Natural Remedies for Rosacea: Find Alternatives to Strong Prescription Medications

Natural Remedies for Rosacea: Find Alternatives to Strong Prescription Medications
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Symptoms and Traditional Treatment

Rosacea is a skin disorder that causes facial redness and affects over fourteen million Americans. A minority of sufferers may experience ear flushing as the primary symptom, causing bright redness and burning of one or both ears. The disease also may affect the eyes.

The cause of rosacea is unknown, but people with Northern European or Celtic ancestry seem to be more prone to develop the disease. Typically, topical antibiotics, or in more serious cases, oral antibiotics are prescribed. Besides these drugs, here are some natural home alternative treatments that may help. Note: With any of the topicals below, discontinue if skin irritation develops.

General Recommendations

Since certain foods and drink seem to bring on or exacerbate the condition, patients are advised to stay away from caffeinated or alcoholic drinks, and spicy foods. Stress can bring on the red flush as well.

Limit consumption of fats, particularly saturated fats that encourage inflammation.

Keep a diary of foods for at least one month to check whether food allergies are involved.

Use mild soaps without additives such as Tom’s of Maine with lukewarm, not hot water for cleaning the facial area.

Topical natural remedies for rosacea that may offer some relief include licorice, a parthenolide-free variety of feverfew, green tea extract, oatmeal, lavender, chamomile, and tea tree oil. [Source:: Wu, Jessica, “Treatment of rosacea with herbal ingredients,” Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 5(1) (Jan 2006), 29-32.]

Nutrient Therapy

  • Vitamin A: 25,000 IU (healing properties—do not take more than 8,000 IU a day if pregnancy might be involved).
  • Vitamin C: 3,000 to 5,000 mg a day in divided doses (restores capillary health and acts as an anti-inflammatory).
  • Primrose oil: 500 mg three times a day (for the linolenic acid in it, which helps the skin heal).
  • Pycnogenol: take as label directs
  • Kelp: 1,000-1,500 mg daily (improves skin tone)
  • Other supplements: Bromelain and turmeric both provide some help in controlling inflammation. Take as directed on bottle.

Homeopathic Remedies

The following homeopathic medicines are suggested by some practitioners:

Rhus toxicodendron

Calcarea silicata

Belladonna

Carbo vegetabilis

Warning

Do not self-diagnose. While there are many innocent causes besides rosacea for facial flushing there are also some serious medical conditions that produce similar symptoms. According to an article by Drs. Leonid Izikson, Joseph C. English III and Matthew J. Zirwas in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 55(2), August 2006, pp. 193-208S the following significant diseases may be a cause of flushes: carcinoid syndrome, pheochromocytoma, mastocytosis, anaphylaxis, and cancers of the thyroid, pancreatic or renal cells. Always consult a doctor when flushing is a concern.

Disclaimer

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Resources

National Rosacea Society: https://www.rosacea.org/index.php

Jacqueline Krohn, M.D., and Frances Taylor, M.A., Finding the Right Treatment. 2d ed. (Hartley & Marks, 2002).