Rosacea: how to treat it naturally
Rosacea is a treatable skin condition that affects about 415 million people worldwide (British Journal of Dermatology, 2018), yet there are not many products available to treat the condition, nor is there enough knowledge out there for people to learn about its triggers or symptoms.
The well-known symptoms of rosacea including redness and flushing in the centre of the face, as well as extremely dry, rough and scaly skin. However, there are four types of rosacea and symptoms can include acne, thickening of the skin and bloodshot eyes.
In this month’s blog, I briefly talk about the triggers and symptoms of rosacea, and a recommended skincare routine (products and treatments) to follow to improve your rosacea.
What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic, yet treatable skin condition that is thought to be caused by a combination of neurovascular dysfunction and problems with your immune system. While there is no definitive cause of rosacea, scientists continue to study the skin condition and have linked inflammation of bodily systems to potential cause of rosacea.
There are four types of rosacea:
Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR): symptoms include redness, flushing and visible broken blood vessels.
Papulopustular (or acne) rosacea: you may experience acne-like breakouts. This type often affects middle-aged women.
Rhinophyma: a rare form, and includes thickening of the skin on the nose. It often affects men and can happen in concurrence with other types of rosacea.
Ocular rosacea: symptoms include bloodshot eyes.
Rosacea and its triggers
Rosacea can be triggered by environmental and internal factors, including:
Extreme changes in temperature
Sunlight or wind
Sensitivity to skincare or cosmetic products
Foods with cinnamaldehyde (cinnamon, chocolate, tomoatoes and citrus fruit)
Spicy food
Red wine and other types of alcohol
Medicine
To determine your triggers, it’s best to see a specialist such as a dermatologist or an allergist. Once you know your triggers, you can start implementing the steps to treat your rosacea.
Your earth4me Rosacea Treatment Plan
Identifying and minimising the triggers is only a small part of managing rosacea. If you suffer from symptoms such as acne, pus-filled blisters and hypersensitive and dry skin, you’re going to need an intensive and targeted skincare routine to reduce those symptoms as your body starts to heal.
Earth4Me products are clinically formulated with 100% pure and organic ingredients, with zero chemicals, synthetic ingredients or preservatives, meaning your skin is receiving nourishment and nutrition without the nasties.
As all my products are handmade in my clinic, this means I can create custom products to treat your specific skin concerns, including rosacea. So if you have rosacea and looking for a skincare brand that will not just heal, but improve your skin, book in a skincare consultation (in person or online) and we can start your Earth4Me skincare journey.
Skincare products
Cleanse
Clean skin is the first step towards healing the skin from rosacea symptoms. For the AM, use the Clarify Me Cleansing Minerals which will gently exfoliate dead skin and encourage fresh skin cells to regenerate. Formulated with organic oats, and goat and coconut milk (lactic acid), this cleanser is great for sensitive skin.
In the PM, I recommend double cleansing to remove any dirt or bacteria that may be on your skin from your daily routine. Place a 5-7 drops of the 100% natural Nourish Me Cleansing Oil and Makeup Remover, emulsify between the palms and massage over your face for 2-3 minutes, working the product into the skin to allow the tea tree and eucalyptus oil extract the bacteria from your pores. Wipe off with the Polish Me Cleansing Cloth and warm water, then use the Clarify Me Cleansing Minerals for the second cleanse.
Face mask
The type of face mask you need to use depends on the type of rosacea you have. If you have rosacea where flushed, dry and/or scaly skin are your symptoms, go for the Brighten Me Vitamin C Face Mask. Formulated with 50% L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and 50% marine collagen, not only will this mask encourage cell renewal and hydration, but it will also brighten and even out the skin tone.
If you have acne-like rosacea, your go-to is the Charcoal Me Face Mask. With key ingredients of activated charcoal, tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil powder and green tea powder, this mask will draw out bacteria from deep within your pores without overdrying your skin. You can use it targeted spots on your face, or all over for a deluxe treatment. I like leaving it overnight on my pimples, and watching it disappear the next morning.
Toner
Toner is an important part of your routine if you have rosacea, as it helps rehydrate whilst also delivering important nutrients to nourish and heal the skin. For all types of rosacea, I recommend the Flower Me Vitamin C Toner, made with floral hydrosols from naturally harvested florals and distilled in my own clinic. Combined with orange peel oil, apple cider vinegar and lavender oil, this toner will soothe irritated skin while providing antioxidants to your skin.
Face Oil
The Treat Me Face Serum is the only face oil that should be touching your skin if you suffer from rosacea. The clinical combination of avocado, rosehip, argan and calendula oil with vitamin E is perfect for dry and hypersensitive skin. Rosehip and argan oil are packed with antioxidants that deliver deep hydration to the skin, while calendula and vitamin E soothe and heal all types of skin irritation, including acne. Use AM and PM, or if you have oily skin, PM only.
Serums
For rosacea, vitamin C and vitamin B is the ultimate combo for healing and nourishment. Vitamin B (niacinamide) hydrates the skin while also containing skin healing properties, perfect for those suffering from acne-like rosacea; while vitamin C is well known for being a powerful antioxidant, fighting free radicals and boosting skin cell renewal and regeneration.
My Activate Me Vitamin B Niacin and Activate Me Vitamin C L-Ascorbic are formulated with a high percentage of vitamins, and no preservatives, parabens, sulfates or formaldehydes. Stored in biophotonic glass, these serums are some of the most potent and powerful on the market and you will see results after 24 hours.
I would suggest avoiding vitamin A (retinol) as it is too harsh for sensitive skin, especially for skin healing from symptoms of rosacea. Once the symptoms have cleared up, chat to your esthetician about introducing retinol into your skincare routine.
Moisturiser
For the ultimate skin nourishment, I recommend the Repair Me Whipped Serum Balm, formulated with pure, organic aloe vera pulp, apricot oil, vitamin E and beeswax to seal the moisture in your skin without clogging the pores. Aloe vera pulp delivers maximum hydration to dry and scaly skin, while apricot oil and vitamin E work together to brighten skin tone and protect skin from free radicals.
Enzyme Peel
Unlike the harsh chemical peels you see at beauty salons, a natural enzyme peel is perfect for people with rosacea as it helps repair the skin barrier whilst encouraging skin cell regeneration. The Earth4Me Purify Me Protein Enzyme Peel uses fruit enzymes combined with clay and lactic acid to break down dead skin cells, exfoliating the skin and revealing fresher, tighter and brighter skin. Because it is 100% natural, it won’t irritate sensitive skin or cause any redness or exacerbation of rosacea symptoms. Using a peel is recommended to help the skin heal faster and allows the other products in your routine to penetrate and absorb better in the skin.
Earth4Me skincare treatments:
My signature facial uses the best quality Australian ingredients to provide you an experience that is luxurious but also beneficial for the skin. All products used in this facial come from my signature range, so is perfect for those with rosacea. The facial includes a cleanse, exfoliation, mask, moisturise and lip treatment, making it the perfect all-rounder.
Complement your earth4me skincare routine with this facial that is all about nourishing your skin with vitamin C. A potent ingredient that is proven to boost the cell regeneration process whilst fighting free radicals, this will speed up the healing process for rosacea-affected skin without further irritation. It will also deeply hydrate the skin while smoothing skin roughness from rosacea.
A more powerful version of the at-home Protein Enzyme Peel, this clinic-only formula is paired with other powerful skincare products in the earth4me range to deeply nourish the skin, and remove dead skin cells and promote new cell turnover. Because it uses 100% natural enzymes, it is safer and highly recommended for people suffering from rosacea.
If you have rosacea, it’s important to remember that it is a treatable condition, and most importantly it is not contagious. Seeing your skin in that condition can lower your self-confidence but I want you to know that healthy and nourished skin is accessible to everyone, including you. It comes down to finding a dermatologist or esthetician who understands your skin and knows the correct way to treat any skin condition.
If you would like a professional diagnosis, book an in-depth skin consultation with me, in person or over video, There is a lot of research and resources readily available on the two topics and if you are interested in learning more, please get in touch so I can further help you.
Natasha Brock is a trained beauty therapist and skincare specialist with over 18 years experience in New Zealand and Australia. In addition to offering customised skin care products, she runs a clinic in Port Hedland, Western Australia.
