Rosacea
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- What is rosacea?
- Symptoms of rosacea
- Causes of rosacea
- Prevention of rosacea
- Risk factors for rosacea
- Complications of rosacea
- When to see a doctor about rosacea
- Diagnosis of rosacea
- Conventional treatment of rosacea
- Alternative/complementary treatment of rosacea
- Living with rosacea
- Caring for someone with rosacea
Alternative/complementary treatment of rosacea
There are a number of alternative/complementary treatment strategies which can be used for mild to moderate rosacea and as a first step for treatment before trying medication.
People taking any type of medication for rosacea (or any other health condition) need to check with their doctor that these alternative/complementary treatment strategies are safe to try.
Herbs
There are no herbs recommended to treat the symptoms of rosacea.
Vitamins
Certain vitamins may assist with reducing symptoms of rosacea:
- Betacarotene - the precursor to vitamin A, the antioxidant vitamin betacarotene also has the same properties to ensure skin is healthy
- Bioflavonoids - the bioflavonoids work together with vitamin C to ensure blood vessels are healthy and strong and may reduce symptoms associated with rosacea
- Vitamin A - various studies show that the potent antioxidant vitamin A works to keep the skin and dermal layers healthy and may stop rosacea symptoms from getting worse or actually even prevent aggravation of symptoms in the first place
- Vitamin B3 - studies show vitamin B3 (niacin), together with zinc may play an important role in helping to reduce symptoms as much as just using antibiotics alone
- Vitamin C - studies show that the potent antioxidant vitamin C keeps all the blood vessels smooth and elastic and ensuring they work properly, which may reduce symptoms associated with rosacea
- Vitamin E - the antioxidant vitamin E helps prevent free radical damage and promote healthy skin, with many studies showing that it reduces skin inflammation and this may help to reduce rosacea symptoms
Minerals
Certain minerals help to reduce duration and severity of symptoms:
- Zinc - many studies show that the antioxidant mineral zinc, either alone or together with vitamin B3 (niacin), may play an important role in helping to reduce symptoms of rosacea as much as just using antibiotics alone
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Other nutrients
Certain other nutrients may help with reducing severity and duration of symptoms:
- Digestive enzymes - the digestive enzymes pancreatin and lipase may be useful in helping an improperly functioning digestive system to work better. Studies have shown that people supplemented with these digestive enzymes have a decrease in symptoms
- Hydrochloric acid - if low stomach acid is an underlying problem, it may be beneficial to use hydrochloric acid to increase stomach acidity and help digest foods properly
- Omega 3 fatty acids - the omega-3 fatty acids help stop inflammation in any part of the body and could be useful for helping reduce the inflammation associated with rosacea symptoms
Dietary modifications
These include avoiding all the foods that trigger the rosacea:
- Avoid alcohol - while it may not directly be responsible for causing the rosacea, drinking lots of alcohol certainly makes symptoms much worse
- Drink enough water - it is important to drink an adequate supply of water, as it is vital to hydrate the skin and allow skin to be healthy
- Limit caffeine - while it may not cause rosacea, high caffeine intake makes symptoms much worse
- Limit hot, spicy foods - these foods tend to make symptoms worse, especially flushing of the face and should be strictly limited, especially when symptoms are flaring up
Lifestyle modifications
These can help reduce severity and duration of symptoms:
- Protect the skin in the sun - always use sun protection when going outside; makes sure to wear a hat, sunglasses and use natural, preferably organic sunscreen as it is less likely to irritate the facial skin more
- Relaxation strategies - learn to really relax to help reduce exacerbation of symptoms. Some good relaxation strategies include: meditation, tai chi, yoga
- Stop smoking - people who smoke need to stop, not only is it harmful to the lungs, but it also harms the skin and makes rosacea symptoms worse. It is also important not to be exposed to other people's second hand smoke
Alternative treatments
There are no other alternative treatment recommended for rosacea.
Always ensure that you notify your medical practitioner of any supplements that you want to take - it may interfere with other medication or conditions you have. Confirm with your doctor it is safe to take BEFORE you try it.
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