Natural Remedies for Rosacea

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Patricia (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) on 02/05/2013
★★★★★

For years several Dermatologists have precribed any number of chemicals. I believe my Rosacea (per doctor's opinion) is caused by nanomites. Whenever I start feeling the familiar itchy crawlies - I wipe with ACV. No need for chemicals. This completely resolves the issue with the added value that ACV is being absorbed through the skin for other benefits! NOTE: At first I get an immediate reaction that makes my skin red but this passes and my skin feels smooth with NO itching or blotching. I also bathe with Selsun Blue Shampoo - hair, body and face - eyebrows, lashes - leave it on for a few minutes and rinse; followed by a rinse of ACV. I found all this information here on Earthclinic and am eternally grateful!

Coconut Oil, Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Jillery (Durtham, Nc) on 07/19/2020 84 posts
★★★★★

Since it was COVID season I decided to give it my all and try and resolve my rosacea. I researched and decided mine was 'mite based'. I had tried all the stuff from the Dermo but it always came back and the antibiotics caused me other problems besides. My rosacea presented as redness and weird little zits that could last for weeks. I never had a blemish as a child so at 57-65 this was weird to me. I decided it was a mite based issue as the other reasonings seemed a bit off for my issue.

I cleansed my face with borax that I fine-ground and coconut oil. 50-50 ratio. I'd wash with cool water and rinse with cool water. Then I applied the coconut oil and borax powder afterward too. I was just sitting at home so I'd apply this as the day went on as well. I had more breakouts but I felt like I was aggravating the mites.

I also put my bed pillow in the dryer for about 20-40 minutes incase there were mites on my pillow.

After about 5-7 days of borax/coconut oil I then switched to putting just coconut oil on my skin and then applying tea tree essentiall oil on top of it. I was amazed at how soothing the TTO was to my skin as I felt TTO would feel quite harsh to me but did not!!

I'd rinse my face during the week with cool water.

I'd apply coconut oil (or tamanu oil. kinda stinky but good for redness) and then add tea tree essential oil to my skin over the oil. I guess you could mix your own but I am lazy. LOL.

Within a week my zits and bumps and redness were much less. I also tried using Manuka essential oil and Lavender essential oil here and there too.

At about the 6 week point I had no zits left. The mild redness I have is becoming less and less as well.

I hope this helps someone!!!!

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Billy (Herts) on 12/14/2015
★★★★★

Hydrogen peroxide 6% used as a skin cleanser is a very effective way to rid yourself of Demodex folliculorum (Rosacea), using a thumb sized piece of soaked cotton wool... be diligent and rub it into the skin for 4 weeks 2x a day. Be careful around facial hair as it will bleach the hair. I wasn't concerned about the bleaching of my hair I just wanted to be rid of it ...now I use it 1x or 2x a month whenever I feel an itching or see a red spot. I've been free from Rosacea for 18 months now :) I eat and drink whatever I like... its a no brainer people ...just do it

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Stephanie (Somewhere, Texas) on 11/26/2011
★★★★★

I have been using the topical solution (3% H202 saturated with 20 Mule Team Borax) for a few weeks putting it on my face after cleansing and leaving on a few minutes before rinsing. I could not believe the junk that came out of my pores. I also plucked a hair out of my face and looked at it under a microscope. I could see the mites feasting on the oils at the base of my hair (yuck! ). My facial redness has been reduced by about 50%. Prepare for things to get worse before they get better with this remedy if you are allergic or sensitive to the mites and their waste. I perservered and my face is getting better and better. Use a little hydrocortisone if you have an allergic reaction to the mite funk. I think it may take a few months for my face to heal. I also have been trying to eat a ton of fruits and vegetables and an all around anti-inflammatory diet but Ted's cure has helped so much. Thanks Ted. I will post an update in a few months.

Sulphur

Posted by Portia (Orange, Ca, Us) on 05/21/2011
★★★★★

I have suffered horrible red blotches on my face. A doctor told me it was rosacea and prescribed antibiotics. This condition was psycho! I would go to bed with a flawless complexion and wake up covered in burning welts and pustules. I work with the public and was profoundly humiliated by my face. And then... BLINK... My skin would clear up. I could make no sense of it and felt desperate to find a cure.

Well, you kind folks at Earth Clinic helped me enormously. I would like to pass on a wonderful discovery, in the hopes of helping others. Recently the rosacea returned with a vengence. I tried ACV, aloe, and tea tree oil. Yes, they reduced the redness, but the basic rosacea remained.

Then I read about using a sulfer based shampoo on my face. I went to Walmart and could not find this kind of shampoo BUT I found a bar of sulfer soap IN THE HISPANIC PRODUCTS SECTION in the toiletries dept. I soaped up my face and did not rinse it off for 20 minutes. Amazingly the rosacea was 50% improved! I then put emu oil on my face. Well two days later my skin was completely clear. Free of rosacea and the stress of feeling ashamed! I did this treatment in the morning and at bedtime, and drank about 2 T. of ACV during the day.

I hope this helps. Bless you.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Anna (Portland) on 08/12/2013
★★★★★

To Jerome from Brooklyn, I am very grateful for your post. I tried the same procedure last year with ACV for rosacea on my right cheek and it worked for me, although I had to repeat a few times. The key is full strength and not to give up. I almost did because the appearance of my face really scared me the first time I applied the ACV - I thought I might have ruined my skin - but I hadn't. Here's what I did:

I applied full strength ACV on a cotton pad directly to my cheek. I must have left it on for 20 minutes and when I got up and looked in the mirror, my check was swollen, extremely red, and there was some blood. I was horrified! It looked like I'd been punched in the face. I left it alone for a couple of days but I re-read Jerome's post for support and I just continued to wipe the area twice a day until the scabs that formed had healed and peeled off (about a week or two). The rosacea got much worse than it had been, which was a good thing. It made me break out in areas on that cheek that I don't usually break out in. But I knew that was okay because if I applied the ACV to my left cheek (that doesn't have rosacea), there was no reaction. The ACV only affected rosacea prone areas. After the worst affected area had healed, I just continued wiping the other now pimply areas, but it didn't really work well. I found that I needed to give the area a good soaking - leaving the full strength ACV pad on for 15 minutes or so. Anyway, I ended up repeating this process about 3 times because it was drawing out my rosacea pimples from my skin, wiping in between while waiting for the scabs to heal. It pretty much got rid of all of the rosacea and I didn't have any rosacea or pimples on my cheeks for 9 months. Recently, the redness/rosacea pimples starting coming back a little and so I started the process again. This time my reaction was more mild because the rosacea isn't nearly as bad (no swelling, no bleeding, but some scabbing on my face right now). The rosacea will be all gone within a week or two. I hadn't applied ACV to my skin for 8 months, so now I know that I should continue just using ACV as a toner, to keep it in check. If you have bad rosacea, I would recommend this process if you have at least 4-5 days off work if your skin reacts as mine did. But it's worth it because nothing else worked for me.

Btw, I didn't take ACV internally because I tried it a long time ago and it gave me a yeast infection. I've decided since that like with my skin, it was probably just trying to flush out the bad stuff (fungus, yeast, ??).

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Ricardo (Ibiuna) on 07/12/2017
★★★★★

I followed this post and am proud to say that I'm nearly rosacea-free thanks to ACV, I apply whenever I have small pustules or just redness, my skin looks better, still have some localized redness on the worst spots of my last big flair (under my eyes) but ACV is a miracle - but pay attention because it will raise hell on your face at first, just be strong and endure the pain.

Manuka Honey

Posted by Carlos (London, Spain) on 08/31/2010
★★★★★

I think here at earthclinic should create a different category for Manuka Honey. Even tho every raw honey is beneficial Manuka Honey deserves its own category. I thought it was a myth and that it was just like any other. But I've used it on my face and my rosacea is gone my skin is smooth and I look 10 years younger. I have not take it internally but Manuka honey is 20 times more anti bacteria and anti inflammatory than tea tree oil. It's selling millions all around the world improving every kind of ailment. I have to say I have not used anything better. I rank manuka honey 1st and ACVwith olive oil 2nd. It also should be added in the founatin of youth category and acne. I thank God for allowing me to try this elixir. If it does this in my skin that fast I can't imagine what it can do in the blood stream. Truly miracle

Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Om (Hope, B.c., Canada) on 05/09/2013

Colloidal silver is the remedy I have used it with excellent results. Once in a while I have had to repeat a mild recurrence just by soaking a cotton ball with CS and dabbing the skin. The present medical system claims it is not curable. How come then I cured myself at hardly any cost. It is good for itch, sore eyes and internally. You don't have go out and look like the head of a match stick. All the best. Om

Epsom Salt Scrub

Posted by Amanda (WI) on 12/04/2020
★★★★★

I have had a very severe case of Rosacea. Mostly I think it occurs during stress and overheating. I think overheating really may cause this as perhaps the demodex mites increase in number when the body temperature changes or some chemistry in the body.

I treated and got all the pustules off in a matter of days and my face color is back. But remember this is more to do with internal heat than topical. So start changing your blankets to light weight where I also felt improvement. Don't overheat yourself at night with warm blankets or room temperature etc. Try to eat less hot foods, and go on eating more colder foods such as fruits and salads. etc, when you drink coffee/tea wait until it cools down.

So for treatment, I would like to share what I used.

A face wash with grapefruit over the counter any facewash will do that has the pink grapefruit, put it on the face then take a bit of Epsom Salt and gently scrub the affected area. Do it 2 times a day, now that may dry the skin, so I used moisturizer for very dry skin I bought plain moisturizer and added some drops of tea tree oil to it and applies that on my face. That was it.

When I got rosacea I was in a very bad place in my life and I was using a down comforter and I didn't have time to change to a lighter blanket, I overheated my body and got it. Just to let you know that my entire face was affected in a matter of weeks I had a terrible painful pustular Rosacea and I tried a lot of remedies and the combination of these ingredients helped me overcome this. Hope this helps someone.

Sea Buckthorn

Posted by Natnmargie (Washington) on 02/21/2018
★★★★★

Rosacea: Sea Buckthorn Oil and Sulphur Excellent Results!

Rosacea has been my biggest issue for long time now. I still do some of the ACV on occasion, but for the past 6 months, I have been doing the following:

After cleansing my face, I just a facial lotion that has "sea buckthorn oil" in it as one of the ingredients, boy, does this work...pustules are way down, as is the redness in my face.
I also use a sulphur powder prior to putting on my mineral makeup. (it has a yellow-ish, green cast to it)

I believe between the sea buckthorn oil and the sulphur, that it has made all the difference to my rosacea.

I am at 10% of my worst with rosacea.

I am quite aware that what works for me may not work for you, but I thought I would share.

Vitamin C and Lysine

Posted by Kat (Santa Cruz, Ca) on 01/12/2017
★★★★★

I found this remedy for Rosacea on Earth Clinic and it has worked well for me. L-Lysine 3000 MG per day in divided doses on an empty stomach. Along with each divided dose take 1000 MG of vitamin C. I like Sodium Ascorbate. It's buffered and supposedly is absorbed easily, but any buffered form of C should be fine. My red bumps started to clear within 3 days. My cheeks have remained red, but the bumps were 95% gone after 1 week. I am also aware of food trigers. Mine seems to be eggs if I eat them for several days in a row.

Manuka Honey

Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 11/25/2016

I see that on this Site there are quite a few people who claim success in treating their Rosacea by using Manuka Honey. Wonderful that this simple treatment can free people of such embarrassment - they often have the redness in the very place where they don't want it I.e. nose, forehead or cheeks! News is out that purified, medical grade, KANUKA Honey may be even slightly more effective than other types of honey but most types of honey will probably be effective to some extent for this troublesome problem, especially if you happen to be a teenager! As an alternative to taking antibiotics, it should be tried out first in my humble opinion. Apparently there is a mite that gets into the skin, causing the Rosacea and the ingredients in the honey will deal with these pesky creatures quite effectively. Antibiotic resistance worldwide is becoming a huge problem anyway.

If you are a sufferer, then you really should check out the many postings on this Site under the heading "Rosacea". You may be surprised just how many folks have had success with Honey!!

Cheers, Michael

Olive Leaf

Posted by Carlos (Barcelona) on 03/18/2016
★★★★★

I can testify that olive leaf helps rosacea.I dont have full blown rosacea with pustules thank God but I do have redness in my nose and cheeks and enlarged pores. After reading about the antibacterial and fungal properties of olive leaf I went to the park and grabbed some leaves..its that easy and cheap here in Spain...I placed a few leaves with half glass of water in my blender, I filtered the result and I had an olive leaf tonic.I applied it to my face after my bentonite clay daily cleansing. I just let it sit and forgot about it. Hours later I looked in the mirror and I could not see my pores. I had to come close to the mirror and the redness was greatly reduced too. Now I'm trying it internally because rosacea is said to be related to the gut health and OLE is said to be great for intestinal health. After chewing 6 leaves I can tell the skin in my face is smoother and I also felt circulation in my feet right after eating them. I suffer cold feet and light impotence I have bad circulation. I'veread OLE helps with circulation as well so its an added benefit to have warm feet.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Cat (Tauranga, New Zealand) on 07/18/2013

ACV really is a miracle in a bottle. It may not have worked for your rosacea - and it didn't work for mine - but it works for almost everything else. Bear in mind, different remedies have different results for people so dissing ACV is silly. Try something else. I used Blackstrap Molasses for a few months and that was when I really noticed a huge decline in my rosacea. It's never returned even though I haven't had the BM for over a year. Don't give up, I was determined to deal with mine after putting up with for years and years, and I have finally. I no longer worry about getting photos taken and looking like Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer!!!

Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut Oil

Posted by Karen (Rothschild, Wi) on 02/09/2012
★★★★★

I have been diagnosed with rosacea for over 10 years. Dermatologists have given me Metrogel (no help) and sulfa based creams (very drying and made my skin peel). After trying many things, I tried the Apple Cider Vinegar; both drinking it three times per day (2 Tbsp ACV, 1 tsp raw honey, 6oz water-150 degrees) and topically. For the topical mixture, I use 2 parts distilled water to one part raw, organic ACV. I put this in a small spray bottle and spritz it all over my face after washing with an aloe based cleanser twice daily. I leave the mixture on to dry, and then moisturize with a small amount of organic coconut oil.

I've used this regimen for 3-4 months and have no traces of rosaeca. I have combination skin, which is hyper sensitive and I'm allergic to many substances. This regime has worked better than anything else I've tried. My skin looks fantastic; poreless, soft, smooth and no redness or bumps.

Coconut oil is a fantastic moisturizer and has many antinflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It is so soothing to the skin and helps with the redness. I'm 53 years old and do not have a wrinkle on my face. I firmly believe the ACV must be used topically and taken internally to help with the rosacea. If the ACV burns your skin, try diluting it with more water. I first tried a 50/50 mixture and it stung my face a bit, so I went to a 2:1 ratio which is so mild I don't even rinse it off.

I also sufferred from dermatitis on my scalp. Flaky, itchy scalp that actually hurt. After washing my hair with an organic shampoo, I use the same ACV solution on my scalp that I use on my face. Just spritz it on my scalp at the roots and leave it in. the vinegar smell fades in a few minutes and it relieved the itching immediately!!

This site is a Godsend! Thanks so much for all the wonderful advice!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Virginia (Washington) on 08/29/2015
★★★★★

I have had problems for years with redness and spots that stay raw and painful. I changed my life style in January to gluten free, because I had also become allergic to nightshade plants which all peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, pears etc. anything that ripens in the dark.

I am 81 years old. I use all fresh and cook from scratch. I am using the vinegar on my face, also coconut oil. I also am using the vinegar and oil on my legs that are also red from poor circulation. There is a big improvement and hope to clear it completely. I find variety is important.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Chrisatl (Atlanta, Georgia) on 10/13/2010

First, thanks to all who post on Earth Clinic. This is my go-to guide whenever I have an illness. Recently, I had Rosacea. I can say "had" now because its all gone. Thanks to Earth Clinic. I compiled what I believe was the safest and inexpensive suggestions to cure Rosacea from the 4 to 5 pages on the website and tried it all at the same time.

Here is what I used and it costs less than 25 bucks:

Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Lysine, Tea Tree Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda, Witch Hazel and water with lemon juice. Throughout the day I would drink tap water with a freshly squeezed lemon. In the morning, afternoon and night I would take 1500mg of Lysine and 1500Mg of Vitamin C, and 2 pills of Vitamin A (8000 IU each). Also, twice a day I would digest 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar and once a day I would digest a tad bit of Baking Soda, but with food. Also, I never took the vitamins and lysine without eating something first. In the morning and night I would wash my face with Witch Hazel and at night I would add tea tree oil to my face.

Within a 2 days I saw a noticeable difference and within 4 days my face looked better than it did before the Rosacea. By the way, I am 24 years old, a drinker and cigar smoker, and a light skinned male. I hope this helps you all like it has helped me. I am very self conscious and was going through a crisis in my life because of this and I thank everyone who posted there experiences. Also, last but most importantly, I prayed a few times a day to the Higher Being I believe in and I recommend you do the same.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Ann (Columbia, Maryland) on 06/09/2009
★★★★★

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.

Borax

Posted by Tom (Galloway, NJ) on 04/13/2009
★★★★☆

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

Borax

Posted by Debbie (Sterlington, Usa) on 09/17/2011
★★★★★

I have had rosacea for about 20 years. I can't afford Metrogel right now. Read online that someone had success with sulfur mixed with sunscreen. I mixed a teaspoon of sulfur with about a half cup of sunscreen and have been using it for 9 days (morning and night, after washing my face with borax), and the result is great- better than metrogel.

I had tried washing with borax, then dabbing with apple cider vinegar, but the redness continued and the sores just stayed scabby- wouldn't heal. My face had gotten really bad because I had been without Metrogel for about 3 months; looked like it would bleed. Now I am washing with borax, then applying the sulfur/sunscreen mixture and the redness is almost all gone, the sores healed, and I now only have about 3 little places that are slightly swollen, and they are getting better. My nose, which had been sore to the touch and scabby for so long, is completely well. The sulfur is a little drying, but the sunscreen helps to counteract that. My sulfur is some I got from my mom. My dad worked in a lab and brought home about 5 lbs of it thirty-five years ago, and it has been under the sink in a glass jar ever since, but is obviously still potent.

I have also discontinued washing my hair with shampoo and conditioner, and am using baking soda/borax water to wash, and citric acid water for rinsing. Also am drinking 1/8tsp borax and 1/8tsp sulfur in a liter of water everyday. Just hope this helps someone else. My skin has never been this soft, and it looks better now than it has for a long time. I am 50 years old.