Natural Remedies for Rosacea

Borax treatment of facial Demodex mites: I've been reading all of the postings on this site regarding the use of borax to eradicate facial demodex mites in humans. I am 39 years old and was officially diagnosed with rosacea by a dermatologist 9 years ago. It has came and went with various prescribed oral and topical meds. After much research, I now believe that what I am currently experiencing is demodex mites. I am scheduled to return to the derm in August 2009, but each day is becoming a real struggle as I try and deal with the itching, crawling, stinging, burning, and bumps from these insects on my face. These symptoms seem to have came about in the past several months. I know the derms course of treatment will be prescribed insecticides and would rather not go that direction if there are truly other verified alternatives.

There are a few important questions that I have not seen the answers for and feel are very important to know prior to trying the borax treatment:

1) Is 3% hyrdrogen peroxide okay to use?
2) What quantities do I use of the borax and hydrogen peroxide?
3) Is this only applied in the evening?
4) How long is it left on before washing off?
5) How many days is this used for and then how often for prevention?
6) What are the expected side effects?

If someone could answer these questions it would be greatly appreciated as I am desperate to get some relief.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) does seem to work! My method: I use a Q-tip to apply liquid that is 50% ACV and 50% water. The water is just tap. The ACV is just regular brand. I use the Q-tip sparingly-- one tip is used just for the nose, then a fresh tip for the left cheek and a fresh tip (or 2) for the right cheek. I use the ACV application in the morning and in the evening before bed. I sometimes rinse and sometimes just leave it on. I am not clear whether rinsing makes a difference or not. At the same time, I am changing my pillow case every 2 nights. I use one side the first night, flip the case the next night, then on the third night, replace it with a fresh case. Results: The first 3 days, immediate improvement. The next few days, I was back to usual. It is now day 8; I have experimented for a week. I awoke this morning and for the first time in years, my face looked almost perfectly normal in shade and had just one acne bump (break out). Yay!!!

Background: For those who want more detail-- my rosacea has been fairly mild. My nose was always red and often broke out, my left cheek was ruddy with red dots under the surface, the right cheek had it bad with higher red color, many red dots under the surface, bumps and semi-frequent break outs. Before trying ACV, I helped my rosacea by reducing the hormone level of my birth control pills, limiting soap on my face to scent-free either soy soap with goats milk or a yogurt soap, and reducing stress. Still, I had lots of unmitigated redness and outbreaks. Future: I plan to continue with ACV and clean pillow case method. I also plan to replace pillow entirely. I intend to report back with an update on the results of this procedure.

I have been using the apple cider vinegar applied topically on my face (directly from the bottle with a cotton ball) since my first posting (3/17/2009). I also was drinking it (i Tbspn in juice twice daily) for the first month or so. Then I added the 1000mg L-Lysine + 1000mg Vir C taken 1/2 dose twice daily that was recommended by another posting on this website. I do not rinse off the ACV. When it dries I apply a moisturizer for sensitive skin. I have seen a 90% improvement. It's not gone, but is so much better. Still get bumps in my T-zone (forehead, nose, chin, but can't complain too much. I plan to try the borax and baking soda solutions also. I would love to see this rosacea go away completely! Thanks to everyone for their solutions. This is a great website!

Rosacea and Vitamin D

Have had mild rosacea for a year with broken capillaries on checks. Condition worsened considerably this past winter with pustules within red swellings appearing on face and neck in new places almost daily. I wondered why my skin was calm, with no redness, when I got up in the morning. I read a blog about Vit. D helping rosacea. Hmmm, I took my 1000 IU of Vit. D at night; perhaps that was why my skin was calm in the a.m., I reasoned. I started taking 1000 IU Vit. D when I got up in the morning as well as before bed. I noticed significant positive results immediately. My skin is almost entirely cleared up in one week, even the broken capillaries and redness in the cheeks has subsided. But the best thing is that the oozing pores and pustules have almost completely ceased. I still have maybe one pustule appearing per day, but it's isolated, and not like before where a 1/4" round area of my skin became very red with numerous oozing pores and one pustule within that area that took several days to calm down. I can't believe how easy this was. I'd read that rosacea is worsened by sunlight, so during this past winter I wouldn't go outside without sunscreen and a hat. My rosacea got much worse during this time period. I think I just got low in Vit. D. I'm 58 so that lower ability to absorb Vit. D may be part of it, too.

WORKED TEMPORARILY

I tried scrubbing with Borax after reading your comment. I have to agree my skin is MUCH smoother than normal. After one time I did see a lessening of redness, but it seems to be getting redder as the day progresses. :( I did not remember to apply aloe, which may have been more effective. I was wondering if you are continuing to use Borax? If so, how often do you scrub with it? I am planning on using ACV as a toner also, although, not after scrubbing with Borax because the rosacea does sting a bit afterwards. It sounds like ACV will help with redness as well as enlarged pores. I would appreciate any feedback. My face just keeps getting redder and redder as I get older and I'm becoming very self-conscience about it.

I have had the red and blotchy skin associated with rosacea for the past 10 years ( I am 29 now)....I've tried all the creams and lotions you can buy but they either A) Just mask the problem or B) Not very effective. So I decided to replace my expensive dermabrasion crystals with just plain ol' baking soda (it does have a similiar consistency). It left my skin uber smooth...but still red and blotchy. So I pulled out the organic ACV and filled the cap 50/50 with water and ACV. I then get a Q-tip and smooth the ACV mixture over my face (concentrating on the blemishes). I let it sit for a couple of minutes and rinse off. In just a week my skin has improved about 70% (a lot less red and the blemishes disappear quicker). My skin feels GREAT... Thanks earthclinic for having such an open-minded site!!!!

It has been over a week since i posted. I am pleased to say that my redness is continuing to subside. I cannot be sure whether it is the zinc oxide, though it seems plausible. I am take borax powder internally and externally ala Ted's recommendations. I have been using borax for about 45 days.

Hi Ted,

Do you think there is a connection between mercury amalgams and rosacea? I have several mercury fillings, which i would like to have removed. I will be spending much time in Asia in the near future, so i am thinking about visiting a dentist there that specializes in the safe removal of mercury fillings. Perhaps you can recommend some in Thailand or Korea. Thanks.

I bought some Borax in the form of a common laundry detergent several months ago. I finally tried it and all I can say is WOW. Its like washing your face with sandpaper. I was always told don't use anything abrasive on your rosecia and I thought I was gonna be in big trouble. After I scrubbed I patted my face dry and put some Aloe on it. The next morning not knowing what to expect I go to the mirror and I let out a few expletives of joy. My face was smooth and the crap was about 80% gone. The slight redness was there but everything else was about gone...Oh yeah, did I mention that that was the first night? Keep you posted.

Tom

For the last five days, I have been applying _____ 45 SPF Clear Zinc Oxide to my face in morning for sun protection. The redness on my cheeks appears to be subsiding rapidly since commencing application. Really. Maybe others will have a similar experience. I will continue to put it on my face in the morning. I will report back in a few weeks. In the meantime, if you want to try the product, a small 1oz pot can be ordered online for a measely few bucks.

Reply for Diane You did the right thing by your choice of remedies for your rosecea. Just this month, i had the same issue on my face and neck my remedy was 50 % hydrogen peroxide and 50 % ACV. The next morning its all gone as if nothing appeared.

I would like to add that vaseline may not be good for everyone as I did the same mistake and then was told by my doctor that vaseline can in fact block the pores and may aggravate the problem. Instead, he asked me to use another cream to treat the flakes on my facial skin which has resulted from Rosacea and Seborrheic Dermatitis. I will try though Borax treatment and hopefully rid myself of this condition.Thanks to all the people who are helping others with their comments and experiences.

If the skin on your face peels from Rosacea try dabbing the spots with witch hazel. It worked for me.

My eyes and throat were so dry I could not sleep at night. Nothing helped, not vitamin A, eye drops etc.nothing. For some reason, I reached for some natural estrogen with pomegranate that I had had for months but never taken. They were from a major on line supplier of health supplements. My dry eyes and dry mouth symptoms disappeared as well as my Rosacea. Now instead of using Vitamin C and Lysine (works too but doesn't take care of dry eyes and mouth) for Rosacea I take natural estrogen tablets. Since then I have researched this and there are numerous testimonies of people who have used bio-identicial estrogen for Rosacea. I no longer take Lysine and vitamin C. Men have estrogen too. So, maybe Rosacea is a hormonal problem.

I have had rosacea for about 1 & 1/2 years. I am 55 and always had very clear skin all my life, never bothered by lots of acne like most teens. So it has been very frustrating and depressing for me to have this nasty stuff on my face. I am allergic to many antibiotics so I never took that "remedy". My dermatologist confirmed the diagnosis of rosacea and gave me a couple of perscriptions for topical products. I used them until they ran out but never renewed them as I did not see any improvements. I have tried several natural products: aloe, hydrogen peroxside, rubbing alcohol, a tea tree oil acne treatment and some products I got off the web that are all natural. Nothing is working and it just seems to get worse. I am going to try your ACV and HP recipe.

I often feel like putting a bag over my face when I leave the house. I hate the way I look with these "pimples" on my face. I wanted to pass along a couple of tips. Never scrub your face with a cloth. This tends to aggravate the rosacea. I always just use my fingers and just pat my face dry - never rub. Secondly, ladies, try using a makeup that is all mineral and in powder form. I use the original mineral makeup and it never clogs your pores and it covers the bumps very well.

I'll leave feedback after I have tried your solutions.

Pamela, I think you may have hit the nail on the head, regarding the "cause" of rosacea. You mentioned you developed it after taking Paxil. I find it interesting that many people develop this problem after they have upset the balance of good vs bad bacteria in their guts by taking prescription drugs. I believe rosacea could be due to a candida overload in the system, and since you live in WA state I can tell you that you don't get enough Vit D from sunshine. I live in WA, and Dr. Wright of the Tahoma Clinic (Kent) told me that we all need a minimum of 1,000 IUs of Vit D daily in the NW. I have read research that shows a clear link to vitamin D levels being low and an elevation in rosacea cases. Vit. D is a critical hormone, that also affects the thyroid; many here in WA report losing weight and lessening of head hair loss after proper supplementation....it is a powerful hormone necessary for hormone balance in women. Hope this helps. And, I would apply apple cidar vinegar to the face 2x per day, with a Vit E or Jojoba oil lightly applied before bed, to counter possible dryness. Hope this helps!

ACV/Tea Tree for Rosacea: I have had rosacea for close to 15 years. It comes and goes as far as severity but tends to flare up in winter and this winter has been especially bad--extreme redness on cheeks and forehead, bumps and pustules etc. I can also attribute a lot of my problems to a poor diet the past few months.

Decided to take a 3 pronged approach starting in early february--clean up my diet, eliminate most processed foods, esp carbs and sweets, reduce alcohol consumption, use the ACV 2-3 times per day in water, and apply tea tree oil and a fragrance free moisturizer after showering in AM and before bedtime. The results have been dramatic. The redness and swelling in my face have gone down 80-90% in less then 2 weeks. My skin has become smooth and has a healthy shine to it and there are no more oozing red bumps, esp after washing with a washcloth. I still have some redness, but nothing that really stands out.

I have also been using turmeric for an unrelated foot issue, but I don't think that has had much of an effect on the rosacea.

Fortunately, I have not had to give up all the usual trigger foods, I can still drink daily coffee, enjoy some spicy foods, and the occasional beer as well.

Thanks Earth Clinic for your wonderful information. I am hooked on the ACV, it has also reduced the occasional humming in my ears, which I suspect was possibly due to slightly elevated blood pressure.

Robert Henry,

I have been taking borax internally for five days, as well as applying it externally with water at night. I am trying to eliminate persistant red cheeks. So far, i can notice the redness subsiding. Hopefully, it will all eventually subside. I've applied tea tree oil topically for a month in the past. I think this helped somewhat. I want to add hydrogen peroxide to the borax solution i apply to my face, but i am afraid that the H202 will cause my skin to bleach or change colour. One thing i have started to do, though, is apply raw honey to my face before showering. Raw honey is a rich source of H202. Also, the only H202 i could find in a chemist is 6%. I wonder is that okay to use.

Hi U Mahreen form Chicago...... I'm a retired Chemical Engineer and have learned not to take meaurements too seriously. I feel your pain because everyone looks at an ugly nose. If you do demodex mites on the web, you will see that they live off the hair folicles in face. You see folks whose eye lashes are red as a beet. That's our mite friends. The process of killing off these mites is like killing the insects in your house. You can kill most of the adults but eggs in various stages are coming on. You just have to keep on keeping on. Finally, you will begin to see progress.

Ok, here goes ..... I just put borax in a coke cap. add a few drops of tea tree oil and then add plain ole Hydrogen Peroxide. Mix and apply to the outside of your nose and also inside. Do this at least twice a day. This mixture will harden and you will have to start over. Laundry Borax is fine as you are not ingesting it. I spent 10 years with the Dermatologists and they did no good except to kill off all my good bowel flora with anti-biotics and leave me with Candidia. But that's another story. Do not take anti-biotics for this condition. It will help temporarily but will leave you in a lot worse shape healthwise. I also use The Face Doctor's soap which was developed by a China Military doctor. I made little progress until I added Tea Tree Oil to my program.

Hello Henry, can you please tell me quantities to be mixed, and if this mixture is stored in the refrigerator or it would not matter and for how long? I am not sure what concentration of HP one need to use for this remedy and I am also unsure about the borax, is this the borax used for cleaning purposes?

I would appreciate your reply and also for any of the readers who could suggest me where to find the HP if is different from the one we find at drugstores. I was told that there is a bacteria "like rosacea" but I never got the medical term for it because the Dr. does not know it. I have used all sort of prescribed meds. for it including topicals as Retina. Nothing seems to work. After my renal transplant (1 yr. ago) my Immune system got so weak so this bacteria is attacking my nose hard. I feel so embarrassed to go out with my red nose with lot of bumps specially when they get white. Thanks in advance for any helpful advise. Mahreen

I suffer from Seborrheic Dermatitis and it drives me nuts! I've always had a flaky scalp, but it got worse in college. To manage it, I use Neutragena T-Gel everyday, which kind of works. It usually causes the itching to subside for a day ... until I wash my hair the next morning.

I also suffer from rosacea on my cheeks. It recently started getting worse in the evenings. I'm getting married in August and definitely don't want to be dealing with it on the big day. Like I said, it really only flares up in the evening before I go to bed.

I came across EarthClinic for a cure for rosacea and decided to start drinking ACV everyday to see what happened. As of today (10 February 2009) I have been drinking 1 tablespoon ACV mixed with a cup of orange juice every morning for 17 days. I've only missed one day. Here's what I've noticed:

* The itching in my scalp has subsided, only a tiny itch every once in a while
* My scalp is flaking significantly less than before
* The rosacea on my face has gotten better ... but isn't completely cured
* My skin has an overall healthier look

I haven't noticed any adverse side effects from the ACV. I still use the T-Gel about two times a week for the seborrheic dermatitis just because.

i think that the papules and pustules and inflamacion of the skin in rosacea are caused by the demodex mites, and the redness and the broken capilaries are caused by an nanoinsect not yet identifided that is causing the redness and the broken capilaries not to heal, so when you use borax an peroxide hidrogen in your skin you are killing these two agents organisms, so maybe thats why they say that rosacea is caused by an weakened inmuned system, beacuse you body is not able to kill this agents, so maybe if you give strength and optimized your inmuned system, you body will be able to kill these organisms, and the way to do that its taking a suplement called "cats claw" (uncaria tomentosa) that is known for its antiinflamatory properties and to strength your inmuned system, you can search by yourselfs to see all the benefits that it has, and maybe that could be a good alternative of treating rosacea or it could be the cure. The other one that im thinking is the blood of the cocodrile aplied topicaly to the face since its a new discovery that the blood of the cocodrile are much better and extremely potencial that any antibiotic that exists and you can search in the internet the news of the potencial of the benefits killing these agents, so because of the potencial that it has killing all these agents it could be another alternative to rosacea.

I have had a red rash on my face (rosea) that comes and goes for the past 25 or 30 years. Recently, it's become worse and even appeared to be infected. I had been using medicated creams, but that was not working anymore. I found a rosea cure on this site only last week using vitamin C and L-Lysine. It worked and my rash was gone in a few days. Rather than 4000 mg. of each a day, the dose i used was 1500 mg. vitamin C and 1500 mg. L-Lysine three times a day.

I have been treated for Rosacea by several Dermatologists for some dozen years and all for naught. Since my Rosacea is restricted to my nose, I concluded that it is indeed a problem with Demodex mites. It has been a long hard struggle as the critters are laying eggs constantly and you got a new crop to kill off constantly. Ted, says it is a nano-insect. I got no clue, but do think it is a critter of some kind. I am not pretty, but look pretty good 300 yards off now that my nose is not full of yuck bumps.

The formula I came up with is borax, HP, and tea tree oil and I mix this formula in a coke bottle cap and spread it on and in my nose morning and night. Since the critters live in you hair folicals , I also spread the solution in my nostrials. Don't look for a quick cure. If your Rosacea is from mites, then it is a long process. 6 months to a year.

I'm considering trying the Borax internal remedy for my rosacaa - however I have high blood pressure that is proving a little difficult to control even with 2 meds. So, what effect might this remedy have on my blood pressure? Should I seek elsewhere for another remedy? Or, should I only apply the Borax combo to my skin and forget the internal routine?

Hi, I was just wondering how do you use the apple cider vinegar. Do you put it directly on your face or injest it? I've suffer from this redness for awhile and would like to try this. Thanks Sherry

i am taking levothyroxin for an underactive thyroid. trying to get rid of rosacea...what interaction will borax have on this medication. should i take borax with this medication?

I have Rosasea. Your treatment is not clear to me. How exactly do you apply the treatment with lysine and Vitamin C. (on the top of the face?)