Best Natural Treatments for Rosacea

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC

Rosacea is one of those pesky, mysterious conditions that can often be rooted in the mind-body connection.  A frustration a lot of peoplewith rosacea have is that nothing seems to consistentlyhelp them manage their breakouts.  A new face wash or magic serum may work for a month or two, but those red blotches just keep coming back.
So what’s the trick?  A less is more approach to skincare, and a holistic approach to self-care and eating that nips those triggers in the bud.  Read on for some natural rosacea treatment facts you may not know!

Stress causes flare-ups

Stress, emotions running high, and even embarrassment can all trigger a flare-up of rosacea.  First and foremost, it is vital to have some really effective stress management techniques in place for when you start to feel those feeling bubbling up.  A regular yoga and/or meditation practice has been shown to be a significant aid to people with rosacea (just avoid Bikram or hot yoga, which can exacerbate symptoms!).  But when you’re starting to feel stressed or emotional, even just stopping in your tracks to take a 5-7 long, deep breaths with your eyes closed will work wonders!

Eat smart

Rosacea can actually have a lot of food triggers, and is linked to the digestive tract.  Sugar, wheat, dairy, spicy foods, corn, and eggs are the most common triggers, so the best move is to do an elimination diet for at least two weeks and then gradually add the potential problem foods back in, one food per week, keeping an eye on your symptoms.  The only exceptions?  Sugar and spicy foods.  Keep these skincare bad guys out of your diet to keep your face as glowing and clear as possible!  Opt for an anti-inflammatory, skin-boosting diet of lots of veggies (particularly dark leafy greens), whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, and omega-3 rich fish.  

Drink Smart

Alcohol is another major rosacea trigger.  I hate to tell you, but you’re going to have to cut down on the wine and booze!  Although wine has the strongest effect in triggering a flare-up, all forms of alcohol are bad guys here.  A study by the National Rosacea Society found that 9 out of 10 patients reported a significant improvement in breakouts after avoiding alcohol altogether.  If you must imbibe, opt for brown liquors, which are less inflammatory to the skin.  Of the helpful beverages, green tea takes the cake.  It has an amazing, anti-inflammatory effect on skin… Opt for one cup a day instead of coffee, but skip the sugar (stevia, raw honey or agave are great!), and make sure it isn’t too hot, as heat is another trigger!

Supplements can help

There are actually a lot of dietary supplements that have been shows to drastically improve rosacea flare-ups long-term.  Omega-3’s antioxidants are key for fighting inflammation, and you can boost your dietary intake by taking a 1-2 punch of flaxseed oil and grapeseed extract.  Take it in capsule form, or use liquid flaxseed oil on your salads, in your smoothies, or drizzled on pretty much whatever (at least 2 tsp per day), and take about 50mg of grapeseed extract daily.  Probiotics have also been shown to greatly improve rosacea by restoring healthy intestinal flora and balancing the digestive tract.  Take a dairy-free probiotic everyday, or if you’re sure that dairy is not one of your triggers, opt for a Greek yogurt rich in live active cultures.  Turmeric is another amazing anti-inflammatory supplement.  You can mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder into a glass of water (which is a little strong for my taste), or opt for turmeric in capsule form.  Lastly, a vitamin B deficiency can also cause rosacea flare-ups.   A high-quality liquid or sublingual B supplement can help stop flare-ups before they start!

Minimize your skincare regimen

Though there are are quite a few skincare products on the market geared toward rosacea, all but very few can actually make symptoms worse long term.  Rosacea skin is super sensitive to additives, chemicals, and synthetic ingredients, which means a less-is-more approach to skincare tends to work best.  And guess what?  You may already have your miraculous rosacea skincare treatments in your pantry!  Instead of washing your face with drying soaps and harsh cleansers, the best solution (for rosacea as well as almost any skin problem, like acne!) is oil.  Yes, oil!  Cleansing your face with pure, natural, organic oils actually balances your skin’s own oil production, unclogs pores, soothes and moisturizes the skin, and combats inflammation and redness!  It’s best to use a combination of olive oil and castor oil in a 2:1 ratio.  You can mix up a large batch to keep in a bottle.  Wash your face with the oil every night by first massaging it into your skin for a minute or two, and then covering your face with a hot washcloth (not uncomfortably hot) for a minute to open up your pores and let the oil do it’s business.  You can keep soaking your washcloth in hot water, ringing it out, and gently wiping the oil from your face until it’s mostly washed off.  Pat your face dry, and you’re done!
If you’d like, you can follow this with a toner of raw, unfiltered, organic apple cider vinegar on a cotton pad.  Apple cider vinegar has an amazing effect on skin ailments like rosacea, perioral dermatitis, and breakouts!  (Read about The Magic of Apple Cider Vinegar).
In the morning, you can actually just rinse your face with warm water, and you’re all set!  If you need a little more moisture, just dab on a tiny bit of your oil mixture.  No need for expensive, speciality moisturizers that still run the risk of irritating your sensitive skin!  Hemp seed oil can also be used as a great anti-inflammatory moisturizer.

Go natural with makeup

As much as possible, opt for natural, talc-free mineral makeup, rather than heavy foundations or chemical laden products. A green-tinted base with mineral sun protection will minimize redness without triggering a flare-up.  Use gentle, soft brushes, and go easy on the blush and bronzer, since your face already has some natural red color.  To offset the redness of your skin, use cool-toned lip and eye colors.  As with all your skincare, less is more!  Focus on sun protection, and natural, minimal ingredients.