Rosacea is a skin condition that has symptoms including red areas on the face, small red bumps or pustules on the nose, cheeks, forehead and/or chin, a tendency to flush, and small blood vessels on the nose or cheeks. However, if you suffer from rosacea, there are some natural treatments that you can try in order to improve the condition.
Natural Topical Creams for Rosacea
There are some topical creams that have been shown to be effective in the treatment of rosacea. These include:
- Chrysanthellum Indicum Cream – this is an herbal cream that has been used for rosacea. It contains compounds that strengthen the capillaries in the face and it significantly improves the symptoms, especially facial redness.
- Green Tea Cream – this is another herbal cream that is especially useful for reducing the number of red bumps or pustules on the face.
- Niacinamide Cream – niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and it improves the skin barrier, increases the skin’s moisture levels, and reduces inflammation.
- Licorice – is another topical treatment that has been used for rosacea and it has been shown to improve facial redness significantly.
- Azelaic Acid Cream – this cream is derived from wheat, rye, and barley. It has an antimicrobial action that slows the growth of skin bacteria, and it is also useful for reducing redness, and bumps and pustules.
The Diet and Rosacea
It has been found that certain foods can be associated with the symptoms of rosacea. This is because some foods can cause the body to release chemicals that then dilate the blood vessels and cause a person to flush. Undertaking an elimination diet can help you to identify the foods that are troublesome to you personally, and you can then eliminate them from your diet on a longer-term basis. One of the most common allergenic causes of rosacea is an allergy or intolerance to yeast. As well as eliminating troublesome foods, you should also stay away from foods that cause the blood vessels to dilate such as spicy foods, alcohol, and coffee.
Some people that suffer from rosacea also suffer from indigestion, especially after they have eaten fatty foods. These people may be deficient in a pancreatic enzyme called lipase, which helps to digest fat. Supplements of this enzyme improve both the indigestion and the rosacea.
Apple cider vinegar taken orally is also a helpful home remedy for rosacea. This is because it can stimulate the release of digestive enzymes and normalise the balance of bacteria in the intestines. It is available in both liquid and tablet form.
An inadequate intake of the B vitamin, riboflavin, caused by insufficient dietary intake or poor absorption, is also associated with rosacea. This is because a certain mite is found in higher numbers on the skin of people that suffer from rosacea, because of a deficiency in riboflavin. An increased number of mites can cause the pores to block or allow bacteria to grow on the skin.
Laser Treatment
Finally, laser treatment can be used to reduce the appearance of dilated blood vessels or skin irregularities that have been caused by rosacea. It works by using a light to heat and destroy the dilated blood vessels.
Originally published on May 26, 2008
