt black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a small jar and shake to emulsify.

ENJOY!   With love......

Reference: beautyiswellness.com

Hormonal Balance for Gorgeous Skin: TC Natural Awakenings Magazine Feature

Hormonal Balance for Gorgeous Skin

Kassandra Kuehl

When hormones are balanced, the result is a clear, radiant complexion. Many of us, however, are plagued by dull, dry and sagging skin and conspicuous skin markings, or wonder why we suddenly have more acne than we did as teens. When this happens, there’s a good chance that we are grappling with some type of hormonal issue. To better understand what the skin says about hormonal health, read on.

Acne

Testosterone dominance is usually the culprit in those pesky blemishes that haunt us well into adulthood. The role of testosterone in acne is twofold: it increases sebum production and skin-cell turnover rate, making it easier for blockages to form around the follicle opening. To combat acne, choose a gentle cleanser that won’t strip the skin.

Dryness

Several hormonal factors can contribute to dry, flaky skin. One of the most common is a drop in thyroid hormone production, causing the epidermis to become thick and scaly. To keep skin moist, use pure, cold-pressed fatty acids and antioxidant-rich oils.

Sagging and Wrinkles

Several studies have highlighted estrogen’s anti-aging effect on the skin. Falling estrogen levels reduce the production of hyaluronic acid, which keeps skin supple and taut. Collagen synthesis also comes to a halt with reduced estrogen levels, further compounding the issue. To keep skin firm and wrinkle-free, use moisture-rich serums containing pure hyaluronic acid.

Melasma

Characterized by brown patches of skin on the face, melasma is common in women struggling with estrogen dominance. This is because an abundance of estrogen stimulates the production of melanin, the chemical that gives the skin its pigment. To combat melasma, it is important to wear a natural form of SPF every day and adopt a skin-care regimen designed to control hyperpigmentation.

Incorporating a skin-care routine that uses pure, gentle, natural ingredients is an essential element in combating hormonal skin issues. Yet, for a truly powerful approach, some skin-care specialists can combine proper skin care with functional lab tests to assess hormonal status and modify dietary and lifestyle choices accordingly.

Kassandra Kuehl is the founder of Kasia Organic Salon, located at 822 W. 50th St., Minneapolis. Kasia Organic Salon is a pioneer of healthy beauty and is an authority on 100-percent natural products and services. For more information, call 612-824-7611 or visit KasiaOrganicSalon.com.

This article appears in the May 2013 issue of Twin Cities Natural Awakenings

The MANY Benefits of Protein Pack Bee Pollen and Smoothie Recipe!

Smoothie Recipe Key Beauty Ingredient:  Bee Pollen Benefits of Bee Pollen:  With signs of spring buzzing all around, it seemed appropriate to introduce the natural beauty powers of bee pollen. Considered one of the richest and purest natural foods ever discovered, bee pollen has incredible nutritional and medicinal value.

The pollen is actually the food of the young bee and contains a whopping 40% protein. It also contains a complete spectrum of amino acids, vitamins, minerals and enzymes. A teaspoon a day will fill you with an extremely high amount of antioxidants which we love for beautiful and health skin, by preventing free radicals that are produced from stress, chemicals and toxins from our day to day lives. Local bee pollen is also known to prevent seasonal allergies—you can bet I’m taking my daily dose I picked up at the farmer’s market!

Buzzing Bee Pollen Smoothie Directions:

Fill blender with…

• 8 oz unsweetened almond milk
• 2-3 handfuls organic purple kale
• 1 tsp bee pollen
• ¾ c frozen organic blueberries
• ¼ avocado
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• 1 tsp ground flaxseed
• local raw honey to taste

Blend ingredients until smooth and enjoy your Buzzing Bee Pollen Smoothie.

Kasia's Seal of Approval:  Premier Research Labs Classic Pollen

Ancient Super Nutrition for Super Health & Longevity

• Support for endurance, strength, stamina*
• Support for mental clarity*
• Immune competence support*
• Reproductive system support*
• Advanced anti-aging support*
• Pure Vegan
• 100% Raw
• Manufactured in a GMP Registered facility for superior quality assurance

The outstanding benefits of pollen have been documented through centuries of use: endurance, strength, stamina, mental clarity, immune competence, reproductive system support and advanced anti-aging*

Bee Pollen contains 18 vitamins, carotenes, 56 minerals, all 22 essential amino acids, over 5,000 enzymes, polysaccharides and simple sugars, nucleic acids and 15% lecithin (different from soy lecithin) that is especially good for brain development.

This is an alkaline food that is considered by many to be one of the most complete food sources found in nature. Bee Pollen is loaded with antioxidants, it is a hormonal booster and increases strength, endurance, energy and speed. It reduces the presence of histamine, thus ameliorating many allergies. It is the most powerful ojas building food as it is the concentrated semen of the plant world. For all these reason, this superfood was known to the ancient Greeks as "the food of the gods".

In our opinion, this wild pollen source is unquestionably, the freshest, cleanest, most alive source of bee pollen:  it is a genuine Super Nutrition from the most remote northern Canadian territory (not the typical, rancid, pesticided, "off-tasting" pollen which can actually be a toxic stress).

 YUMMY!

Contact Kasia Organic Salon for the BEST Source of Bee Pollen on the market.  kassie@kasiaorganicsalon.com.

References:  organicbeautytalk.com and Premier Research Labs

Having an 'Old' Hair Day: The New Anti-aging Complex

  As women, we are aware of the mighty combat of aging when it comes to our skin, but are we aware of those same effects in our hair?    At Kasia Organic Salon, we offer custom products that include various anti-aging creams, serums,  and treatments for your skin, but we are also well aware of the "hairy" needs of our Informed Beauties.  Have you started to experience "aging hair" symptoms?  Stick around and learn more about the importance of preventative care for healthy hair.

The Telling Signs and Symptoms

Going gray isn’t the only sign that women are wanting to address, there are many more such as addressing lack-luster hair, hair loss, and looking young and youthful.   For a younger women's perspective, it is highly advised to start and maintain a routine that prevents premature hair aging by taking the necessary steps to protecting it in its youth.

The biggest complaints older women have about their hair is that it feels thinner. People with severe hair loss typically turn to dermatologists for medicinal treatments for hair regrowth.

"Do No Harm"

Unfortunatly  your hair will age as you do. Working behind the salon chair has given me perspecitve to the many signs of aging hair.  At Kasia, we find it incredibly important to use a "DO NO HARM" hair color that is rich with fatty acids, an even pH, and nourishing botanicals to keep the color from fading, keeping it on tone, and absolutely rich and shiny.  We use a professional grade Ammonia FREE, PPD, Gluten Free, hair color to achieve this.  BUYER BEWARE: Not all "ammonia free" hair colors are the same.  Read the fine print for any sneaky ingredients to substitute what the company has removed.

Decreasing Follicle Diameter

Starting in a person's late-30s and early-40s, the strand diameter decreases creating a thinner overall appearance.  (Dr. Thomas - P&G's)

There are steps you can take to protect your hair without products.  Remove catalysts that cause repeated tension like wearing your ponytails super tight. We also suggest staying out of the sun and its damaging UV rays as well as nourishing yourself by  eating a nutrient rich diet.

Age Defying Hair

Starting in a person's late-30s and early-40s, the strand diameter decreases creating a thinner overall appearance.

Layered on top of this, the hair  becomes more brittle and fragile. Most women immedicately notice their hair getting thinner.   The decrease in the number of active hair follicles and a narrowing of the diameter of each individual hair takes it's tole.   

Aging Defying Tips

At Kasia, our knowledgeable staff and our natural products are centered towards assisting the growing demands of our guests haircare in all stages of their life. For example, women over the age of 40 tend to wash their hair much less.  They also color more often, which leaves the cuticle dry and brittle.  We help our guests with their hair and skin needs  in a personalized way with professional grade color and every day product maintenance.  

For more on aging hair in a recent Wall Street Journal  in-depth article - link to the source link below.

Are You Having an Old Hair Day? [Wall Street Journal]

Kassandra Kuehl is the founder of Kasia Organic Salon. Kasia Organic Salon is the pioneer of healthy beauty that delivers results to fit your lifestyle, because only Kasia is the authority in 100% natural products & services.  Visit www.kasiaorganicsalon.com and become an "Informed Beauty."   

Face the Facts About Aging and Sugar

The surprising reason eating too much can cause wrinkles—and 5 steps to ensure that it won't

If the promise of a slimmer waistline hasn't curbed your sweet tooth, maybe the desire for smooth skin will. It's a bitter pill to swallow, but experts now believe that a lifetime of overeating sugar can make skin dull and wrinkled.

At blame is a natural process that's known as glycation, in which the sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful new molecules called advanced glycation end products (or, appropriately, AGEs for short). The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop. "As AGEs accumulate, they damage adjacent proteins in a domino-like fashion," explains Fredric Brandt, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Miami and New York City and author of 10 Minutes 10 Years. Most vulnerable to damage: collagen and elastin, the protein fibers that keep skin firm and elastic. In fact, collagen is the most prevalent protein in the body. Once damaged, springy and resilient collagen and elastin become dry and brittle, leading to wrinkles and sagging. These aging effects start at about age 35 and increase rapidly after that, according to a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Besides damaging collagen, a high-sugar diet also affects what type of collagen you have—another factor in how resistant skin is to wrinkling, says Brandt. The most abundant collagens in the skin are types I, II, and III, with type III being the most stable and longest lasting. Glycation transforms type III collagen into type I, which is more fragile. "When that happens, the skin looks and feels less supple," says Brandt. The final blow: AGEs deactivate your body's natural antioxidant enzymes, leaving you more vulnerable to sun damage—still the main cause of skin aging.

One group that knows all too well sugar's ravaging effects: people with diabetes, who—because they can suffer from years of undetected high blood sugar—often show early signs of skin aging. "Depending on how well their disease is controlled, diabetics can have up to 50 times the number of AGEs in their skin as those who don't have diabetes," says Karyn Grossman, MD, a dermatologist in New York City and Santa Monica, CA, and chief of the division of dermatology at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica.

The good news about sugar-damaged skin: It's never too late to turn back the clock. One way is to build new collagen with products that contain retinoids—look for retinol in OTC serums and lotions or prescription creams such as Renova, Avage, and Differin. To keep this new collagen supple, prevent AGEs from forming by taking steps to minimize the damage sugar causes to your skin.

Here, five steps to eat right and keep your skin looking its youngest:

1. Cut back on the sweet stuff in your diet. It's not easy to eliminate sugar completely. Even whole grains, fruits, and vegetables turn to glucose—the type of sugar that fuels glycation—when digested. But limiting added sugar can help. Some guidelines: Keep added sugar to no more than 10% of total calories. If you're a 45-year-old woman of average height (5-foot-4), that's 160 calories (or 10 teaspoons) from added sugar—about the number in one 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola or six Hershey's Kisses. By comparison, the average American consumes 31 teaspoons per day of added sugar, or the equivalent of 465 calories.

Watch for hidden sugar in food. Many prepared foods contain hefty amounts of sugar—but it's hidden under aliases—including barley malt, corn syrup, dextrose, fruit juice concentrate, maltose, maple syrup, molasses, and turbinado—on ingredient panels. The key is determining how many teaspoons of sugar each serving contains. Doing this is easy: Check the nutrition label for sugars, which are listed in grams under total carbohydrates, and then divide that number by four (each teaspoon of sugar is equal to 4g) to convert it to teaspoons. For example, if sugars are listed as 12g, you're getting three teaspoons of sugar per serving.

Avoid high fructose corn syrup. This type of sweetener, which is made by changing the sugar in cornstarch to fructose (another form of sugar), is believed to produce more AGEs than other types. Because HFCS extends the shelf life of foods and is sweeter and cheaper than other sugars, it's a popular ingredient in soda, fruit-flavored drinks, and packaged foods such as breads, crackers, and other snacks. You can spot it in ingredient lists on nutrition labels.

2. Supplement your diet with at least 1 mg of vitamins B1 and B6 a day. These vitamins proved to be potent AGE inhibitors in a number of published studies, says David J. Goldberg, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist and a clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. B1 and B6 are plentiful in food, but taking a multivitamin—most of which deliver at least 1 mg of both Bs—ensures you're getting the daily value of 1.1 mg for B1 and 1.3 mg for B6 (1.5 mg after age 50).

3. Wear broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen every day. Significantly more AGEs occur in sun-exposed skin than in protected skin, according to the British Journal of Dermatology study.

4. Employ an inside-outside approach to antioxidants. These free-radical fighters help keep sugar from attaching to proteins, so replenishing their supply—both by eating more antioxidant-rich fruits, nuts, and vegetables, such as cranberries, walnuts, and red bell peppers, and by applying topical antioxidants such as green tea and vitamins C and E—is a real skin saver. "It seems to be the best way to ensure that they reach the dermal layer of skin, where collagen and elastin are located," says Goldberg.

5. Use new ingredients that protect skin from sugar. A growing number of products contain compounds like aminoguanidine and alistin, which have been shown to block the formation of AGEs (see at left). "Aminoguanidine attaches to molecules that start the glycation process and prevents them from binding to collagen and elastin," explains Grossman. "Alistin acts as a decoy, so it gets damaged instead of the proteins in your skin." In a study on Prescriptives Anti-AGE Advanced Protection Lotion SPF 25, which contains both ingredients, skin treated with the product had 21% fewer AGEs after 8 weeks than untreated skin. Sweet!

Reverence: Prevention for Women:  By Karyn Repinski Read more: http://www.prevention.com/print/23567#ixzz2QSBB2oXZ

A Glutton for Gluten: Should Skin Care Be Gluten-Free?

by Dr. Diana Howard

What’s behind the growing phenomenon of gluten-free foods, and moreover, should it start crossing over into the world of skin care?

Gluten is the protein found in wheat, rye and barley flours that reacts when mixed with water. Celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder in which eating gluten causes the lining of the body’s small intestine to become inflamed. And, an emerging dietary trend is to eat cookies, cereals, pastas and even pizza dough that are gluten-free, as many people blame gluten for causing gas, abdominal pain and bloating.

As of 2009, only 1% of the world’s population has Celiac disease. What’s important to note is these are symptoms of eating gluten, not applying it to the skin!

On skin care ingredient labels, primary sources of gluten are listed as Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ) Oil or Extract and Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids. The U.S. FDA and WHO Codex Alimentarius have set preliminary thresholds of less than 20 ppm of gluten for a gluten-free claim. (This is more due to “analytical limitations” than anything else.)

Unfortunately, suppliers of raw materials don’t always certify the concentration of gluten in the raw materials that they provide skin care companies. And since the raw materials are not standardized with each batch (meaning they adjust each batch to contain a constant amount of gluten) the gluten content could fluctuate.

While many self-proclaimed experts claim any skin care product with gluten will penetrate through the skin’s barrier and trigger the disease, the Celiac Society disagrees. “Gluten molecules are too large to be absorbed through the skin. If you’re having a reaction to a personal care product (for example, a moisturizer or sunscreen lotion) that contains gluten, you may be allergic to one or more of the other ingredients.”

While it seems the whole world has got it in for gluten, The International Dermal Institute agrees with the Celiac Society and the many scientists that contend topical application is not an issue. Unless a product is used on the lips or in the mouth (think lip conditioners, lipstick, toothpaste or mouthwash), there is no need for concern. However, it is always up to the client and skin care professional to make the best possible choice for skin health.

Kasia Organic Salon simply shares articles that "Inform Beauties" of the everyday conversations within our beautiful health and personal care purchases.  The following article does not reflect our opinion, although creates a case of critical thinking.   - Kassandra

Rosacea Signs and Supportive Lifestyle Tips

April is National Rosacea Awareness Month and we find it appropriate to take the opportunity to explore this very common skin condition with our readers.

The Facts:

According to the National Rosacea Society, rosacea.org, over 16 million Americans suffer from rosacea, many without even knowing they have it.  It is most common in people age 30-50 and individuals with fair skin.  Those who tend to flush or blush easily are believed to be at greatest risk.

Even though this disorder is more frequently diagnosed in women it can be more severe in men. The most common signs of rosacea include: flushing, persistent redness, bumps, pimples, and visible capillaries. Other less prevalent signs range anywhere from burning or stinging, dry skin, plaques, skin thickening, swelling, and eye irritation.

There are 4 types of rosacea (AAD): 

  erythematotelangiectatic rosacea which is flushing, persistent redness, and visible capillaries

papulopustular rosacea which has persistent facial redness with bumps or acne-like breakouts

phymatous rosacea described as skin thickening and enlargement bumpy texture

ocular rosacea affecting with symptoms of watering, bloodshot appearance, irritation, itching, gritty feeling, burning or stinging

Symptoms can have such an effect on self esteem that 41 percent of rosacea sufferers reported it had caused them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements (National Rosacea Society).

Common treatments include antibiotics, azelaic acid, isotretinoin, lasers, dermabrasion, and in severe cases electrocautery and surgery. Kasia Organic Salon's skin specialist uses professional  products that deliver  great results in treating rosacea with a more holistic approach instead of just treating the symptom on the surface.

We recommend healing and calming inflammation both internally and in the skin.  When we increase the skin's ability to heal using ingredients that partner with the skin instead of having potentially harmful side effects, we see redness disappear, capillaries become less visible, thickening of a thinned dermis, and all over improvement in skin tone.

Doctors are still trying to determine the etiology of rosacea but according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

The Determining Genetic Factors Include:

1. Rosacea tends to run in families, and found in individuals with an over active immune system.
2. H pylori, since it is commonly found in rosacea sufferers but not all individuals with H pylori have rosacea
3. The demodex mite which lives on everyone's skin but is found in larger quantities in rosacea.
4. A protein called cathelicidin which normally protects the skin from infection but causes the inflammation seen in rosacea.

Though the medical community does not yet know the direct cause of rosacea they are starting to recognize intestinal influences.

Rosacea Inspired Diet

It is best to emphasizes on anti-inflammatory foods that work to reduce vascular flushing. Anti-inflammatory foods are generally plant-based, mineral dense, and minimally processed. Fruits and vegetables, especially dark and leafy greens, help to reduce inflammation. A rosacea inspired diet is an alkaline diet that includes cleansing vegetables, low-sugar fruits, low to NO grains or dairy,

rich bone broth soups, juices, salads and omega oils.

• Mineral water spritzers can be made from still or effervescent mineral waters (like San Pelegrino or San Faustino). These mineral waters can be combined with a few drops to a couple of ounces of any juice. Pomegranate, apple cider, lemon, lime and acai juices are suggested here. Mineral waters offer an easy way to boost dietary mineral intake.

• Emphasize anti-inflammatory foods that work to reduce vascular flushing. Anti-inflammatory foods are generally plant-based, mineral dense, and minimally processed. Fruits and vegetables, especially dark and leafy greens, are particularly anti-inflammatory.

• Limit hot and stimulating foods that dilate blood vessels. Allow food and beverages to cool slightly before consuming them. Limit intake of coffee to one cup per day. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, spicy foods with tomatoes and peppers, and sodas and sweets that can aggravate vascular inflammation.

• Eliminate fried and fast foods along with artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavors. In general, opt for whole foods found complete in nature.

• A vegetarian diet is not required. But it is important to strongly emphasize anti-inflammatory, plant-based foods like beans and nuts, complete whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and quality oils like olive oil.

• Limit meat, saturated fats, dairy that contribute to inflammatory pathways. When consuming animal products, select organic or wild or grass-fed varieties to avoid genetic engineering, supplemental hormones, and antibiotics that can leave these foods far from what nature originally intended them to be. Opt for lean, organic meats and organic eggs when consuming them. You may want to strictly exclude dairy from your diet for six months to observe the impact it has on your body and rosacea symptoms.

• If it's too difficult to transition to this entire diet overnight, transition meal by meal. Be patient and persistent. Be prepared to practice this diet at a minimum of 90% compliance for a minimum of three-to-six months to determine its potential impact on your rosacea.

• Wholesome snacks are included to avoid blood sugar spikes and crashes that can feed inflammation. Snacks are also included to avoid consumption of very large meals which may generate larger amounts of heat in the digestive process.

Supplements

There is also a lot more you can do about your diet besides discovering triggers. Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat, especially dark green vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach, kale and asparagus. Look for foods high in vitamin A, beta-carotene, bioflavonoids and vitamin C and add them into your diet.

• B-vitamins: choose a good B-complex, with many different forms of B vitamins.
• Vitamin E: is both a great antioxidant and helps skin to heal.
• Vitamin A: is essential for skin health and healing. Be careful about dosage with vitamin A. High amounts of vitamin A (over 8,000 iu) are harmful to fetuses and should not be used by anyone who has the chance of becoming pregnant.
• Zinc: helps speed wound healing and has been used in acne.
• Essential Fatty Acids: fish and flax oil are great for the skin and the entire body.
• Selenium: is a great antioxidant and helps support skin health.

Kasia's skin specialist are here to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms to provide products that can help to alleviate discomfort, which  helps to change lives.    Whether you suffer from rosacea, or not -  a home care regimen will help the recovery process with an Kasia Anti-inflammatory Organic Facial specifically designed for our guests.

Call 612 824 7611 Today!

Reference:

Jamie Palmer/Osmosis.com dermaharmony.com