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Rosacea Natural Treatment: Avoid Triggers and Reduce Social Anxiety

Tired of a burning red face? Do discomfort and embarrassment interfere with your daily activities? Try these rosacea natural treatment options to find relief.

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By UHN Staff • October 17, 2018

People with rosacea often experience negative impacts on self-esteem and confidence, which can result in anxiety, depression, and social isolation.

Rosacea is a very common skin disorder that occurs mainly in adults. Symptoms include redness, bumps, scales, visible blood vessels, and pustules on the face. It can be accompanied by stinging and burning sensations on the affected skin as well as watery and irritated eyes._[1]This skin disorder is characterized by chronic inflammation, abnormal immune response, and a compromised barrier in the epidermal layer of the skin._[1,2,3] To help better manage your symptoms, your rosacea natural treatment plan will need to take into account a variety of factors.

Care for your Sensitive Skin

The skin of people with rosacea is particularly sensitive. Keeping your skin moisturized can help to reduce stinging, burning, and the feeling of tightness._[1] Use gentle cleansers and moisturizers that are appropriate for sensitive skin, and try out different types to find one that doesn’t make your symptoms worse. Be sure to wear gentle sunscreen regularly to protect your skin from sun damage.

Avoid Triggers

There are many well-known triggers for rosacea. These include stress, sun exposure, warm temperatures, alcohol, and spicy foods._[2] These affect rosacea in a variety of ways. Stress, for example, contributes to skin inflammation through a complex relationship between the skin and the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems._[4] Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure on the skin produces reactive oxygen species, which contribute to inflammation as well; protecting your skin from the sun can help keep symptoms under control._[1,5] Keep a diary to identify your own unique triggers.

Check Your Gut Health

Bacterial imbalance in the gut may be playing a role in your rosacea. For example, an infection with bacteria called Helicobacter pylori has been associated with rosacea and getting rid of this infection may help treatment._[6] Dietary changes, such as eating more broccoli and garlic, may help kill H. pylori. Read more about H. pylori in 4 Causes of Gastritis That You Can Treat Yourself.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is also associated with rosacea._[6] SIBO is characterized by an abnormal level of bacteria in the small intestines. In a recent study, people with rosacea had a significantly higher prevalence of SIBO than controls, and eradicating SIBO (using antibiotics) helped to get rid of rosacea symptoms, as well. In 78 percent of patients, skin lesions fully cleared after the therapy. Those people who received placebo initially, but who later switched to the SIBO elimination treatment, showed rapid and dramatic improvements in their symptoms. 96 percent of people reported sustained remission at a nine-month follow up._[7]

Although antibiotics may be the first line treatment for eliminating SIBO, herbal treatments can be as effective, if not more effective, in treating this condition. Learn more about SIBO in SIBO Treatment with Herbs Is as Effective as Antibiotics; Combine with a SIBO Diet for Even Better Results.

Rosacea Natural Treatment Options: Herbs, Supplements, and Topical Applications

You may want to try some of the various rosacea natural treatment options that include herbs, supplements, and topical creams.

A very effective option is nicotinamide (also known as niacinamide), a B vitamin that is a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that helps a variety of inflammatory skin conditions, including rosacea. It also helps to stabilize the epidermal barrier in the skin._[5,8,9] It can be taken orally, or used in a topical cream. Talk to your doctor about proper dosage.

Other effective rosacea natural treatment options include Chrysanthellum indicum, milk thistle, MSM, feverfew, licorice extract, green tea, and aloe vera._[5,10,11]

Before trying any new topical therapies, test the product on a small area of skin first, instead of the entire face. People with rosacea have very sensitive skin, and even minor exposure to something new can exacerbate symptoms._[5]

Address the Psychological Impact of Rosacea

People with rosacea often experience negative impacts on self-esteem and confidence, which can result in anxiety, depression, and social isolation._[3] People report avoiding meetings at work or going out in public and other social phobias because of embarrassment and anxiety over their symptoms.

One study found that people with rosacea were significantly more likely to feel stress and social phobia than controls. The researchers determined that fear of blushing and appearing bright red provided a significant source of anxiety for these people, and suggested that treatments that target the fear of blushing could help. Further study on three subjects found that cognitive behavioral therapy helped to reduce stress, which benefited symptoms and the negative psychological reactions to them._[3]

Find a therapy that works for you, such as hypnotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, meditation, or counseling to lower any stress or anxiety you feel over your rosacea symptoms. This will benefit not only the condition itself (as stress can be a major trigger), but also your emotional well being as well.