Special Skin Conditions

Rosacea

Rosacea, formerly called Acne Rosacea, is a chronic skin disorder that affects the physical and emotional well-being of 14 million sufferers. Most often, women with fair skin must cope with the day-to-day symptoms and the self-esteem issues that are often associated with it.

Rosacea almost always occurs between the ages of 30 and 60. It is identified at first by occasional flushing on the face (nose, cheeks, forehead and sometimes chin). It can sometimes be found on the neck, too. With time, the flushing becomes less episodic and more chronic, accompanied by papules and pustules. Dry skin can also be associated with this condition. If untreated, the long-range condition is a permanent swelling and disfigurement called Rhinophyma.

Since Rosacea may be affected by vascular changes, vascular triggers such as hot drinks, exercise, alcohol and spicy foods may cause the redness to flare up.

Rosacea is a mystery disease – there are many hypotheses as to its cause but there are no conclusive indicators. Genetic, gastrointestinal, infectious (organism and bacterial), immunological and environmental causes are all under review.

Therapies for Rosacea include oral antibiotics, cortosteroids and lasers. Many dermatologists today are using glycolic peels as part of an overall treatment protocol.

Fortunately, Kara Vita can offer relief to Rosacea sufferers with our Purifying line of products. We have had success over the years keeping Rosacea under control with the Purifying regimen. In the occasional event that a Rosacea customer’s skin is too dry for the complete Purifying line, we customize the regimen, sometimes substituting a hydrating or balancing cleanser or mist. In any event, we always recommend the Purifying Antioxidant Treatment for customers with Rosacea.

All Kara Vita products may be used with any therapies prescribed by dermatologists. We have no known contraindications to date.

Our Clearly It! may be a very successful protocol for Rosacea sufferers. It is currently under test.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is the most common chronic skin disorder seen by health professionals. The condition is a genetically-determined autoimmune disorder believed to affect 2-5% of the world’s population. Psoriasis is perhaps one of the most frustrating conditions to treat. Just as the appearance, symptoms and severity of psoriasis differ from sufferer to sufferer, so do responses to different treatments. Furthermore, unlike other autoimmune problems that can spontaneously resolve themselves, psoriasis rarely does.

With psoriasis, the skin cells (epidermis) shed about 7 times faster than the usual 28 days. These skin cells are immature, sticky and resist shedding, unlike those of unaffected people.

Making more skin means the blood vessels to the area are more numerous and are jammed full of blood. The skin, forming at a furious rate, cannot be shed off quickly enough, and the white silvery scales are seen on the surface of the blood-engorged patch.

Psoriasis not only affects the skin but also the scalp and nails. There are many types of psoriasis, and all may vary according to location, severity and symptoms. A few of the common types include: plaque type psoriasis, guttate psoriasis and erythrodermic psoriasis. Plaque type psoriasis is characterized by large confluent plaques that are red and often covered with a silvery white scale. Common areas include the scalp, knees, elbows and buttocks.

Guttate psoriasis is characterized by a small or “raindrop” appearance widely distributed on the skin. These lesions can be red and scaly.

Erythrodermic psoriasis is characterized by widespread, total redness of the body. This is a very severe form and may require hospitalization.

At the present time we are not able to offer treatment that will “cure” psoriasis, but we can offer considerable help in the relief of symptoms.

The Kara Vita Everyday Skin Penetrating Lotion has over 13 years of evidence-based data supporting the AMAZING relief given to psoriasis sufferers. Not only does their skin improve dramatically, but so does the quality of their lives.

Eczema

Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema is an inherited skin condition which often begins in early infancy. Typically this disease has periods when the skin is almost entirely normal and periods when the condition is more active. So the child may be troubled on and off for years and then just grow out of it as an adult. The doctor can’t predict the course of this skin condition and many never “grow out of it.” Individuals with a family history of asthma, hay fever, or dry skin seem to be more likely to develop this non-contagious form of dermatitis. When eczema is active, the condition causes itching, erythema (redness), inflammation, fine scaliness, irritated papules and crusty erosions. The itching can even become uncontrollable, and many patients will even scratch at their skin while asleep. There is no cure for eczema, but there is relief for the symptoms of dry skin and itching.

Dry Skin

Believe it or not, excessive dry skin may also be inherited. Furthermore, the individual with the inherited tendency for dry skin may not be affected until hormonal changes, environmental conditions, or nutritional problems stress the skin. Older clients, who produce less protective sebum on the skin, and young children, who don’t yet have that active oil gland function, are often troubled by dry skin conditions. Itching (puritus) is the most frequent skin symptom. It may be indicative of an internal problem such as Diabetes or iron-deficient anemia, which can and does create havoc with the skin all over the body.

The treatment of dry skin must be constant and requires an excellent emollient moisturizer such as Kara Vita’s Everyday Skin Penetrating Lotion. It easily provides the long-lasting moisture that is needed to minimize the development of continued dryness, while providing a sealing barrier to prevent further moisture loss.

Everyday Skin Penetrating Lotion has been proven in a double-blind study to treat the toughest of dry skin equally as well as the leading prescribed drug.