April 28, 2014
GLOW is pleased to feature a post by an outstanding aromatherapist, Colleen Thompson. Colleen has worked in the field of Aromatherapy since 1995 and has been a Registered Aromatherapist since 1998. She was the owner of two Saje franchises from 1996 – 2002. After leaving Saje, she operated her second aromatherapy business, TAP from home for 2 years and then opened her combination aromatherapy retail store and spa (TAP) in Fort Langley, BC. Colleen Thompson is the President of the Board of Directors of the British Columbia Association of Practising Aromatherapists (BCAPA), is on the British Columbia Alliance of Aromatherapists Board of Directors (BCAOA) as Secretary and is on the Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists Board of Directors (CFA) as Secretary.
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I must admit I’ve never had great skin but in my mid-thirties it really started to act up. It started with redness on my cheeks and nose and would really act up when I ate spicy foods, had a little wine or was lacking in sleep. As time went on I started to break out in large pustules and my nose would become quite red and would throb. My doctor diagnosed it as adult acne and put me on antibiotics, which didn’t help at all. I started going for weekly facials and buying more and more expensive skin care products in search of a remedy but nothing worked, and in fact some products made it worse. It wasn’t until I became interested in aromatherapy about five years later that I realized I had a condition called Rosacea.
Rosacea is a chronic and often complex disorder of the facial skin that that is becoming increasingly widespread as the large baby boomers generation enters the most susceptible ages. It is often characterized by flare-ups and remissions.
Often referred to as adult acne, this typically begins any time after age 30 as a redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that may come and go. In some cases, rosacea may also occur on the neck, chest, scalp or ears. Over time, the redness tends to become ruddier and more persistent, and visible blood vessels may appear. Left untreated, bumps and pimples often develop, and in severe cases the nose may grow swollen and bumpy from excess tissue. In some people, the eyes are also affected, feeling irritated and appearing watery or bloodshot.
Because of its red-faced, acne-like effects on personal appearance, it can cause significant psychological, social and occupational problems if left untreated.
Once I realized that I was dealing with an entirely different skin condition from my doctor’s diagnosis I immediately stopped using the expensive skin care and going for the weekly facials that were obviously doing nothing for the condition and were causing a serious hit to my pocketbook. I began researching essential oils that were reputed to be beneficial for rosacea with no real expectation that they would have much effect. I was in for a pleasant surprise when the pustules and redness immediately started to decrease and to be honest I would have been satisfied with just that outcome, however as time went on my skin became more healthy and vibrant. Now 20 years later, my rosacea is no longer an issue, my skin is clear and glowing and my pocketbook is much happier!
Essential oils to use for rosacea include:
Top: Bergamot, Cajeput, Lemon
Middle: Chamomile (German), Cypress, Geranium, Lavender, Peppermint, Petitgrain
Bottom: Frankincense, Helichrysum, Neroli, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood, Vetiver
The Sensitive Skin Serum from Glow along with the Refresh Toner both contain some of the above essential oils along with some excellent hydrosols that are also recommended for Rosacea.
Colleen Thompson RA®; EOT®; CAHP.
For more information on Colleen Thompson and her work visit:
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