5 Natural Remedies And Recipes To Treat Rosacea

Rosacea can take many forms in human adults and, thus far, does not possess a cure. Symptoms can appear as mild as a tendency to blush, or redden at the touch. Conversely, some symptoms create painful red bumps, acne, hive-like marks across the face and neck, or location-based inflictions. Some adults even inherit the less common burning rosacea of the eye.

Rosacea Management Methods

There are, however, various management methods. Outside of medication—which contains many of the following remedies as active ingredients or suggestions—there are many natural soothing methods and preventatives that negate flare-ups and decrease the chance of igniting powerful redness.

Rosacea is uncomfortable and lowers confidence for thousands of people. Hopefully, with the following suggestions and tips, you can find respite. Let’s look at the top five picks for managing rosacea:

Avoid Dairy

Foods that are high in acids and fats, like milk, cheese, and yogurt, contribute to rosacea flares. A diet high in dairy contributes to oil production in the face, which commonly irritates rosacea. Other allergens may concur with rosacea appearances. Observations show that adults who stop drinking milk see a significant decrease in the visibility of their rosacea. Most rosacea-sensitive diets suggest blocking dairy altogether, as they lack the alkaline properties that soothe rosacea from inside the body.

They may take experimentation, but adopting supplementary food groups can help calm, or even render invisible, rosacea rashes over time. Some suggest coconut milk as a viable milk-replacement, for the nutrients it contains and shares. Cheeses made with soy and rice, barring other allergies, can help alleviate the worst rosacea symptoms. Experiment with decreasing milk and substituting dairy items with other “cooling” foods and liquids.

Green Tea

Green tea became famous for its ability to reduce redness in the skin in a recent rosacea study. Patients that used green tea-infused cream developed far less redness and breakouts than the control group. Green tea contains antioxidants that revitalize the skin and enhance cell-turnover, while its toxin-absorbing capabilities reduce the bacteria and surplus yeast found on the surface of skin. In addition, green tea is cooling; tea compresses soothe breakouts and rashes efficiently and quickly.

Many capsule supplements for rosacea contain green tea; at home, however, wetting a tea bag with cool water can turn the tea into a compress. Apply the compress to the face for fifteen to twenty minutes. Green tea-infused creams do much of the same thing.

Other redness and acne-fighting remedies contain similar ingredients and achieve similar results. Green tea is mild enough to experiment, but other options include aloe vera, chamomile, or tea tree oil.

White Vinegar

White vinegar, as well as apple cider vinegar for some patients, can be used as natural toner. Dilute white vinegar before use—up to one tablespoon per six tablespoons of water. Use a cotton pad to lightly brush the wash onto your face, and rinse with neutral-temperature water.

White vinegar gently levels the skin, reducing redness, and neutralizes bacteria. Some studies believe that vinegar reduces flare-inducing yeast, found to irritate the skin.

Doctors warn, however, that all rosacea patients have different allergies, skin types, and rosacea conditions. Test the white vinegar compress on one unnoticeable section of the face, like the temple or cheekbone. After twenty-four hours, check for redness, burning, tightness or peeling. Even the mildest toners can harm the skin of a patient with rosacea. White vinegar will not work for all people.

Rose Water

Rose water dilutes the chemicals found in natural rosehip oil. Rose, like aloe, is a known salve for irritated skin and burns. Specifically, rose water and oil can treat scars and acne, blisters, sunburn, and other skin conditions. The cool water soothes and the antioxidants and vitamins found in rosehip replenish healthy skin cells.

Stores cell rose water, but you can also brew and cool a rose tea to use as a wash. Rose water can tone the skin, like vinegar, but milder. Rosehip oil on its own can be applied to problem areas with a cotton pad, Q-tip, or other applicant. Some suggest adding rosehip-infused teas to your diet, or using rosehip tea bags as a cool compress for the skin.

Rosehip can also be used in a ten to twenty-minute face mask. Mix a few drops of rosehip oil and one tablespoon of honey to a mask of choice, or on its own. Coat the skin and leave for ten minutes. The rose will penetrate the skin and deliver its vitamins and nutrients, and the honey will disinfect and moisturize the skin.

Stress Management

Some believe that, outside of what we consume, avoiding certain stressors can neutralize the body’s chemical balance and prevent high blood flow to the face. A high blood pressure and heart rate can immediately trigger rosacea symptoms, in the same manner that exercise and heat can redden most faces. When the human mind’s fight-or-flight instinct is breached, adrenaline, cortisol, and other chemicals are released into the bloodstream, tensing our muscles and raising our heart rate. For the rosacea-prone, however, these chemicals activate blood flow to facial capillaries and promote the painful red rash.

Most treatment items on this list help manage stress symptoms. In addition, increasing vitamin intake, getting enough sleep, meditation and deep breathing can restore heart rates, or keep them low throughout a day’s work. Consult a doctor or therapist if stress management levels become too high to ignore and prevent flaring rosacea symptoms.

Rosacea and other skin-reddening conditions, like dry skin, acne, eczema and others can affect an adult’s day-to-day life.

At least 16 million people across the globe suffer from some form of mild to severe rosacea.

Micro-managing potentially harmful soaps, detergents, perfumes and topical creams can sometimes feel tedious, but remember: rosacea is a manageable condition, made more easily treatable with proactive steps. Many of the soothing ingredients listed above come in the form of soaps and lotions for sensitive skin. Rosacea may not be curable, but adults need not suffer lifelong.