Natural Remedies for Rosacea

I tried scrubbing with Borax after reading your comment. I have to agree my skin is MUCH smoother than normal. After one time I did see a lessening of redness, but it seems to be getting redder as the day progresses. :( I did not remember to apply aloe, which may have been more effective. I was wondering if you are continuing to use Borax? If so, how often do you scrub with it? I am planning on using ACV as a toner also, although, not after scrubbing with Borax because the rosacea does sting a bit afterwards. It sounds like ACV will help with redness as well as enlarged pores. I would appreciate any feedback. My face just keeps getting redder and redder as I get older and I'm becoming very self-conscience about it.

Anybody consider colon cleansing?

This has nothing to do with borax or Apple Cider Vinegar (which I have but have not used yet). I have been taking for about 4 months now ACNEED capsules for Rosacea (a Chinese Herbal blend product) from Merry Clinic (on-line). They claim it is a stomach thing. It has greatly helped with my red-ness & the bumps. It's pretty expensive but in my case it has helped therefore it is worth it. I am still having problems with the bumps located between my eyebrows. Any suggestions?

Hi I am an sufferer of rosacea for 7 years, my skin started from acne and worsened to redness and sensitivity due to incorrect use of products. Sad to say, my derma can't actually determine my case, eczema or rosacea or both and the possiblity of mites infection was not suggested to me either. She prescribed me with a rosacea gel, doxycycline 100mg, I am applying jojoba oil too. Been taking it for few days, not much effect. Recently, I found out that low stomach acid and mites infection on skin might be the reason. I am really tempted to try out consuming hcl or apple cider vinegar to see whether it aids my process however, I am afraid that I can take it with doxycycline medicine. Actually, I wished to try apple cider vinegar and a shampoo (but don't know which one is right) on my face. But of course, was afraid it will make me worst. Btw, I tried zz cream before ( supposed to be mites killer) not much effect. Can any suggest how should I go abt it and what is the trial period to determine whether the vinegar suits me?

Hi Christine, I had similar skin condition like you, Rosacea. Even am not sure whether it is eczema or rosacea however I am living with this problems since I was 11 yrs old, am 36 now. At the age of 24, a derma diagnosed me with rosacea. I was taking tetracycline plus metro gel, but metro gel is not effective at all for my rosacea. Tetracycline did improve my blushing but until I was taking tetrcycline as prescribed.

I am an Indian and I knew about Neem which can cure any skin related disease but I was really oblivious to neem to use as rosacea treatment. I have been taking neem capsule and applying neem oil on my face and just over couple of days I found the redness has minimized plus my complexion has improved a lot. Neem oil has very strong odour but that should not deter you from applying it on your face. There are neem creams as well soap which you can also use. Don't stop the treatment with neem if it clears your rosacea, continue with creams or soap or even shampoos which contain neem. You may discontinue with neem capsule but keep using external application. You can also do bit of research on Neem if you are in doubt but Neem really works.

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.

Update on my earlier post. My skin is completely clear of sores/pimples/pustules. Only slight slight vague redness on cheeks. I continue to scrub twice a day with borax, then apply the sulfur/sunscreen mixture. I believe this is the ticket for my particular case. I have noticed my usually normal blood pressure has climbed a little, so I have quit taking borax internally, but am still taking a little sulfur in water or in a spoon of peanut butter or honey. Love the way my hair is looking since quit using shampoo and went to borax/baking soda to wash and citric acid rinse. My nails are longer and stronger too- maybe from the sulfur. If anyone else tries this, let us know how it works for you.

What sort of sulphur are you taking internally?

Are you talking about borax as in "20 Mule Team Borax" use for cleaning and other household purposes???

Could someone please let me know how I can purchase Borax in Thailand? Or where I can find it? I have tried remedies from dermatologists for what I have just discovered that I have rosacea. Thank you.

i am taking levothyroxin for an underactive thyroid. trying to get rid of rosacea...what interaction will borax have on this medication. should i take borax with this medication?

Pamela, I think you may have hit the nail on the head, regarding the "cause" of rosacea. You mentioned you developed it after taking Paxil. I find it interesting that many people develop this problem after they have upset the balance of good vs bad bacteria in their guts by taking prescription drugs. I believe rosacea could be due to a candida overload in the system, and since you live in WA state I can tell you that you don't get enough Vit D from sunshine. I live in WA, and Dr. Wright of the Tahoma Clinic (Kent) told me that we all need a minimum of 1,000 IUs of Vit D daily in the NW. I have read research that shows a clear link to vitamin D levels being low and an elevation in rosacea cases. Vit. D is a critical hormone, that also affects the thyroid; many here in WA report losing weight and lessening of head hair loss after proper supplementation....it is a powerful hormone necessary for hormone balance in women. Hope this helps. And, I would apply apple cidar vinegar to the face 2x per day, with a Vit E or Jojoba oil lightly applied before bed, to counter possible dryness. Hope this helps!

Robin, I was floored after reading your feedback. I have had a horrible case of Rosacea for 20 years now. Just a year ago, I was diagnosed with hypothyroid and have been on synthroid. (Can't begin to tell you how much better I feel.) But the rosacea is AWFUL. Then, just a couple months ago (in the THICK OF SUMMER) I was told I'm *severely* deficient in Vitamin D. So, after reading your post, I'm now wondering if my rosacea is a result of my hormone imbalances and Vitamin D deficiency.

I've read a lot of posts in this forum about treaments for rosacea, like taking 1 tablespoon of ACV 3xs a day diluted in a cup of either juice or water. Or, by taking borax in water. Has anyone done BOTH? Is it dangerous to do both? I'm so desperate to try something -- just not sure what to do first!

Am trying the ACV topically tonight, along w/ the Aloe. Hoping for some improvement soon.

Might be worthwhle at some stage to do a survey on what we think causes rosacea. I would be vitamin d deficient purely on the basis of where we live. You couldn't get enough sun here if you tried. I also have hormone imbalances and have taken antibiotics akin to paxil.

I have taken acv using the water I prepared with the boraxed water and had no adverse reactions. Ted has done a list of the combination that are ok and what not to mix somewhere on this site. Search Ted's Combination List.

Please be sure you get Vitamin D3 (natural) not D2 (synthetic). D2 has a pretty low max dosage and research has made clear it's the D3 that is useful. Fortunately it is really pretty cheap. Research shows 10,000 mg per day semi-long term in adults did no damage (and that disease-states, particularly cancer, are hugely correlated with low D3 status in the body), and some docs I have known have prescribed way more than that (like 5x that) for people in the flux of a disease. PJ

Hi! Please tell us exactly what protocol you followed so we can know what you tried.

I recently googled rosacea and there was a current study suggesting that some rosacea could be caused by a mite under the skin that when it poops caused the topical part of the reaction and then the treatments people try can deal with the reaction to the poop symtoms but not get rid of the mites.... Don't lose your HOPE.... LOVE , JOY

I'd like to know what happened in the end to your skin. I think you were trying too many things at once. I would stick to teds remedy. It worked for me. I was clear for five years. It's creeping back again and I am starting the regime again.

Yes, the wording can be a little confusing. The way I took Ted's directions was to mix equal amount of borax and h202 and let the borax dissolve. You will then have a liquid that you can apply to your face and let dry. Your face will get dry so I suggest after 20 minutes or so to apply a face lotion for sensitive skin. I've used this and it does work to an extent. Good luck and God Bless!

My understanding of a staurated solution is that there should be just enough HP to make the borax disappear. Try putting 1/4 tsp borax to a tsp hp and swish around. If the borax is still obvious add 1/4 - 1/2 tsp hp until you can't see the borax. If this doesn,t cover the area you want to use it on add more of each. After a while you won't even need to measure it. I used it at night only so that it wasn't noticable at work and washed it off in the shower in the morning. At the end of my treatment my skin wasn't any drier. Use an old pillowcase as it will discolor them.

A saturated solution is a solution that is fully saturated, like water and Borax, so that the water can absorb no more Borax. I make it by putting borax into a mixing cup and adding hot water, and stirring. Keep stirring occasionally until cooled off. Let sit until the liquid is pretty clear. There will be some Borax that is not absorbed into the water and that means that the water is fully saturated with Borax. If there is no residue, add some more Borax and keep stirring. Drain off the clear liquid into a squeeze bottle which makes application easier. You can reuse the sediment left over to make a new batch.

We use it on scalp for dandruff, face and arms for skin problems and feet and heels for smooth skin and to prevent cracking, applying it before showering, letting on for a few minutes, then showering. We also apply on problem skin during the day and just let it dry.

These skin problems, we have finally realized, are primarily caused by fungus, maybe some other critters as well. The Borax is very effective. Add some HP if desired.

Hi Miel. I did the same thing. I used borax and hydrogen peroxide in my bath water. I stayed in the tub too long and burned my skin. It took a while to heal, but I learned a valuable lesson. It's better to use the correct portions than to use too much and cause yourself harm.

Rosacea, if all will research the net, you will find that it was a Chinese army doctor who first identified the culprit to be the Demodex mite. This was during the Korean War. So I question any Johnny come lately, which includes Ted. After fighting this bugger unsuccessfully for 15 years with Dermatologists, I now treat it myself as I have posted before.

I now think you never cure yourself. You just have to control them. I have found that Tee Tree Oil is the compound which best controls the situation. It is critical that you apply your concoction inside your nose because there is where your hair follicles are. I use hydrogen peroxide, vitamin e oil, tee tree oil and borax. I wash my hair with a coal tar shampoo and rinse with a saturated solution of Borax. All these things are anti-fungals.

The statement that only hydrogen peroxide and borax will cure dog mange is laughable. My dad cured my dogs in the 40's with sulfur, old motor oil and boric acid. I know the site owners get perturbed with me because of my challenges. My response is that if you can't stand the heat, then don't go in the kitchen. Readers won't understand this remark, but they do.

Regardless, this is a great site , just question what you read. There are a lot of posters with unique knowledge like Ted and Joyce, but I find holes sometimes in what they say. Caveat Emptor. I also think lots of posters get tunnel vision with the treating symptoms. Go after your total health first. Then the symptoms will sometimes go away.

If this spiel comes out bad, just blame it on an old man's rumblings.

Go after your total health first."

I think this is wise advice, Robert. I am beginning to think that rosacea is a symptom of sub-par health. Consequently, when one's health improves, so should one's rosacea. When i refer to health, i mean internal health. That said, i think it is still advantageous to apply gels/creams/ointments to one's face. A lot of evidence points to the cause of rosacea as a deficiency of vitamin b2 (riboflavin) and sulfur (MSM), two things which i have been supplementing my diet with as of late. While the literature suggests that these are not an immediate cure, they seem to work overtime and tackle the root of the problem, which should be the goal, that is, eliminating the cause.

Another thing which i suspect may provoke rosacea is mercury amalgams, as they could release too much mercury into one's body. I have not read too much from people in terms of whether removing mercury amalgams had any positive impact on their rosacea, though i am very interested in finding out.

Hello All,

Thought you might be interested in alternative Dr. Jonathan Wright's theory that when you develop a skin problem, look to your gut (gastrointestinal tract). When you also look at the opinion that 75% or more of our immune system's work is done in the intestines, this could very well be right. Also all the EC'ers who report that taking ACV relieves acid regurg or GERD, adds to this, because his theory is that acid regurg is caused not by an excess of hydrocholoric acid but to a deficiency of it.

I also remember reading that the purpose of our pets licking their wounds is that the passage of the pathogens through their GI tracts is what forms the antibodies against the pathogens, which would seem to enforce the theory of much of the immune system function is performed in our intestines.

Hi Joyce. I would be very interested in reading Dr. Johnathan article on GUT FLORA...I googled and serveral articles came up. I was wondering if you have a link or a source.

I kinda know, like to take probotics and digestive enzymes, but would love to read the article you are refering to.

This is a first, as for me hearing about Dr. Johnathan Wright, I also have been watching Dr. Richard Becker on TV and find his show informative and I know you have mentioned Dr. Linus Pauling. I searced for Dr. Pauling and came to a website, and I think they wanted you to join or something sign up maybe...I perfer to just click on, like we do here and read...

Thanks in advanced, Joyce!

Hello Robert Henry... I know what you mean about different approaches that different healers have, for instance I see alot on here about SOY and SOY LETHICIN and I have found several articles other places that condem the use of SOY PRODUCTS... It seems that Natural healers agree to disagree on many things. I know Dr Andrew W. Saul recomends very high doses of Niacin for depression, not Nicimade and I have read that Niacin is absolutly terriable for the liver. I know you, yourself have said you eat know animal organs and Ted and Robert Von Sarbacher recommend Beef Liver for certain things....It does get confusing at times. Always something different from different healers.

hi tahiti! definitely! that incorrect mixture was so painful on my face and i thought that was normal. i was almost in tears. absolutely my fault and not Ted!

update on my skin - skin is all clear of rosacea! its unbelievable how i did not discover this last winter. my rosacea typically occurs during winter. i stopped using the borax for the moment but i'm thinking of doing it every other day.

Hello All, I realize I'm very late to respond to this thread, but as I was reading here, something occurred to me. If dogs gain immunity by ingesting bacteria, if you can gain immunity to allergens by eating local honey, and babies acquire immunity by drinking mother's milk, do you think one could gain immunity to Rosacea by swallowing small, skin scrapings from their infected area?

I've also been reading up on mites a bit and have learned that like most creatures they love the quick energy that sugar provides. I'm going to try making a sugar, borax and water solution as a mask on my face to see if they will come running for the sugar and eat the borax in the process. Same idea as killing ants and spiders with a bowl of sugar and borax... Just on your face. I know both ideas are kind of gross, but I'm going to try them. I'll check back and let you know how it goes.

A staurated borax is when the borax dissolves completely. Start with about 1/2 teaspoon borax to 1 tablespoon hp. Then start to add 1 tsp hp at a time till the borax dissappears while you are stirring it. You will still feel the slight grating of the borax on your skin even though you won't be able to see it. Using a drop of tea tree oil or neem oil should speed up the processs. The mites don't like either and the neem oil helps reduce reproduction of them.

Where can I get the borax and what is the recipe and dosage for fibro? thanks

Hi Tricia from Ireland,

Where is the best place to get borax and HP from over the counter in Ireland, I have Rosacea mostly over my face and area and would be very interested to try the mix suggested in this forum.

Hi, Charlie, Your local chemist supplies both. They are kept behind the counter so you have to ask for them. The hydrogen peroxide seems to be only availablle(or I can only get it so far) in 6% vol so I have to use mineral or ditilled water in the mix. Borax is also gotten from the chemist but not always so easily available but they should be able to order it for you. Some may ask what you want it for. I personally didn't want to explain in a shop full of people what I wanted it for so I said it was for making a homemade washing powder with washing soda. Yor can explain away the peroxide by saying it is for cleaning purposes. It can be used for cleaning counter tops or as a bleach would etc.
The brand I used is Ricesteele in Tallaght for both. Borax was only available from these and I rang the company in Dublin and checked that it is pure borax with nothing added. They said it is. I checked their peroxide for stabilisers as per Teds instructions (HP:Water 1:9 and leave on a windowsill in sunshine to look for yellow colour......waited 5 days for sunshine) and it stayed clear.

I'm afraid you will only be able to get small quantities. 100g of borax and 250ml hp.

If you ever find it in larger quantities please let me know where as I hate buying on the internet and believe in buying local anyway.