Rosacea can be a serious problem. This skin condition causes redness and blemishes on the face, and can cause puffiness and swelling around the nose and cheek areas. In some cases it can hurt or itch. Rosacea can cause plenty of distress and emotional discomfort, even to the point where sufferers develop low self-esteem.
Rosacea is caused by a variety of different things, which is why treating it isn’t always easy. Learning what your particular triggers are is an important first step in eliminating rosacea from your life. Once you know what they are, you can avoid them wherever possible, and save yourself the discomfort and unhappiness that rosacea can bring when it flares up.
However, avoiding triggers is not the only thing you can do. There are some natural remedies and solutions that will also help.
Wear Sunscreen
The sun’s harmful UV rays can cause all kinds of damage to the skin including skin cancer. UV rays from exposure to the sun can exacerbate symptoms of rosacea, heightening the redness and making the puffiness much more pronounced.
Protect your skin from harmful UV rays with a high SPF sunscreen (above SPF 30). Even if the sun isn’t the cause of your skin problems, by covering up with cream you can reduce the red appearance and even encourage the swellings to go down, leaving you feeling much more comfortable.
Always check the label for ingredients. Some common ingredients in regular sunscreens can cause rosacea to become more pronounced. These ingredients include para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), alcohol, and different fragrances. It is better to look for sunscreen that includes silicone (this will read as cyclomethicone or dimethicone on the label) rather than alcohol. To be sure that your rosacea won’t be affected, using sunscreen made for children is a good option. The more natural the sunscreen is, the better it can help your skin.
Other ways to protect against the sun’s UV rays include wearing a hat to help keep the worst of the sun’s rays from your face, wearing UV absorbent sunglasses, wearing clothing that covers the arms and legs – lightly woven so that you don’t become too hot – and limit exposure where possible. Try to avoid the sun between 10am and 4pm as this is when it is as its most intense.
Change Your Diet
Your diet can exacerbate your rosacea symptoms. A poor diet that is not rich in fruit and vegetables can lead to skin problems such as blocked pores and rosacea. Eating well has many benefits attached to it, but giving you clearer, fresher, more healthy skin is one of the most obvious.
Eating more fruit and vegetables – particularly yellow or orange fruits and leafy greens which contain carotenoid phytonutrients (these help to fight sun damage) – is a must. Although eating fruits and vegetables won’t cure your rosacea, the symptoms can often be reduced and your skin will look less red and inflamed. Additionally, eating vegetables and fruit will improve your immune system, allowing you to more easily fight off disease. This could help to fight rosacea too.
It’s not all fruit and veg, though. You can also enjoy healthy fats in your diet including nuts, olive oil, fish oil, coconut oil, and avocados. These healthy fats should be enjoyed in moderation, but they are known to be natural stress reducers, and they regulate hormones too.
Lean proteins such as fish, grass-fed meat, and eggs can all help you to treat rosacea naturally. They boost the immune system, and that means your skin can fight off the infection with ease.
Plus, if you are suffering from rosacea and want to reduce inflammation naturally, try adding ginger, turmeric, garlic, onions, or even broccoli to your diet in larger amounts. Or drink green tea if you prefer. These natural immune system boosters can help your body fight the symptoms of rosacea much more easily.
Use Natural Cosmetics
Cosmetics can cover your rosacea, but they might be exacerbating your symptoms too. The ingredients you should steer completely away from include alcohol, exfoliating agents such as abrasive scrubs, witch hazel, menthol, eucalyptus oil, and fragrances amongst others.
Choose fragrance free cosmetics which contain fewer chemicals, and always carry out a patch test before using them. Consult a dermatologist for advice on choosing the right cosmetics for you.
If you want to give your skin a complete break and help it to heal itself, try going without make up for a week or so. Plus, speak to a dermatologist about the ingredients of make up and which ones to avoid.
Stress Less
Stress and rosacea are linked. Rosacea happens when blood vessels expand, and stress causes this to happen. When you stress you will sweat more, your blood will flow more quickly, and your pores and blood vessels will open up.
You can begin reducing stress slowly. Take a little time each day to do something that you enjoy. It might be reading a book, listening to music, doing yoga, meditating, watching TV… whatever it is, use that time to clear your mind and concentrate solely on what you are doing. Your stress levels will start to lower.
For stress that can’t be managed in this way, make sure you see a doctor as soon as you can, as they will be able to offer you ways to deal with your stress and this could include counselling and other methods.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that an estimated 415 million people suffer from rosacea across the world, studies are still ongoing as to how best to manage it. For some, it’s as simple as cutting down on caffeine and alcohol, and not going out in the extreme heat of the sun. For others, it can be a long journey of discovery with many varying factors determining how their skin reacts.
The best advice is to see an expert dermatologist. They will be able to help you manage your rosacea and control its symptoms more easily.
