1. Apple Cider Vinegar
You Will Need
- 1-2 teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar
- 1 glass of warm water
- Honey (optional)
What You Have To Do
- Add a teaspoon or two of raw apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water.
- Mix well and drink the solution.
- You can add honey to improve the flavor of the mixture.
How Often You Should Do This
You can consume this once daily before meals.
Why This Works
The powerful anti-inflammatory properties of apple cider vinegar are no secret. Many individuals swear by it to treat inflammatory conditions like rosacea (5).
2. Turmeric
You Will Need
250-500 mg turmeric (curcumin) supplement
What You Have To Do
- Take 250-500 mg turmeric supplement daily.
- Alternatively, you can mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder with water and drink it.
- You can also make a paste of turmeric with licorice root and yogurt and apply it to the affected skin.
How Often You Should Do This
You must take turmeric once daily for its anti-inflammatory benefits. Seek your doctor’s advice before taking the supplement.
Why This Works
The curcumin in turmeric imparts exceptional anti-inflammatory properties to it (8). Turmeric can soothe inflammation whether it is consumed or applied topically.
3. Ginger
You Will Need
- 1-2 inches of ginger
- 1 cup of water
What You Have To Do
- Add 1 to 2 inches of ginger to a cup of water.
- Bring it to a boil in a saucepan.
- Simmer for a few minutes and strain.
- Drink the hot ginger tea once it cools down a little.
How Often You Should Do This
You must ideally drink this 2 to 3 times daily.
Why This Works
Gingerol, the active compound in ginger, exhibits anti-inflammatory activities that can alleviate swelling, inflammation, and redness caused by rosacea (9).
4. Aloe Vera Gel
You Will Need
Aloe vera gel (as required)
What You Have To Do
- Wash your face with a mild cleanser.
- Take some aloe vera gel and apply it to the affected skin.
- Leave it on for 30 to 40 minutes and rinse it off.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply aloe vera gel to your skin twice daily.
Why This Works
Aloe vera exhibits wonderful anti-inflammatory and healing properties due to its beneficial composition. It is thus another great option to manage rosacea symptoms (10).
Quick Tip
Freezing aloe vera gel and using it as an ice pack may relieve rosacea inflammation. Mix it with cucumber juice and freeze.
5. Raw Honey
You Will Need
Raw honey (as required)
What You Have To Do
- Take some raw honey and apply it evenly to cleansed skin.
- Leave it on for at least 30 minutes before rinsing it off.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this twice daily for best results.
Why This Works
Raw honey, especially manuka honey has been used for centuries to treat various skin problems (11). Honey has anti-inflammatory and healing properties that help manage the symptoms of rosacea (12).
6. Burdock
You Will Need
- 1-2 teaspoons of burdock root
- 2 cups of water
What You Have To Do
- Add one to two teaspoons of burdock root to a cup of water.
- Bring it to a boil in a saucepan.
- Simmer for about 5-10 minutes and strain.
- Allow the tea to cool down for a while and then drink it.
How Often You Should Do This
You must drink this 2 to 3 times daily for a couple of weeks to see results.
Why This Works
Burdock has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce swelling and inflammation in your body (13).
7. Chamomile
You Will Need
- 1-2 teaspoons of chamomile tea
- 1 cup of water
What You Have To Do
- Add one to two teaspoons of chamomile tea to a cup of water.
- Bring it to a boil in a saucepan and simmer for a few minutes.
- Strain and allow the tea to cool a bit.
- Drink it.
- You can also use chamomile tea as a toner or compress.
How Often You Should Do This
You can drink chamomile tea twice daily.
Why This Works
Chamomile is an herb with medicinal properties. It contains volatile essential oils that possess anti-inflammatory properties, which can help in dealing with the symptoms of rosacea (14).
8. Comfrey
You Will Need
Comfrey oil or creams containing comfrey
What You Have To Do
- Wash your face with a mild cleanser.
- Pat your skin dry and apply some comfrey oil/cream to it evenly.
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this 2 to 3 times daily.
Why This Works
Comfrey contains compounds like allantoin and rosmarinic acid, which exhibit soothing and anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe swollen and inflamed skin (15).
9. Green Tea
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of green tea
- 1 cup of water
- Cotton balls
What You Have To Do
- Add a teaspoon of green tea to a cup of steaming hot water.
- Steep for 5 to 7 minutes and strain.
- Refrigerate the green tea for an hour.
- Soak a cotton ball in some cold green tea and apply it all over your face.
- Leave it on for 30 minutes before washing it off.
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this twice daily.
Why This Works
Green tea polyphenolsi XA class of organic compounds found in plant-based food that protects the body from UV radiation due to their antioxidant properties. possess anti-inflammatory activities that can help reduce inflammation, swelling, and redness that surface with rosacea (16).
10. Oatmeal
You Will Need
- ½ cup of ground oats
- ¼ cup of water
What You Have To Do
- Grind half a cup of oats.
- Blend the powdered oats with one-fourth cup of water.
- Apply the oatmeal mixture to the affected areas.
- Leave it on for at least 20-30 minutes before rinsing it off.
How Often You Should Do This
You can apply an oatmeal mask twice weekly.
Why This Works
Oats contain phenolic compounds called avenanthramides that exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties. These activities can help reduce inflammation, swelling, and irritation caused by rosacea (17).
In addition to these remedies, following an anti-inflammatory diet can also help a great deal in alleviating the symptoms of rosacea.
Best Diet For Rosacea
What To Eat
Anti-inflammatory foods that can help reduce rosacea flare-ups include:
- Berries
- Cardamom
- Zucchini
- Turmeric
- Nuts
- Melons
- Garlic
- Leafy green veggies
- Grapes
- Asparagus
- Coriander
- Celery
- Probiotics (yogurt, kefir, fermented foods)
Also including foods rich in Vitamin C and zinc may help with the condition (18), (19).
Julie B Campbell, a blogger, shared how she plans to try a customized anti-inflammatory diet to control her rosacea condition. She writes, “So here’s the plan: I’m going to follow my own unique form of anti-inflammatory rosacea diet that is somewhat of a combination of the MIND Diet and Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet. At the same time, I’m tweaking the strategy so that it will exclude (or limit) foods that are known rosacea triggers for me (i).” For example, instead of red wine, she would try eating red grapes.
In another blog post of hers, she adds, “I do make conscious food choices with anti-inflammatory foods in mind and have also made a concerted effort to reduce my intake of added sugars (not the natural stuff found in fruit, but the added stuff to sweeten products) (ii).”
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can also help reduce inflammation. These foods include:
- Fatty fish like salmon
- Ghee
- Fish oil
- Flaxseed oil
- Walnuts
- Chia seeds
What To Avoid
Some foods can have a negative impact on your condition and can aggravate the flare-ups. Hence, it is best to avoid such foods. They include:
- Sugary foods
- Refined foods
- Hot beverages
- White rice and pasta
- Processed vegetable oils
- Carbonated drinks
- Processed meat
- Food sweeteners, preservatives, and additives
- Spicy foods
- Alcohol
- Foods that increase your body temperature like tea, coffee, cinnamon, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and chocolate
Foods that contain histamine or cause your body to release more of it can worsen symptoms of skin flushing and redness. Avoid these foods:
- Avocado
- Papaya
- Cheese
- Milk
- Buttermilk
- Sardines
- Shellfish
- Strawberries
- Tuna
- Vinegar
If your condition does not improve after following these methods, you should consult your doctor for personalized treatment options. Learn more about the treatment methods that they may suggest.
Rosacea Treatment Methods
Your healthcare provider might recommend topical treatments to alleviate inflammation. These include brimonidine and oxymetazoline for erythema (superficial skin redness), and ivermectin, azelaic acid, or metronidazole for inflammatory papules and pustules.
Ocular involvement (when the eyes get infected) may be managed with artificial tears and specific topical agents. For severe cases, systemic treatments like propranolol and clonidine, and antibiotics like doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline, azithromycin, or even isotretinoin may be prescribed.
Surgical intervention might be necessary during instances of phyma (enlarged nose tissue). Procedures like laser therapy and intense pulsed light can effectively target the persistent redness and visible blood vessels and enhance the quality of life in those with rosacea (20).
You can also follow a few tips to prevent your condition from worsening. These tips involve making simple changes to your lifestyle.
Tips To Manage Rosacea
- Always wear a sunscreen with SPF 30 or more for sun protection.
- Protect your face with a scarf during extreme winters.
- Refrain from rubbing or touching your face too often.
- Use a gentle cleanser to wash your face.
- Avoid using products that contain alcohol or any other skin irritants.
- Use a moisturizer if your skin is too sore.
- Use non-comedogenici XThe property of a cosmetic product or ingredient that does not have the potency to clog pores on the skin. cosmetics and skin care products.
- Keep your skin cool.
- Exercise and practice yoga for stress management.
- Do low-intensity exercises that do not leave you feeling exhausted.
Quick Tip
Staying hydrated reduces dryness and soothes rosacea symptoms. You can substitute regular water with coconut or detox water.