by B.J. Armstrong

Hot July brings cooling showers,
Apricots and gillyflowers.  ---Sara Coleridge

The special flower for July is the water lily. Some flowers thrive in the hot July heat. The air is full of the hum of insects, and birds dart everywhere in search of food. July is a month of abundant life. It's hard to have an abundant life if you are faced with "Rosacea." It attacks men and women differently. Signs of rosacea normally show up on women's cheeks and chins. In men rosacea usually show up on the nose. People with fair complexions get rosacea more often, but it can effect anyone. They say that legendary comedian W.C. Fields had it. Although rosacea has no cure, you can take steps to manage this chronic disease.

To start with, you need to discover what sparks the rosacea flare-ups. It can come in hot July weather or it can come in cold weather. It can vary from spicy foods, alcohol, or hot baths. Anything that makes your face flush is a potential rosacea flare-up. Keeping track of your flare-ups will help to determine your

own personal management of the problem. Then, once you've determined what causes it, make some lifestyle changes to cope with rosacea.

"Diet seems very important," says Dr. Joel Bamford, a dermatologist at a Health System in Minnesota. The temperature of food makes some people flush. It's a normal thing; it's just more obvious for people with rosacea."

What you eat and drink has a big impact on your rosacea. Some common items are liver, yogurt, vanilla, eggplant, spinach, avocados, hot chocolate, coffee, and tea. Spicy foods and alcohol might present a problem for someone while another might associate theirs with dairy products. Whatever triggers your rosacea and you have a flushing episode, Dr. Bamford suggests chewing on ice chips for relief.

Other remedies for rosacea might be to stay indoors

between 10:00 am and 2:00 p.m. Make sure to use sunscreen, even on overcast days. In the winter wear a scarf to protect your face, stay away from harsh, grainy soaps and rough washcloths. Rinse with

lukewarm water and blot your face, do not rub it. It's so important to take care of your face if you have rosacea.

A survey by the National Rosacea Society found that 91% out of a total of 700 people with rosacea was caused from emotional stress. Most common signs of stress included anxiety, anger, frustration, worry, and embarrassment. Stress can make you blush and contribute to the appearance of rosacea. Some

stresses of life might be family, jobs, health, relationships, and social pressures. Looking at this list, one might think that everybody has rosacea. And you are probably right. The answer might be to "get rid of the stress." How to do that is a whole new article!

The good news is that 83% of the people in the survey who tried stress management said it helped keep rosacea flare-ups in check. If the problem is stress-related, then come up with a strategy to deal with the situation. Talk to a friend, minister, or a psychologist. Then avoid what's causing the stress.

Exercise is a proven way to reduce rosacea. But you can overdo that. Sometimes during heavy exercise you become too flushed and bring on a flare-up. A person needs to explore different relaxation techniques to see what works for them. Although rosacea has no cure, you can take steps to manage this disease. This July, make a plan for living with rosacea.

We spend more money in this country for health insurance than we spend for education. Shouldn't "prevention" be our slogan? It should be more important for us to know how to keep well; to know how to retain our health, than how to treat disease. Although that is important also. God wants everyone to have health.

"Beloved, I wish above all things that though mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
3 John: 2
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