Vaso-constrictor/dilator confusion

[Guest guest]

Dear List,

I am confused. Simplistically, I read that serotonin contracts smooth

muscle and is a vaso-constrictor (raises blood pressure). Then, I read

that histamines contract smooth muscle and are vaso-dilators.

How should I interpret these two terms? A vaso-constrictor sounds good

on the face (no pun intended) of it since naively it says that blood

vessels " shrink " ...a good thing for rosacea I would think. However,

shrinkage of the large vessels would result in a raise in blood

pressure...a not so good thing for rosaceans since it would increase

blood flow to the face (or whereever).

Likewise my terminology confusion with histamines...a vaso-dilator.

Doesn't sound great for a rosacea face...but, if applied to large

vessels, it would lower blood pressure and consequently blood flow to

the face (or whereever).

ceans are advised to avoid both serotonin and histamines. Seems

contradictory from my position of " a little knowledge is a dangerous

thing " .

Has anyone figured this out?

Sallie

[Guest guest]

Dear JE,

I have seen references to it in many places, most I can't lay my hands on

right now. I've included some URLs you can check out. The main issue seems

to be that serotonin is a powerful vaso-constrictor -- it plays a major role

in blood pressure, hence flushing. The problem is that the body is a complex

terrain...there is no such thing as a simple answer. There are so many

feedback mechanisms regulating processes that a substance (such as serotonin)

that causes " x-response " in one set of circumstances can cause

" anti-x-response " in another. So, " it ain't easy " .

Some of these sources are not directly about rosacea...but, rather about

serotonin's role in related issues. The second URL is from Petelex2001 9/5

post on this forum...see his accompanying note too for his take on the

article.

http://www.jromano.com/skin/rosacea.html

http://www.science.com.br/henrys_corner/artigos_tecnicos/the_role_of_s

> erotonin_in_hot_flushes.pdf *

http://www.mni.mcgill.ca/nm/2000se/nm2000se_p3.htm

Sallie

elizabethjill2@... wrote:

> Where did you hear that rosaceans should avoid serotonin?

>

> JE

>

>

> > Dear List,

> >

> > I am confused. Simplistically, I read that serotonin contracts smooth

> > muscle and is a vaso-constrictor (raises blood pressure). Then, I read

> > that histamines contract smooth muscle and are vaso-dilators.

>

> >

> > How should I interpret these two terms? A vaso-constrictor sounds good

> > on the face (no pun intended) of it since naively it says that blood

> > vessels " shrink " ...a good thing for rosacea I would think. However,

> > shrinkage of the large vessels would result in a raise in blood

> > pressure...a not so good thing for rosaceans since it would increase

> > blood flow to the face (or whereever).

> >

> > Likewise my terminology confusion with histamines...a vaso-dilator.

> > Doesn't sound great for a rosacea face...but, if applied to large

> > vessels, it would lower blood pressure and consequently blood flow to

> > the face (or whereever).

> >

> > ceans are advised to avoid both serotonin and histamines. Seems

> > contradictory from my position of " a little knowledge is a dangerous

> > thing " .

> >

> > Has anyone figured this out?

> >

> > Sallie

[Guest guest]

Dear JE,

I have seen references to it in many places, most I can't lay my hands on

right now. I've included some URLs you can check out. The main issue seems

to be that serotonin is a powerful vaso-constrictor -- it plays a major role

in blood pressure, hence flushing. The problem is that the body is a complex

terrain...there is no such thing as a simple answer. There are so many

feedback mechanisms regulating processes that a substance (such as serotonin)

that causes " x-response " in one set of circumstances can cause

" anti-x-response " in another. So, " it ain't easy " .

Some of these sources are not directly about rosacea...but, rather about

serotonin's role in related issues. The second URL is from Petelex2001 9/5

post on this forum...see his accompanying note too for his take on the

article.

http://www.jromano.com/skin/rosacea.html

http://www.science.com.br/henrys_corner/artigos_tecnicos/the_role_of_s

> erotonin_in_hot_flushes.pdf *

http://www.mni.mcgill.ca/nm/2000se/nm2000se_p3.htm

Sallie

elizabethjill2@... wrote:

> Where did you hear that rosaceans should avoid serotonin?

>

> JE

>

>

> > Dear List,

> >

> > I am confused. Simplistically, I read that serotonin contracts smooth

> > muscle and is a vaso-constrictor (raises blood pressure). Then, I read

> > that histamines contract smooth muscle and are vaso-dilators.

>

> >

> > How should I interpret these two terms? A vaso-constrictor sounds good

> > on the face (no pun intended) of it since naively it says that blood

> > vessels " shrink " ...a good thing for rosacea I would think. However,

> > shrinkage of the large vessels would result in a raise in blood

> > pressure...a not so good thing for rosaceans since it would increase

> > blood flow to the face (or whereever).

> >

> > Likewise my terminology confusion with histamines...a vaso-dilator.

> > Doesn't sound great for a rosacea face...but, if applied to large

> > vessels, it would lower blood pressure and consequently blood flow to

> > the face (or whereever).

> >

> > ceans are advised to avoid both serotonin and histamines. Seems

> > contradictory from my position of " a little knowledge is a dangerous

> > thing " .

> >

> > Has anyone figured this out?

> >

> > Sallie