Is Redness or Rosacea Bothering You?

I‘ve been working as a herbalist for almost three decades and during that time I‘ve seen a lot of patients with rosacea or facial redness. There‘s no doubt in my mind that your skin reflects your physical and mental health so in my experience, treating redness or rosacea with topical creams is not always enough. Treating it from the inside is just as important, as is the case with most skin problems.

Rosacea is a common skin disease that‘s characterized by redness, pimples and spider veins, but other symptoms include swelling and dry skin. This problem is more common in women and is more likely to develop in people after 30. During menopause, it‘s common for women to suffer from rosacea alongside hot flashes.

• Redness in the face can be compared to sunburn and is a result of increased blood flow through the facial veins. Patients can also experience a burning sensation.
• Pimples are a common accompanying symptom of rosacea and can look like acne. They can be pus-filled and inflamed.
• Spider veins are common in people with rosacea, especially if they‘ve had the disease for a long time. It‘s thought that they form through repeated flushing of the face.

The cause of rosacea is unknown but there are many theories. It‘s been connected to helicobacter pylori, which is a type of bacteria that can live in the stomach and cause gastritis. Another theory suggests that rosacea has something to do with Demodex mites but neither of these have been proved by research. Rosacea can also be caused by certain medications such as blood pressure medications and topical steroid use. Rosacea is a chronic disease but the most popular remedy is antibiotics, both topical and oral for a long time.

If you have redness or rosacea I recommend that you avoid the following:

• Hot drinks, especially coffee, black tea and hot chocolate
• Alcohol, energy drinks and carbonated drinks
• Spicy food (chili, cayenne pepper, black pepper, ginger)
• Chocolate (that includes dark chocolate)
• Sweets and cakes
• Dairy products
• Gluten

When I treat patients with rosacea in my consultation I use the method of exclusion, which involves cutting out gluten, dairy and sugar for a certain amount of time. This usually works and makes it easier for the patient to find out what food he should avoid because that varies from person to person. Sometimes it can also help to eat less red meat and avoid citrus fruits, tomatoes, strawberries and shellfish. I often recommend the use of probiotics, but most important of all I recommend eating plenty of vegetables and fish.

I’ve treated rosacea orally with herbs many times and there’s no doubt in my mind that they can be helpful. If rosacea is connected to menopause there are many effective herbs to aid hormonal balance and reduce hot flashes. My experience has shown me that there’s a direct connection between digestion and skin problems and that’s the case with rosacea. I’ve often used herbs to balance digestion but the most common problems I’ve seen connected to rosacea are heartburn, gastritis, bloating and constipation.

Don’t use cosmetics, hair products, soaps and creams that contain bad and irritating ingredients. Here you can read about the Top Ten Toxic Skincare Ingredients to Avoid.

• Don’t rub or scrub your face
• Avoid sunlight
• Don’t take hot showers or baths
• Get enough sleep (8 hours) because sleep is the basis of health
• Eat slowly, not too much and not after 7 pm
• Avoid exercising strenuously but move regularly (I recommend walks and yoga)
• Do everything you can to reduce anxiety and stress because mental health has a direct effect on rosacea

When I made my first moisturizer my main goal was that it would provide intensive moisture. I had no idea that I had made a natural remedy for rosacea and not long after, people started letting me know that my Divine Radiance Moisturiser worked wonders as a rosacea cream. Since then I have received more praises than I can count from people that are happy with its effectiveness against rosacea. Later, my Divine Healing Cream became the newest addition to my rosacea collection. It provides extra moisture and has a cooling effect. Pimples are an accompanying symptom of rosacea and I recommend my Acne Healing Extract which is a natural acne treatment. I wholeheartedly recommend my Rosacea Relief Value Set which contains the Divine Radiance Moisturiser, the Divine Healing Cream and the Acne Healing Extract.