Dr. Thornfeldt

Dr. Thornfeldt, selected twice as one of the top 50 doctors in the US gives us some amazing info about rosacea, sensitive skin and Epionce, his skin care line.

About Rosacea: Rosacea is a very common skin condition. At its most basic level, rosacea is an excessive blood vessel response to dilating stimulates - such as caffeine, foods, alcohol and most importantly, ultraviolet A light. This hypersensitivity also drives excessive activity and enlargement of glands in the skin which causes the skin to thicken.

Aging skin aggravates rosacea due to atrophy of the skin and telangectasia, which is small dilated blood vessels. Sensitive skinned people are also more susceptible due to abnormal skin barrier which allows an increase of environmental insults to the skin, which activates the disease. People who live at high elevation and/or dry climates, and in locales with cold or dry seasons are also highly susceptible.

About concealing rosacea:

• Avoid aggravators listed above as well as kiwi and grapefruit.
• Also use sunscreens with UVA protection and ideally also contain anti-inflammatory ingredients such as date and/or antioxidants such as Vitamin C, E and ferulic acid.
• Maximize protective barrier function with moisturizers such as Epionce or Triceram, and products with niacinamide or skin protectants.
• Use green tinted mineral makeup to help cover up the redness.
• Use anti-redness moisturizers such as Eucerin Redness Relief, Epionce or Nia 24. Vasoconstrictive oral agents such as quercetin and green tea at the appropriate therapeutic concentrations are important as well.
• Ingest a diet rich in anti-oxidants and minimize pro-oxidants such as white sugar and refined flour.
• Prevent a flare up of rosacea when exposed to aggravators by taking a potent anti-inflammatory such as aspirin, and repeat 4 hours later.
• Use UV protective dietary supplements such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, ferulic acid, quercetin (found in apples), melatonin and green tea.

On sensitive skin: Sensitive skin afflicts 30-50% of females depending on the race. Contact allergic and/or irritant reactions to fragrance, formaldehyde and other preservatives definitely aggravate sensitive skin as do products such as harsh scrubs, wash clothes and products with alpha hydroxyl acids and retinoids. People with inflammatory auto-immune diseases and those taking lipid lowering drugs tend to be afflicted as well.

The major drivers of sensitive skin are abnormal skin barrier function and chronic inflammation. Optimizing the protective skin barrier and reversing and preventing chronic inflammation should be the major therapeutic goals coupled with avoiding the above mentioned aggravators. Products designed for improving sensitive skin include Aveenos Naturals with oatmeal, soya and feverfew, Nia 24, Epionce, and Eucerin Redness Relief.

Take oral skin barrier repairing agents such as flax seed and borage oils, ingest an anti-inflammatory diet such as South Beach and Perricone Prescription, and take supplements such as quercetin, the super anti-oxidant, which also is a potent natural anti-histimine, are documented to improve skin health.

Those with sensitive skin should look to avoid exfoliants such as hydroxyacids, retinoids, sodium laurylsulfate, fragrances, and certain essential oils such as lavender, tea tree oil and formaldehyde.

On Dr. Thornfeldt's inspirations: I knew I wanted to be a physician in the sixth grade, but it was during medical school that I felt called to a rural practice. I have had my practice in Oregon and Idaho for 24 years. In my practice, a large percentage of my patients have outdoor-related jobs, such as ranching or farming. The skin conditions they were struggling with, at that time could only be treated or kept in control through prescription products with very negative side effects, including sun sensitivity, which prevented them from doing their jobs.

I had continued doing skin research after my residency, searching for a way to help my patients without the side effects. After decades of research looking at how the skin works to naturally repair itself, Epionce was created. My goal was not to have the next skin aging product. I wanted products that would help me be a better doctor so my patients suffering from certain skin ailments could have relief and a better quality of life. After awhile I began to have patients telling me that it worked on their wrinkles as well. It was at that point that we started marketing Epionce as a skin aging product too.

On Epionce and aging: The root cause of skin aging is chronic inflammation. When the skin barrier is damaged, 7 inflammatory cascades begin. Retinols or anti-oxidants will only stop 1 or 2 of the path ways, leaving the rest to continue their destructive path that leads to the MMPs talked about so much today. Epionce stops 6 of the pathways, thus preventing the continuation of the long-term damage.

Epionce has a unique delivery system that delivers a blend of active botanical ingredients in therapeutic concentrations through the skin barrier to targeted cells without damaging it. Because the Epionce delivery system does not damage the skin barrier, there is no irritation that retinols and most other products cause.

Dr. Thornfeldt's Top Skin Tips:

• Protect your skin from sunlight and tanning. This is important because up to 80% of extrinsic skin aging is from sun exposure.
• Build your skin barrier. Keeping your skin healthy every day is just as important as brushing your teeth every day.
• Maintain a healthy, anti-oxidant rich diet such as South Beach.
• Take proper nutritional supplements with at least a multivitamin with minerals. Keep in mind that a high stress lifestyle needs even higher levels of nutrients such as Life Pak Nano. Do not price shop for these supplements, look for clinical studies.
• Maintain hydration with 50-100 ounces of water daily.
• Sleep is the most potent anti-oxidant. Make sure you get your sleep!
• Exercise at least 30 minutes per day 3 days a week.
• Control any diseases by taking prescribed medications, and following your physician's recommendations.

• You can find much more from Dr. Thornfeldt and Epionce at Epionce.com

  Suggestions come from Dr. Thornfeldt and do not represent the views of About.com

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