Rosacea is a skin condition that is easily recognizable by redness, bumps and pimples that appear on the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin. It can spread to the ears, back and chest.
Many people who develop rosacea tend to have family members who have it, which makes sense given recent research on genetic causes.
The specific cause of rosacea is still unknown, but there are many factors that can trigger it and there is a connection with both liver and gut health (see below).
Four types of rosacea
1. Facial redness
This type of rosacea manifests as persistent redness and flushing on the cheeks and nose with blood vessels that are often visible.
Dry, itchy skin and roughness may also occur. It is officially called Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea and is the most common subtype.
2. Acne rosacea
Breakouts, similar to acne, with bumps or actual pimples occur with this type of rosacea.
Some people also develop raised skin patches called plaques. This type is called papulopustular rosacea.
3. Swollen nose
In some cases, the skin of the nose thickens and becomes red, bumpy, irregular and swollen, but can also occur on the ears, chin and forehead.
This condition is also known as Phymatous rosacea. This subtype is more common in men than in women.
4. Ocular rosacea
As it sounds, this condition affects the eyes.
They may appear red and irritated, bloodshot or watery. The eyelids may swell up.
What can trigger rosacea symptoms?
Certain foods and alcohol
Common foods that lead to problems include:
Dairy products such as sour cream and cheese
Chocolate
Vinegar
Certain vegetables such as eggplant and tomatoes
Citrus fruits
Spicy food
Alcohol
Coffee
Fried food, trans fats and refined vegetable oils
Pay attention to what usually causes flare-ups for you specifically and avoid these triggering factors.
Stress, anxiety and anger
Stress and anxiety can cause symptoms to appear or make existing symptoms worse. Anger also has a negative impact.
Heat, sun, wind and humidity
Extreme weather conditions and strong sunlight negatively affect most people with rosacea.
What can you do?
You can make lifestyle changes if you haven't already done so. Think of rosacea as a "whole-body problem" and not just a skin problem!
There are many holistic measures you can take to prevent rosacea from causing painful or troublesome redness and irritation.
Your skin is ultimately a reflection of your overall health, how well you digest nutrients, whether you have any sensitivities or hidden allergies, how well-balanced your hormone levels are, whether you get enough sleep, and so on.
Remember that rosacea has nothing to do with poor hygiene but is caused by internal factors.
Stomach and liver health
There is often a connection between skin conditions – including rosacea, acne, dermatitis and psoriasis – and inflammatory diseases in the gastrointestinal tract, such as leaky gut syndrome, ulcerative colitis, SIBO symptoms, Crohn's disease and celiac disease.
The specific cause of rosacea is, as mentioned, still unknown but there is usually a connection with the stomach and/or liver.
Some believe that skin problems come from the liver and intestinal tract, for example eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, vitiligo and age spots.
Healthy liver function provides good metabolism of hormones and chemicals, they need to be eliminated from the body.
If this doesn't work properly, it can contribute to things like estrogen dominance or chemical overload that can trigger rosacea. Many people with rosacea have an overburdened liver.
Bacteria
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that can live in the digestive tract. Many people with rosacea have an H. pylori infection or often SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth - an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine that normally resides in the large intestine).
However, no human is exactly the same and not everyone who has rosacea has elevated H. pylori. Therefore, it's important that you find this out. You can get tested by a doctor for both H. pylori and SIBO.
Remember:
What works for one person may not work for another.
This is why treating rosacea is a process. If you are currently taking medication or using prescription cream, you can still support your body naturally - you do what's best for you.
Diet – What can I eat?
Diet plays a large, important role in your health. By choosing the "right" foods, you can give your liver and gut a break.
Organic vegetables, organic fruit and berries. Reduce your exposure to toxins and chemicals that can trigger skin reactions by buying organic. Chemical toxins are often triggering for those with rosacea.
Healthy fats such as coconut oil, olive oil, avocado, nuts and seeds (such as flax seeds and chia seeds).
High-quality "clean proteins".
Anti-inflammatory foods and herbs such as turmeric, ginger, garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, kale etc.), carrots and green tea.
Drink purified water with lime or lemon.
If you have the opportunity, we recommend drinking a glass of fresh celery juice every morning.
Managing stress
Just as important as diet is, it's good to manage any stress using various methods.
Reduce tasks, do relaxation exercises, allow time for recovery, spend time in nature, do yoga, get massage, listen to calming music.
Do things you enjoy that bring you peace. If you experience a lot of anger, that also needs to be addressed.
Anger triggers rosacea and according to Traditional Chinese Medicine is connected to an overburdened liver.
Supplements as support
Here are tips on supplements that can support rosacea. But remember that supplements are a complement to a healthy diet.
Good gut bacteria / probiotics. Good strains are: Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus longum and Lactobacillus plantarum. Note that several probiotic strains can increase histamine production which can be a triggering factor for rosacea. Certain strains like L. plantarum and L. longum can however help break down histamines. In case of SIBO and during antibiotic treatment, Saccharomyces boulardii or Spore Biotic is recommended until it's gone.
Evening primrose oil (GLA)
B-complex or B3 only
Zinc
Vitamin C
Selenium (extra important if you have amalgam fillings)
Astaxanthin
MSM
Vitamin D
Liver support
Glutathione
Dandelion
Schisandra
Turmeric
Calcium D-Glucarate (for hormone imbalance)
Herbs that counteract heavy metals
More herbs
It's important to take care of your liver to maintain good health.
What skincare can you use?
When it comes to skincare products, you should avoid makeup and creams with synthetic fragrances or perfume, menthol, peppermint, eucalyptus and witch hazel.
Avoid exfoliation, clay masks, heavy makeup on the face, drying face masks or products containing acids as well as excessive sun or heat.
Treat your skin with gentle products designed for sensitive skin and/or rosacea. The fewer but more natural products, the better.
Natural DIY skincare that works
Oats
With their anti-inflammatory properties, oats moisturize and deliver nutrients that help soothe redness and itching in rosacea.
Mix gluten-free oats with half as much water and spread over the face and irritated skin. Let it work for 15-20 minutes and then rinse with cold water. Pat the skin dry gently.
Green tea
Soak a face towel in green tea and place it on your face for 20-30 minutes. The nutrients cleanse and soothe your skin.
Raw honey
Raw honey is an excellent skin treatment. It protects against bacteria, acne and dryness.
Apply one or two tablespoons of honey, preferably raw, to your face for 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water. Do this a couple of times a week.
Turmeric
Mix turmeric powder or crushed fresh turmeric with regular organic yogurt.
Apply and let the mixture work for 15 minutes. Then rinse with warm water. Do this often to get the most out of turmeric's antioxidant and cleansing effects.
Skincare suitable for rosacea
Here are some tips on gentle products that work well when you suffer from rosacea. Remember to choose natural products with as few synthetic/chemical additives as possible.
Cleansing
These are gentle, non-drying and moisturizing organic facial cleansers. They cleanse deeply without disrupting the skin's natural protective mechanism, which is important.
There are several gentle coconut-based cleansers available
Many brands offer silk-textured cleansers for sensitive skin
Facial toner
Feel free to add moisture in the form of gentle facial toner. As a facial toner, anything that is astringent and not stimulating for rosacea works well.
Rose water, geranium water, lavender water work well.
Rose water
Lavender water
Geranium water
Tea tree water – for acne rosacea
Face cream
It's important to counteract dry skin with rosacea because dry skin becomes more easily irritated and can trigger rosacea.
Rose has particularly soothing, balancing and regenerating properties.
Rose-based moisturizers work well for rosacea
Soothing creams with ectoin are beneficial
Ultra-rich salves are good for exposed dry patches
Facial oil
Seal in moisture with an oil-based product. As an oil, blueberry oil is a good choice for rosacea.
Superfruit oil/serum – good as both serum, primer, on top of your face cream or as night oil
Apricot kernel oil
Jojoba oil
Carrot oil
Makeup
When you have rosacea, it can be difficult to find the right makeup.
Depending on which subtype you have, you might want something that can cover redness or hide texture, while being gentle enough not to make your sensitive skin more inflamed.
It's very important to use natural makeup that doesn't clog pores.
Corrective Primers & Concealers
To hide the red, you can use green. Why green?
Green is the opposite of red in the color spectrum. So when you apply green over red on lighter skin tones, it neutralizes the redness.
If you have olive-toned skin, it's a bit trickier - you'll need to experiment.
For darker skin tones, apricot and orange usually work best to neutralize purple and dark brown discolorations that darker-skinned people experience.
There are organic and vegan-friendly concealers available. Apply the concealer to red areas that need to be evened out to match your skin tone.
Mineral powder
Mineral powder is often popular for rosacea because it's a pure product that you don't react to and is excellent at toning down redness in the skin. They provide natural sun protection and cause less irritation than other types of foundation. However, if you have dry skin, you may need to mix the mineral powder with a cream or oil before applying.
HIRO mineral powders provide excellent coverage and sun protection which is important for rosacea. They contain 100% pure minerals and provide flawless coverage that lasts all day. Don't clog pores.
100% Pure Fruit Pigmented foundation powders are more like a mix between pressed powder and a lighter foundation. They provide medium coverage, matte finish and are completely natural. They don't clog pores.
Lipstick
Many people with rosacea find that bold lipstick colors give energy, instead of just trying to hide the areas that feel less appealing.
For example, a warm pink, an orange-red or a dramatic plum color – anything that brightens you up! All the lipsticks we offer are natural and without harmful additives.
What simple tips do you have for someone with rosacea? Share in a comment or write a question and we'll answer!
