Controlling Rosacea Through Stress-Management

Rosacea flushing usually occurs when the body becomes fatigued and/or stressed. The key to this is the autonomic nervous system (more specifically, the sympathetic postganglionic efferent nerves). Any activation of these nerves causes vasoconstriction of "body blood vessels" -- except in the "facial blush/flush areas" where it induces potent vasodilatation or flushing with the resulting "rosacea flush".Stress stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Lack of sleep stimulates the sympathetic nervous system with a minimum of 8 to 9 hours being needed nightly to reduce stress. Anxiety (fight or flight) stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. An increase in internal body temperature stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, whereas obviously a decrease in body temperature decreases the sympathetic system due to the parasympathetic system calming the system.The sympathetic nervous system is especially important to rosacea patients who tend to have one or more of the following: genetically weak blood vessels; damaged blood vessels from years of sun; damaged support system for blood vessels (collagen-elastic of skin); or an increased number of blood vessels.