The Challenge of Treating Rosacea

Finding a working treatment for rosacea can be an incredibly difficult challenge.

For one, certain treatments have been known to aggravate the condition (antibiotics and topical steroids, for example.)

Then there’s the challenge of discerning the cause of your rosacea.

Could it be a symptom of an internal condition? Like SIBO or leaky gut? Maybe food allergies? Casein in milk and wheat gluten are common culprits in inflammatory conditions like rosacea.

Alcohol, stress, spicy foods and hot/dry weather all have the potential to play a role as well.

Once you’ve discovered a probable cause for your rosacea, you’ll want to give some different remedies a try.

There are plenty of supplements that are available to boost skin health for conditions like rosacea – cod liver oil, vitamin k2, and gelatin – to name a few. And then there are more specific nutritional supplements that combat acute deficiencies – like b-complex vitamins and iodine. There are foods that can help a great deal as well. Cultured foods like kefir and sauerkraut are rich in probiotics and can help re-balance your skin from the inside out.

This is all a lot to take in and it can be very frustrating to deal with – especially if you’ve already experienced failed attempts at healing your rosacea.

Throughout your treatment period – while you are spending all this time, money and energy on curing yourself – your skin is continuing to flare up.

This is where essential oils and DIY skin products can come in handy.

While choosing the right skin care product is unlikely to entirely cure your rosacea, taking care of your skin with cleansing and nurturing essential oils can greatly reduce visible symptoms on skin that’s being challenged by rosacea.

How Essential Oils and Hydrosols can help with Rosacea

As I’ve said, curing rosacea is a big challenge since the causes of rosacea are still relatively unknown – at least there’s very little conclusive evidence around causation.

But what we can do while we work towards a cure is keep the physical manifestations somewhat at bay.

The main symptoms of rosacea – inflammation, irritation (and the resulting anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem) can be diminished by using essential oils to keep the skin cool, reduce inflammation, constrict blood vessels and limit irritation.

There are many essential oils and hydrosols that are especially useful for this task. The recipes below make use of the majority of them.

Keep in mind when using the recipes below that any cleansers you use before or after applying these recipes should be gentle and nonabrasive.

9 Essential Oil Recipes for Rosacea

Two Stage Comprehensive Night and Day Treatments

The following four recipes can be found in Valerie Ann Worood’s book The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy.

Valerie’s treatment protocol comes in two main stages – each treatment cycle lasting two weeks.

Stage #1 Protocol

Day Treatment

Ingredients:

• 15 drops German Chamomile
• 15 drops Parsley
• 3 tablespoons carrier oil (Almond or Sesame recommended)

Combine ingredients.

Apply to skin and leave to soak for five minutes. Dab excess oil off with a tissue.

Night Treatment

Ingredients:

• 15 drops Carrot seed
• 15 drops Parsley
• 10 drops German Chamomile
• 5 drops Galbanum
• 3 tablespoons almond oil

Combine ingredients.

In the evening apply your stage #1-night treatment after cleansing and rinsing. Leave on your skin for five minutes then wipe off excess oil.

Avoid using any other products during the period.

Stage #2 Protocol

Day Treatment

Ingredients:

• 15 drops Geranium
• 15 drops Cypress
• 3 tablespoons carrier oil

Combine ingredients.

Apply to skin and leave to soak for five minutes. Dab excess oil off with a tissue.

Night Treatment

• 15 drops Eucalyptus Radiata
• 10 drops Violet leaf
• 5 drops Hyssop
• 3 tablespoons carrier oil

Combine ingredients.

In the evening apply your stage 2-night treatment after cleansing and rinsing. Leave on your skin for five minutes then remove excessive oil.

Now, on to some other rosacea recipes and treatments.

Facial Steam for dry and inflamed skin.

This is a simple recipe that leverages the facial steam method.

Ingredients:

• 8 drops Palmarosa
• 4 drops Lavender
• 4 drops Neroli
• 4 drops Carrot seed
• 1/4 cup carrier oil

Combine ingredients in a 2 oz glass bottle. Shake well before using.

How to prepare a facial steam

1. Before you begin put a shower cap on and cleanse your face.
2. Grab a large towel and large bowl.
3. Position the bowl on table or surface where you can comfortably sit above it.
4. Fill the bowl with 2 quarts boiling water (non-chlorinated water recommended).
5. Drop 1 tsp (5ml) of your facial steam for dry and inflamed skin blend into the water.
6. Using a towel, create a tent over the bowl and your head.
7. Be sure to keep your face at least a foot above the surface of the water. Feel free to keep even more if a distance if your skin is highly sensitive.
8. Keep your eyes closed.
9. Enjoy the steam for 5 to 10 minutes.
10. Finish by splashing your face with cool water.
11. Cleanse with a toner and apply a moisturizer.

Simple Tamanu Oil Based Rosacea Recipe

This is a recipe from Olivia at essentialoilbenefits.com

Avoid this recipe if you are having an intense flare up and your skin is highly sensitive. It is a somewhat powerful recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp Tamanu oil
• 3 drops German Chamomile
• 2 drops Helichrysum
• 1 drop Lavender

Combine ingredients. This can be stored in a small bottle, 10ml size should be more than enough. Apply when and where necessary.

Rosacea Spray bottle Blend with Witch Hazel

This is a blend, found on Campwanderer, which features alcohol free witch hazel.

• Alcohol Free Witch Hazel
• 8 drops of Frankincense
• 6 drops Helichrysum
• 4 drops Lavender
• 3 drops Geranium

Essential Oil & Hydrosol Combo Skin Purifier Spray Bottle Recipe

This is a simple blend of plant hydrosols and their essential oil counterparts.

Both the essential oils and the hydrolats of these plants are notorious skin health boosters.

Ingredients:

• 2 drops Lavender
• 2 drops Helichrysum
• 2 drops Rose
• 2 drops German Chamomile

Fill the remainder with equal parts of the following hydrosols

• 1 part Lavender hydrosol
• 1 part Helichrysum hydrosol
• 1 part Rose hydrosol
• 1 part German Chamomile

This recipe fills a 4 ounce glass spray bottle. Spray your face morning, night and any other time you’d like.

Cooling Facial lotion for Rosacea (very gentle)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Aloe vera gel
• 2 tbsp. Rose hip seed oil
• 1 tbsp. Lavender hydrosol
• 1 tbsp German chamomile hydrosol
• 3 drops Lavender
• 2 drops German chamomile
• 1 drop Vetiver

Directions:

• Combine aloe vera, rose hip oil and hydrosols together in a large bowl.
• Stir well.
• Add in essential oils.
• Stir well.
• Pour into a glass bottle, preferably one with a push down lotion spout like this one.
• Store in refridgerator. Shake before every use.
• Apply twice daily, or more if desired.

Additional (Non-Essential Oil Related) Natural Treatments for Rosacea

Organic Dry Skin Repair Cream from HoneySkin

This cream features:

• manuka honey
• aloe vera
• cocoa butter
• coconut oil
• shea butter
• MSM
• & more

It is ideal for repairing skin which is affected by rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, itchiness, redness.

TreeActiv Anti Acne & Rosacea Sulfur Mask

This sulfur mask features:

• sulfur
• rhassoul
• bentonite clay
• witch hazel
• aloe vera
• grapefruit essential oil

This mask instantly relieves the associated redness, irritation and inflammation that comes with rosacea. It cleanses, exfoliates and detoxifies the skin with unblocking the sebaceous glands of the skin.

Uses an all natural formula that includes a money back guarantee.

Conclusion

So there you have it, 9 recipes that help treat rosacea. Obviously, you won’t want to use all 9. That would be too much. But I’ve listed this many so you have options.

If you have any questions, comments or recipes of your own to add please let yourself be heard on the comments below.