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Jerome (Brooklyn, New York, Usa) on 12/12/2010
4 out of 5 stars

After trying a myriad of other remedies, both internally and topically, which included oil of oregano, borax and Ted's alkalizing remedies, I discovered that the most effective treatment for my rosacea was undiluted apple cider vinegar applied topically. That is not to say that Ted's remedies were ineffective--I absolutely noticed a difference, including a first "die-off" when I tried borax internally, including a strange white 'crust' shedding off of my face for days afterward that was not dead skin. The topical oil of oregano (which I alternated with, undiluted) worked to a degree too. However, the pace of improvement was very slow, and I began to grow impatient. I wanted something that would zap the hell out of whatever was causing my rosacea instead of just beating it back slowly.

So I took a leap and applied ACV generously to my face, undiluted with a cotton ball. The moment the first drop touched my face it felt like I had splashed battery acid on myself. It stung terribly, like jellyfish stings all over my face. And what's more, the minute I applied it to my face, bright red blotches began to appear exactly where my rosacea stung the worst. It was like I had found the ultimate "trigger" and gave myself rosacea on steroids. Something told me, however, that this was no ordinary rosacea flareup. My intuition told me that this was the mother of all die-offs, and I had just committed mass murder to whatever disgusting organism/bacteria/yeast was causing my rosacea. When I woke up the next day and looked in the mirror, my face looked like I had just gone 12 rounds with Manny Pacquiao. It really was that bad; red and even a bit swollen. Only the skin around my eyes was white, so I looked like some sort of weird raccoon. In fact, it was so bad that I had to make up an excuse to my boss at work about having gotten treatment from the dermatologist that caused my face to become red.

Over the next few days, the skin on my face began to peel like crazy. It was like I was coming back from the mother of all sunburns. However, despite the terrible appearance of my face, I noticed something that encouraged me a whole lot: my rosacea stinging was all but gone! I felt a little tinge of sting here and there throughout the day, but it was NOWHERE NEAR the intense stinging I used to feel regularly every day for the past year when my rosacea was feasting on my face. Finally, after about a week, almost all of the redness and peeling subsided. My face looked 100x better than it had in over a year, since I came down with this disgusting condition. And the really interesting thing is, when I apply ACV to my face now, IT HARDLY STINGS AT ALL! This tells me that the initial intense stinging was not the ACV irritating my facial skin, but rather the rosacea bacteria/organisms/etc. going bananas as they were being killed by the ACV. Amazing. So while I do still have a small amount of redness on my nose and under my eyes, that too is slowly (very slowly) disappearing with each night's ACV treatment. I'm not so concerned though, since I have read that rosacea around the nose area is the slowest to disappear, and could take many months.

In sum, after this whole ordeal, it is clear to me that my rosacea was the result of one cause: POOR DIET. Specifically, for over a decade I ate and drank a ton of refined sugar and almost no fruits or vegetables. I now understand that my poor diet and numerous courses of antibiotics (to treat afflictions I naturally came down with as a result of my terrible diet) left me with severe candida and, finally, rosacea. I now hope that correcting my diet will allow me to retain at least some of the vitality I once had before my idiotic lifestyle led me down a path of so many avoidable health problems. Good luck to you all, and my message to you is don't buy the doctors'/dermatologists' claim that "There is no cure. " If you're reading this website, you have taken one major step toward understanding that the modern-day commercial medical establishment is full of hot air!

Replied By Roger (Craig, Co) on 12/16/2010

I suffered for several years with rosacea and found my deliverance by using ACV as suggested in the above, plus changing my diet by completely abstaining from all forms of sugar as much as possible. (just check how much is in a milk serving) That, plus a higher protein diet has made my rosacea nothing more than an a bad memory! Please try this!

Replied By Jerome (Brooklyn, New York) on 02/22/2011

I would like to give an update on my use of Apple Cider Vinegar to treat rosacea. It has now been over two months since I first applied ACV to my face. Being though I felt like all signs of my rosacea had pretty much disappeared, I decided to resume what used to be one of my worst triggers--taking cold showers in the morning. It's now been over a week of taking a cold shower every morning and still no sign of my former rosacea whatsoever! I should add that I am also drinking lemon and baking soda twice a day, every day. With that said I have to give ACV a big YEA!

Replied By Joann (Chicago, Illinois) on 02/24/2011

A couple of months ago I broke out in red bumps, and papules/postules. The first dermatologist diagonosed it as Contact Dermatitis and prescribed Doxycycline Mono and Fluocinonide 0. 05% Ointment. This medication made my condition worse and I developed an allergic reaction. I later found out that the 1st derm I saw was just a Resident doctor who had not seen the type of Rosacea I had that often.

I went to see a 2nd dermatologist who said the 1st derm (the Resident Dr.) misdiagnosed my condition and that I had Acne Rosacea. The 2nd derm perscribed Prednisone and Metronidazole 0. 75% topical cream and Sulfamethoxazole. Well, guess what, these medications improved my conditon just a little but I developed side effects. The 2nd derm also took a culture and biopsy, which indicated my condition was consistent with Rosacea and ruled out Dermodex Mites. I was also told to use Domeboro, which is an astringent solution for relief of itching. The Domeboro did help with the itching. However the 2nd derm acted as though I was over reacting and seemed less the empathetic to my condition. Needless to say I won't be seeing this derm again.

Yes, I went to see a 3rd derm who perscribed Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Suspension USP 1% (I've seen little results with the CPTS USP 1% after 1 month) the derm also gave me some Clinique redness solutions daily relief cream and Clinique redness solutions daily protective base SPF 15. The C... Redness solutions daily relief cream made my conditon worse. However the C.. base SPF 15 did help to reduce some of the redness.

After searching the Internet, I came across Earth Clinic's site and saw that apple cider vinegar looked like a potential cure. Well I used it for 3 days now (50/50 water & ACV) and it made my conditon worse. I now have more bumps and redness, along with peeling, as well a few more pap/pus. I'm now at my wits end and feel that it's time to see an herbalist. I beginning to think that my Rosacea stems from a digestive/bowel problem since I've had some problems with my d/b. Does anyone recommend a good herbalist/alternative health care practioner in Chicago. ;-(

Replied By Nana (Calera, Alabama) on 02/24/2011

My dermatologist told me the same thing acne roseasa. He perscribed some cream for me also and I got it filled but never used it. I'm too afraid of these pharma meds and their side effects. What I have found is that there is something going on inside of me because I keep getting other skin problems. Plus got myself a vaginal yeast infection for the first time in years and years. Dr. prescribe Difulcan, one pill. Then I was just diagnosed with Grovers Disease.... (red bumps on my back) not contagious or anything and they don't know what causes it.

Well I think I do, I think it's an overload of yeast in my system, so now I'm trying to detox my body. I'm juicing carrots, drinking filtered pure water all day and staying away from sugar and breads. Also picked up some Olive Leaf Extract and I'm using Virgin Coconut oil several times a day. I have cut my coffee intake to 2 cups and hopefully soon it will be none. Green Tea instead. Exercising by walking 30-40 minutes a day. We shall see but also I'm drinking 1 Tbls. Of ACV with 8 oz. Of water every morning on an empty stomach... I do this first thing when I wake up. My skin on my face is clearing up nicely since starting the ACV. I also put Tea Tree oil on my face. I cleanse my face and then while it's still wet I apply the Tea Tree Oil. Everything looks as if it is working fine.

Good Luck! Nana

Replied By Marie (Wigan, Greater Manchester - England) on 04/14/2011

Hello Jerome from Brooklyn

Can you tell me, how often do you apply the ACV? Do you still apply it every evening? Did you still apply is every evening even after that initial application when your face was very inflamed & red? I have tried Permethrin cream from my dermotologist but it doesnt seem to be working. Like you I just want them gone! I do not have pustules or papules. I flush quite a bit, but mainly my face is inflamed all across my forehead & sides of face, bumps on my neck & chest. I want my old skin back. It's been 7 months, & some people have had it years! I agree that my diet wasn't great & I was going through quite a bit of emotional upheaval when it first started, classic case of low immune system I think. I have since ploughed everything I can into getting healthy, but still these little beggars survive! If you can tell me your routine I would be very greatful. I have some time off work coming up & I am willing to hide away until the redness subsides if need be! The tickling sensation is driving me crazy!

I just hope you are site checking this thread!

Marie

Replied By Linda (Zuid-holland, Netherlands) on 08/12/2011

I am suffering from a major flare-up of rosacea on nose and chin for a week now (i ate cheese and bread, which I dont tolerate). Today I was thinking I dont want to go outside, I look horrible. At this very moment I have a cottonball with undiluted Apple Cider Vinegar on my nose as a compress. It hurts terrible, but I can literally see the rosacea just dissapear! I even woke up the kids to show them, its like a mirracle. The skin on my nose turned from purple to normal/white, just cant remember my skin looking normal so I keep looking in the mirror if this is reallly true lol

so thanks thanks thanks for your post!!

Replied By Princess Fiona (Sydney, Australia) on 10/14/2011

Thanks for your comments Jerome. You are a really funny guy!!! What an amazing story you tell. I do wish you well in your good health quest and with your skin issues. Best wishes.

Replied By Kirsten (Rapid City, Sd) on 11/28/2011

Before I found this thread, I had read somewhere that Sea Buckthorn was the only known remedy for Rosacea. I doubt that is true, but I suddenly realized why my Aubrey's Organics Sea Buckthorn lotion seemed to be helping my hubby's rosacea. He continued to use it every day because his face also seemed very dry. I found Sea Buckthorn oil at the health food store and he used that too. It appears to be completely gone and was not at all a painful remedy. My understanding is that the mites burrow in and destroy the hair follicles and cause inflammation. So adding straight ACV would definitely be painful because the skin is already raw. Once while we were camping the only moisturizer I had brought had Ester C in it and it stung his skin terribly, probably for the same reason.

The article I read said that the mites may be responsible for thinning hair too. I have been trying to figure out how to use the oil for that, but this borax remedy seems like it would be easier.

Replied By Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 03/08/2013

For scalp rosacea, mix a few drops of seabuckthorn oil in jojoba oil and massage into scalp. Put on a plastic shower cap and sleep with it on. Wash hair in the morning.

Replied 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, ??).

Replied By Anna (Portland) on 08/12/2013

I would like to add to my first comment that I think it's best not to moisturize the area that you are applying ACV until the rosacea is gone.

Replied By Sophia (Athens) on 06/01/2015

Hi Ana,

Your story is very inspiring! I am glad you shared it with all of us. Just clarify something for me, what kind of ACV did you use? Did you use the unfiltered one with the "mother" or just plain clear ACV from the supermarket?

Also, your routine worked and cleared your rosacea in how much time after you first started using it?

I am hopeful that you may see my message and reply to me. Thanks, Sophia.

Replied By Cheryl (Illinois) on 05/07/2017

The ACV is wiping out the overgrowth of yeast in your system. I used to buy Monistat twice a month for it. Now, none at all.

Replied 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.

Replied By Pinnymom72 (Grimsby, Ontario) on 03/22/2018

You have to persevere through the initial redness. Give it a good month. You will see results. You need to change your diet too. Eliminate sugar as much as possible.

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