Each April, Rosacea Awareness Month occurs. While this incurable skin condition affects millions of people, not everyone understands it. Rosacea is a skin condition that causes bright red skin, pimples, and even bulbous growths. It typically flares up when you’re stressed or have eaten a triggering food. Exposure to sun, wind, cold, and hot temperatures can also trigger a flare-up.
When you have rosacea, stress is one of the biggest triggers. When you’re a family caregiver with rosacea, how can you manage the stress and avoid the flare-ups?
What Causes Rosacea?
Research is ongoing. There are several theories. One is that the body reacts to the microscopic mites that live on your skin. Another is that it’s bacteria found naturally in the body that causes facial blood vessels to expand. There are also cases where rosacea seems to be genetic. People with pale skin, especially of European descent, have a higher prevalence of this skin condition.
Learning what triggers the flushing is key. Medications can help, but over time, medications may stop working. Options are to try something else. Learning to identify triggers and avoid them is ideal. When stress is a trigger, it’s hard to avoid it.
Tips for Managing Stress
Caring for an aging parent is stressful. It’s hard to avoid having bad days, and you’ll also have many good days. What becomes most important is learning how to manage that stress.
Learn to take deep, cleansing breaths. Yoga and Tai Chi are very good fitness programs when it comes to de-stressing. The two focus on stretching and moving while you focus on deep breaths. A deep breath that fully expands the lungs helps boost the hormones that help battle stress and aid the body to achieve a state of relaxation.
Eat the right foods. Processed foods and a lot of sweets don’t leave you feeling good. Eat plenty of fresh vegetables and lean proteins. You’ll feel better. Plus, sugar is often a rosacea trigger, so you may find a healthier diet helps ease some of the flare-ups.
Don’t be ashamed if you realize you can’t do it all. This is an important step in avoiding stress. Know when you need to take a break. While you go on a vacation, head out for a day with friends, or take a long walk, let homecare aides provide respite care.
Homecare services providers give you time to yourself while your parents have caregivers available to help with daily activities. Learn more about respite care by calling our homecare agency.