Natural Remedies for Rosacea

Borax

Posted by Pat (Athens, Al, Usa) on 06/17/2010
★☆☆☆☆

My doctor says I have rosacea, although I do not have all of the flushing and sensitivities most people do, I do have some other symptoms. It is a theory that rosacea can be caused by a demodex mite. I've been using borax on my face for over a month now with little results, except my skin now has the texture of an orange peel and I get little bumps on the backs of both ears and just below my ears on my neck. I suspect this to be mites as when I put borax on these areas the bumps temporarily go away. However they reappear within a day or two. I think this is a mite issue and not some strange form of acne, but I'm beginning to wonder if it's something else and if it is then what? It has also spread to the jaw line and prior to the start of all of these symptoms I never had any acne type problems with my skin and certainly not on the jaw line. Also I have had the problems with the little bumps on my ears for a long period of time and some scalp problems (which have now disappeared) however my hair has been falling for several years it seems to be at an accelerated pace now too. If this is mites my dermatologist doesn't go with the theory of the demodex mites and rosacea point of view to begin with (I'm going my internet research). I'm feeling stuck - what kind of mite could I be dealing with (if it's a mite)? Why isn't the borax helping? If it isn't a mite problem, what is it??? I want my smooth skin back I've been dealing with this sudden battle for about 6 months now. I'm at wits end and every single thing the dermatologist has tried and I have tried on my own have not helped. It occasionally looks like I have a pimple here and there in all of this, the texture is visible as my skin is oily and the bumpiness of the skin looks like an orange peel only on a bit larger scale. My forehead doesn't seem to be affected much (yet) but the rest of my entire face and jawline is and I'm getting more and more self conscious by the day.

I have tried full strength tea tree oil, tea tree and lavender oil mixed, the borax/peroxide solution, just plain borax as a daily morning and night facial wash & scrub...I I've tried that then followed up with the tea tree oil, or tee tree/lavender oil mix. I've tried washing my face with lice shampoo and using the cream for scabies at my dermatologist suggestion, and everything my dermatologist has prescribed for rosacea and acne treatments (including sulfur products)and NOTHING is working or even helping. PLEASE if anyone can help I'd be forever grateful.

Borax

Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 06/06/2010

Hi Roseyg,

Did you read about borax and what it CAN do? Have you read what Ted and Bill have to say about borax and its properties? I have learned so much from this site and love to pass on what I have learned to others here on EC. Honestly, I don't think anyone comes on here knowingly giving ill-intentioned advice. At least that has been my experience. There are a lot of remedies on this site that are little known today and the medical field and much of the mainstream either don't know, hide or the info has been lost through time. Many of us here are open to learning about alternative ways and much of the info here are on EC are folk remedies that have been lost because of the pharmaceutical way of life that most people assume is the only way to go. I for one, would not have known of the amazing properties of borax and would have made the same assumption as you had I not learned otherwise here on EC.

That said, I hope that everyone just uses common sense when trying new remedies.
Peace, Lisa

Borax

Posted by Roseyg (Boise, Id) on 06/06/2010

Hard to believe you are suggesting people ingest borax. I have suffered from rosacea for decades now, have been to countless dermatologist and have read and tried everything I can find about dealing with it (I believe there is no cure). Do you and your readers understand that borax is used to make such items as detergents, fire retardants, insecticides, flux used in metallurgy, and that it has been banned in the U.S. for use in food products? I think I'll skip being a guinea pig on this home remedy. To your other readers... use caution!

EC: Much more feedback on borax: here https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/borax.html

Chamomile Tea, Rubbing Alcohol, Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Doug (Jamestown, Tn) on 05/31/2010

I have had rosacea for about 10 years and have tried several meds prescribed by the doctor. None worked. I heard about colloidal silver and started using that both topically and internally. I take a tablespoonful by mouth three times daily and I apply a compress of CS to the affected area at bedtime. In my case it is my nose and cheeks. The redness is gone and my nose now looks normal. I highly reccomend it. You can make your own colloidal silver very easily. There are several good CS generators on the market for around 100 dollars.

Chamomile Tea, Rubbing Alcohol, Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Una (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 05/28/2010

This unfortunately wasn't a cure for my rosaecea. It is still present and flares up. This toning solution which I still use does cool it and temporarily reduces the heat and redness. I am still looking for a more permanent solution but this works fine for me still. I have also started to exercise aerobically three times a week. My face is a lot redder but feels less hot. I will keep it up and see what results. I also use Metrogel now occasionally.

I still eat no yeast, sugar, alcohol, salt, soy sauce or vinegar which I am sure helps.The funny thing is the few times recently I've eaten hot peppers my rosacea redness really diminshed to the point my skin looked like normal again.Only temporary as well but it was nice to see myself looking like normal again.

My rosacea is strange. I have a red chin with occasional flushing of my nose and cheek. It comes and goes but the redness on my chin is almost permaneent and requires makeup to cover.

I will keep trying and searching for a cure. Maybe lasers in the future. I will keep you posted.

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Tricia (Ireland) on 05/26/2010 84 posts

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.

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Elizabeth (Nashville, Tn) on 05/21/2010

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!

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Pat (Athens, Al, Usa) on 05/20/2010

Re: Borax & Peroxide Saturation

I have rosacea and have been reading Teds's remedies and don't quite understand what is meant by the borax and peroxide "saturation" since this is applied - would one mix this into a paste type concoction to apply or is it a runny liquid applied with a cotton ball or somewhere in between? I really NEED to do something and everything else I've tried here on Earth Clinic has worked like a miracle so far. The paste type makes more sense as it would be easier to apply than some runny mess but I don't know what is meant or how to apply it. Can someone - ANYONE, please clarify this for me. Rosacea is one of those nasty nanoinsect thinys and I need to irradiate it asap. Thanks in advance for the clarification.

Turmeric

Posted by Pat (Athens, Al, Usa) on 05/13/2010

I'm interested in the effects of using turmeric for my skin problems. I have adult rosacea type acne and melesma. The acne seems to be the worst. I am fair skined so a topical use would make me yellow for sure. I bought some capsules but I'm not sure how many to take and how often I should take them to have any effect on my skin and I'm also wondering how long it might be before I might see any results - especially for the acne. Thank You.

Chinese Medicinal Herbs

Posted by Jeannette (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 05/09/2010
★★★★★

Hi all!

Just wanted let you know my experience with rosacea. I cured it with acupuncture and herbs. But before that I tried EVERYTHING. I happened quite suddenly last spring and I had no clue what I had. All I knew was that I was really hot on my face and it was horribly itchy.

I spent hundreds of dollars on supplements I researched online (oils creams vitamin deficiencies, you name it) the only thing that made it better were the papaya masks I'd put on my face(preferably cold papaya mashed or blended by itself All OVer) and I'd leave it on for an hour. It was my happy place...the rest of the days were horrible and I seriously wanted to die from the pain and I couldn't sleep without scratching.

I even researched fasting and switched to a raw food diet. I fasted for 18 days and came out with a juice diet for a week with wheatgrass and organic fruit. That actually helped, it totally went away. But when I started eating normal again it started to come back. So then I found an awesome acupuncturist here in Vegas. So after the first visit I immediately saw my face change color and kept my treatments while maintaining a vegetarian diet (with cooked foods).

My acupuncturist said that I had to stay away from yang foods which include spicy, chocolate, coffee, alcohol type of stuff. And the amount of time to get rid of it would be based on how long I originally had been having symptoms and how well I stuck to my regimen. This was all due to a Yin deficiency. So I kept taking the herbs and going to my sessions, which started out a couple times a week then went down to one visit a week and then monthly maintenance. Now I just take my herbs and rarely eat Yang foods. I had rosacea severely for four months and then the symptoms started to recede throughout the next 6 months. Acupuncture must maintain constant in order to see any results but that's the way natural healing works. I never went to a dermatologist and I refuse to take medication eventhough I was desperate.

I hope my story helps all of you, I know the pain and how horrible it feels. Keep your hope because I got rid of mine and you can too.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Mike (Yakima, Wa) on 04/29/2010
★★★★★

apple cider vinegar-rosacea

came across your site while looking for cure.they say there is none. have been mixing 1 tablespoon of acv with a glass of water 2 times a day. results have been incredible in the two plus weeks. skin on nose has smoothed out- no break outs. redness is gone. skin feels moist and smooth all over. always tried topical treatments, that would cause dryness. works for me, hope it helps others. mental outlook as well as overall physical has improved. thanks.

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Ger (Dublin, Dublin, Ireland) on 04/28/2010
★★★★☆

hi all,

following your advice on trying to clear a red face i have been useing borax mixed with hydrogen peroxide. i think its working, after a week my face is still red but it does seem calmer but only a bit. i will keep going untill i run out of borax but i guess even a slight improvement is better than nothing.any other suggestions greatly welcome for couperose skin cures. thanks

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Amy (Steamboat, Co) on 04/27/2010

UPDATE: My skin is considerably better now - in fact, I don't even use Tea Tree Oil on a daily basis any more. I continue to apply the oil to any problem area that may arise, but they are few and far between. Early application of Tea Tree seems to prevent any further irritation and is keeping me ahead of a break out. It is such a relief to have found a solution to treating my Rosacea.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Glycerin

Posted by Marion (Toronto, Canada) on 04/09/2010
★★★★★

I've had rosacea for years and have tried the gambit of treatments.I don't buy into the demodex mite theory.Think about it. If a demodex mite lived in on or in my skin or even on my pillow, my husband whom I share a close connection with in the same bed would have the same skin problem. But his skin is not affected, nor are my children's. No, I don't buy that argument. I think, what we have is a sensitivity to all the chemicals we put on and shower off the body e.g. bodywash, shampoo,conditioners,bodygel, leave in conditioner,hairsprays,hair color,sunscreen,tints, make-up,powders,blush,body and under arm deodorants,nail polishes,nail polish removers,cuticle removers,hand creme,eye creme,night creme,foot creme,pore fillers,foundations,concealers,mascaras,eye shadows,eye-liners,lip gloss,lipstick,lip fillers, make-up removers,toners, moisturizers, perfumes body sprays,etc., you get the idea. It all has to touch our skin in order to be removed either in the shower or at the sink. Think about, read the ingredients. You can't even pronounce most of them! All the stuff we put on our faces every morning, touch ups throughout the day. Then we take it of at night and put on some more before bed only to repeat the cycle first thing again the next morning. I started to think if I can't pronounce it I'm not going to put it on my skin or my hair because just having a shower aggravated my skin. I stopped doing all that stuff. Now I have great skin and great hair.

After my shower I wipe my face with a cotton pad with apple cider vinegar (acv) on it avoiding the eye area. I don't rinse it of cause my skin was already wet. Then I apply glycerin to my moist face. I now only shampoo my wet hair by massaging 1TBS of baking soda on my wet scalp and rinsing with just enough acv to remove the tangles in my shoulder length hair.No more blow drying. I let it dry naturally. Now my hair and my skin looks great. My skin is no longer red rosacea. BTW I don't drink any alcohol, I wear a hat when out in the sun, and I stay out of the wind and I take deep breaths throughout the day. This works for me.

Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Mags (Cheshire, Uk) on 04/08/2010
★★★★★

I think i have finally managed to rid myself of this horror condition rosacea. Two weeks ago my face was red raw, full of red bumps and the itch drove me mad. I now take 2 apple cider vinegar tablets a day and 1 B complex. I wash my face with natural sulphur soap, i then wash a second time by using an anti dandruff shampoo / shampoo for flaky and dry scalp. This shampoo contains a chemical called ciclopirox olamine. Leave this shampoo neat on a wet face for no more than a minute then rinse. Do not use around the eyes. Wash your face morning and night following the above or more if you need to. Once your face has been washed then use a diluted tablespoon of ACV to swab on the red and bumpy areas of face with cotton wool, allow to dry and then moisturise with a natural chemical free and fragrance free cream. To wash and cleanse your face this way yes is a pain but to see the difference within 4 days, i couldnt believe it. My spots had cleared, the redness calmed and the very very dry skin i had was now soft and healthy. Worked for me. I had also read on the net that Lysine could help, i tried this by tablet form and this made my face swell so that was no good for me. It is finding something that suits you. I was diagnosed last year with this and given antiobiotics to clear it. It worked but after time the biotics gave me thrush and constant tummy ache. So the natural way i now use is much better and does not make me feel ill. The shampoo is use on face i cannot name but begins with an o. (uk)

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Amy (Steamboat, Colorado) on 03/29/2010
★★★★☆

I have had an acne Rosacea breakout on my face for almost 6 months. After trying 4 different topical treatments with no results and resisting a second oral antibiotic treatment, I found earthclinic.com. I read EVERYTHING on Rosacea and decided to try Tea Tree Oil on my face. I applied a drop or two to a moistened cotton ball twice a day and noticed relief right away in the sensitivity of my skin. The symptoms began to subside during the first few days and I started applying it directly to my skin with a cotton swab only where I had redness or a bump. It has been just over a week, and my face is mostly clear from breakouts with just a little redness left. I am so relieved to have found something that works - and so happy that it is a natural AND inexpensive treatment. I highly recommend trying it for your Rosacea.

Manuka Honey, Grapefruit Seed Extract

Posted by Sue (Va) on 03/26/2010

Hi all, and thanks for this amazing site. I am wondering what experience anyone would be willing to share about using manuka honey or grapefruit seed extract topically on rosacea or perioral dermatitis. I've never used either one, but am intrigued by the feedback readers have given for other conditions.

Would the honey "feed" the mites rather than kill them, or is the antimicrobial factor stronger than the sugar in honey?

Does the GSE work, and how precisely would one dilute/apply it?

Many thanks for taking the time to write!

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Tricia (Ireland) on 03/26/2010 84 posts

No problem at all, Nanci, glad to be of help.

>>Are you still drinking the borax & hp, if not, when did you stop?

In tapering off the recipe I had reduced to drinking this every 7 - 10 days. By xmas I had decided to stop as I knew I had killed off everything and anymore that may have been nestling and hiding.

I became conscious of the possibility of a weakness that might make me susceptable to re-infection and decided to do a maintenance dose once per month just to be on the safe side. I have no proof that I am more susceptable to these things just a feeling. Not everyone would choose to do this. So at the end of each month. Hp and borax on the face and borax in the drinking water.

>>Did you ever drink water with baking soda, or add it to the borax/ hp drink?

Short answer - no. I have only take BS with ACV for heartburn issues. Never with water or borax or hp. I read somewhere in Teds posts that ACV shouldn't be mixed with HP as it is too acidic so I always left about 2 hrs between the two remedies. I learn't that Ted was right when I accidently mixed ACV and HP instead of Borax and HP and slathered it onto my face. OOhhhh Boy!!!!! I looked like a blood red beetroot. My face was so hot the rest of my body felt cold and this lasted almost 8 hrs. Not to be done a second time.

>>What are you doing for your broken capillaries?

Vitamin C, Lysine Vitamin K and a flavenoid recipe (to be found in posts by a wonderful contributer "kathy from dubois"). This did reduce the severity of the larger veins but the smaller ones are still there.

>>Do you still have some redness to your skin (rosy cheeks) or has it all disappeared?

Yes I still have some redness but it is only from the broken capillaries. That overall redness that makes you look like you are permanantly embarrassed is gone. If you were standing about three feet away from me I would probobly look like I had healthy coloring. On close inspection the veins are very visible because the skin underneath has completely lost it blushiness.

Other people didn't notice changes during the summer beause of light tanning that I get but from mid sept to around christmas I was constantly asked if I was sick. My friends think it is hilarious that they can now see that I blush if I'm embarrassed. I always did, just nobody could tell.

>>am so anxious for this to work and put this ailment behind me...

Yeah, I totally understand that. This remedy definitely worked for me although it has to be accepted that it won't work for everybody. If it doesn't work for you try something else. I had given up many years ago and learn't to accept me as I am. But a uncle of mine who went blind in his old age took on the mantra "Quitters don't win and winners don't quit" and he lives a full, active and adventurous life and is willing to take on anything new with a healthy optmism. I want to be like him. I believe there is an answer to everything, it just may take another while to find it.

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Nanci (Chicago, Il) on 03/25/2010

Hello Tricia...

Thank you so much for your very helpful reply! While reading it, I thought of more questions...you are a great resource.
Are you still drinking the borax & hp, if not, when did you stop? Did you ever drink water with baking soda, or add it to the borax/ hp drink? What are you doing for your broken capillaris? do you still have some redness to your skin (rosy cheeks) or has it all disappeared?

I am so anxious for this to work and put this ailment behind me...i've been dealing with this for three years!

Many thanks Tricia!

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Tricia (Ireland) on 03/24/2010 84 posts

Hi Nanci, there is no doubt that this remedy was probobly one of the longest thought through things that I have done yet up to this point all a doctor had to do was hand me a script and I'd run to the pharmacy and swallow.

All the stuff I read about rosacea and mites just made sense but, "my God", the cure seemed drastic. I have sensitive skin too so it was scary.

Your questions:-

Am I still using the treatment?

Maybe about once a month if I think of it although I have no contact with animals at present, I probably would then use a maintainence shot more often if I did..
I think that once you have had a parasitic type infection you will do anything to prevent a second round of it.

How long is my rosacea gone?

It was probably gone by around mid Sept having started Teds treatment in early june this year and like you noticed a remarkable difference in the early days and after about ten days, while not gone, it did take longer to see the differences. Because I was on holiday from work i was able to use it morning and night for the 1st 2 weeks using the 5 days on 2 days off routine. Then because I had to go back to work I only used it at night(mid your pillowcases, they will stain)and washed it off in the shower. I kept this up for a month and the went to every second night for a couple of weeks then every 3rd and so on. By christmas I had stopped regular use which by then was only once a week/10 days. I never broke the cycle I was using to know would it have re-emerged. But since then it's a case of if and when I remember it.

Moisturisers and cleansers I used -

The peroxide/borax is cleansing enough in itself and I only wear make-up 1 or 2 days per week which I made my off days from the treatment so I continued to use a standard off the shelf cleanser for sensitive skin at weekends. I used a couple of different moisturisers that are non-perfumed. Many years ago I saw programme on a cream which is the basis of all medicated creams i.e. cream and cortisone or cream and antibiotic.The claim was that this was unperfumed and relatively pure so as not to interact with the medications. I wouldn't assume this still stands true as most manufactures will add cheap chemicals and call it a new and improved product. Anyway, the cream is called silcocks base and is manufatured by a number of different Irish companies. I don't know what it would be called in the States It is often used for excema sufferers.

VCO tended to give me a tingling sensation if I used it too soon in the day or night after the peroxide/borax. But for a deeper moisturiser I would use sesame oil, grapeseed oil and sometimes a little castor oil to which I added a few drops of neem oil. Now I will use any of the ordinary off the self stuff. Because I sunburn very easily I use the strongest 24 hr sunblocks that are sold for children. They are chemical laden and will sting sensitive skin but it's far better than sunburn and sunstroke(believe me, I've been there)

Afraid to try -

Yeah, I was too, but now I'm real glad that I did go for it. The flushing and stinging was unbearable. I was afraid to go out in the sun because that made it worse.

I now have sensitive skin rather than ultra-sensitive skin (stung constantly with or without product). I would have to be trying an new soap or cream and have a reaction for a cream to reeally sting me now and I find I can use most stuff without a problem. Opening the diswasher (real hot steam) too soon can also do it now. The only downside was that when the flushing was gone I can now see each individual broken veins. I thought I just had a few but now I can see loads.

Dry and itchy skin -

Try putting it on at night only. I noticed that my skin looked and felt very dry - almost like crumpled paper within about 10 minutes of putting on the HP/B but it seemed to go back to normal after a shower. I think the minute particles of borax sat on the skin and and itched a bit. Ted does reccomend it twice per day but the once worked for me.

Hope this helps. Robert Henry from Ten Mile were the posts that I followed to give me my confidence to go ahead although if you're seeing a difference already you've probably made your mind up.

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by John (Toledo, Ohio) on 03/23/2010
★★★★☆

I've had rosacea for at least the last 15 years - I'm 59 years old. I have used Cleocin-T, Sulfacetamide ointment, and Metrogel at various times but didn't get any consistent relief from the pustules that would regularly break out on my nose. At times these red pustules were bad enough to make me self-conscious. It always bothered me that they would come and go, as I could never figure out what the triggers were?? So I looked at this site and began using the saturated borax solution mixed with 1% hydrogen peroxide solution and approx 5% tea tree oil. I make up an over saturated borax solution in a separate dropper bottle. I shake this solution each time I decant from it in an effort to get as much borax into solution as possible. I decant the borax into a separate mixture bottle, then I decant from another dropper bottle filled with 3% hydrogen peroxide roughly half the amount that I decanted from the borax solution bottle. I then add enough tea tree oil with a dropper to make up roughly 5% of the whole amount. Think 12 drops borax solution, 6 drops 3% hydrogen peroxide, and 1 drop tea tree oil (or any multiple of that). This will yield a somewhat diluted borax solution and you may want to add back a bit of powdered borax to resaturate the whole solution - I've used the solution just as I've described and also after adding back a bit of borax, but if you do add a bit of borax be prepared to have the solution crystalize on your face - you will have to brush off the crystals as they will be somewhat visible. By adding 1/2 the amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide as borax solution, you effectively turn it into a 1% hydrogen peroxide, but I'm not sure that being exact makes that much of a difference, just as long as you're close. I've played around with a little more hydrogen peroxide and a little extra tea tree oil. In any event, I use a q-tip and daub this solution on my nose area including inside my nostrils and on my eyebrows twice daily. I also take 1/2 tsp of baking soda in water every other day to get my system more alkaline. It has made a definite difference in the pustule break outs - down about 80-90%. I still experience some redness but nothing I can't live with. I also go to a tanning salon during the Winter before I go to Florida. I'm not sure whether this has been a factor, but I don't think so. I have completely stopped using all the drugs that the dermatologist prescribed as the borax/peroxide/TT oil has worked better than any of those! I have been doing this for approx. 8 weeks so I am feeling confident that the results are for real.

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Nanci (Chicago, Il) on 03/23/2010

Hello Tricia...I have been following your comments regarding your trials with Ted's Remedy, you seem to have a lot of knowledge. Can you please tell me the following; are you still using the treatment? How long did you use it? Is your rosacea gone? What type of moisturizer did you use, then and now? What cleanser and sun block are you using? My skin (face) is ultra sensitive, I'm afraid to try a product that hasn't been recommended by a fellow rosacea sufferer. I just started Ted's Remedy (day 2), internally and externally, and am seeing some encouraging improvement, however, my face is very dry and itchy. I would very much appreciate any feedback you could give me. Many Thanks!

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Piper (Toronto, On) on 03/23/2010
★★★★☆

I had a rosacea outbreak and I have tried a few things. For the red dry skin hydrating seems to be what works best. Moisturizer or baby zinc cream.

The pimples were challenging. The skin affected is a mass of pimples. I tried honey, urine. No real difference. Medication didn't do anything. I have just started applying my mineral salt stick which I use as a deodorant. This seems to be working. Skin texture seems to be improving and pimples drying and healing.

Pure English Lavender

Posted by Miranda (Chicago, Il) on 03/21/2010

What did you do with the Lavender? Was it an oil or did you use the fresh herb somehow?

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Amy (Brattleboro, Vermont, Usa) on 03/14/2010
★★★★☆

greetings everyone

i have spent the past five days reading all the posts here, about a week ago i woke up with an outbreak of what i think is rosacea. i am 45 years old and have never had it before, and have always had very good skin. My symptoms were identical to rosacea.

i sympathize with those of who have suffered with this for years. i am a trained herbalist, and spent alot of time researching herbal remedies for rosacea and wanted to share with you what i learned, and what i have tried and what seems to be working. already my condition is improving.

i tried almost everything that was posted on this site.

i began taking lots of lysine (1500 mg 2x a day) and vit C (1500 mg 2x a day). i also took a TBSP of ACV in a little water 2x a day. Linda Rector Page in her book, Healthy Healing, points to the liver and the immune system. she also says heavy smoking contributes to the condition, so any of you smokers out there might want to try quitting. she also recommends a 3 day liquid fast with lots of fresh veggies and fruit juices. (fresh green cabbage juice helps to clear heat from the body)i also made a batch of veggie broth by boiling up carrots, onions, celery, garlic, parsley and seaweed, and then added miso for alkanilizing my system.(don't boil miso, as it destroys the micro-organisms...just add it to warm broth)

Page also recommends the herb pau d'arco...which i learned alot about while living in costa rica last year, where i was studying tropical medicinal herbs. in central america pau d'arco is considered a sacred tree and treats many conditions. it is primarily a immune stimulant, but is also an anti-fungal and anti-parasitic. many plants in the tropics have these properties, as the wet climate creates the perfect conditions for fungus and parasites.

i drank alot of pau d'arco tea and also combined it with a strong calendula tea and used it externally as a wash several times a day. Pure cider vinegar dabbed on my face with a cotton ball helped to relieve the stinging sensation.

additionally i took an herbal tincture of burdock root, nettles, and cats claw 3-4 x a day.

Michael Tierra in his book "Planetary Herbology" says that pumpkin seeds help to destroy and dispel parasites. He also says that borax is quite toxic internally, so i didn't use it that way. But what i did find very helpful was to wash my face with a solution of borax, peroxide and water, then let it dry and then rinsed with warm water and applied a thin layer of neem oil, which feels very soothing.

with this protocol my skin is improving daily, and is hardly noticeable...i am no longer embarrassed to go out in public and the stinging sensation is gone.

i hope this helps others out there with this condition.
i am happy to answer any questions

amy

Moisturizer, UV Light

Posted by Piper (Toronto, On Canada) on 03/08/2010
★★★★☆

I had a second rosacea outbreak. My first at age 43 related to stress. This one was even worse and I probably aggravated it by treating it like a bad acne breakout. My skin was burnt and a mass of pimples. The skin was so raw I couldn't use the medication cream as I had for the first outbreak. I decided to just try to heal the skin and deal with the pimples later. I tried to super hydrate my burnt skin, with coconut oil. Then I bought a super moisturizer at the drug store and that seemed to work better. Oil seemed to just sit on my skin. I called a contact at a light therapy company. The clinician suggested UV light to manage acne as it kills bacteria. I went for a tanning session and that seemed to help as well.

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Tricia (Ireland) on 02/18/2010 84 posts

just measured it and 2 capfulls is closer to 2 tablespoons, though the second one wasn't quite full. When I first did it I put the 2 caps hp in a glass and kepts adding bits of borax till it wouldn't dissolve . That's Ted's description of a saturated borax hydrogen peroxide solution. So 1 tbsp and less borax may be enough for you or you might need more depending on area you want to cover. Good luck - I still think it was worth taking the time to follow this method. (And use an old pillowcase)

Colloidal Copper

Posted by Francis (St-Georges De Beauce, Quebec, Canada) on 02/18/2010

Thank you so much!! You changed my life!!

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Francis (St-Georges De Beauce, Quebec, Canada) on 02/18/2010

Hi Samuel

How many weeks should I try the Ted's remedy to begin seeing improvement. Thank you!

Borax and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Francis (St-georges De Beauce, Quebec, Canada) on 02/17/2010

Hi Tricia!

I just wanna know how much is 2 capfuls. Is it 1 teaspoon or 1 tablespoon. Thank you!

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Gaynor (Manaton, Uk) on 01/16/2010

Hi Denver-t,

I also have very sensitive skin. I use the lavender straight from bottle lightly applying this to affected area- when I feel a breakout of spots coming on. I started using the yogurt every day and now I use this two or three times a week as there has been considerable reduction in redness and spots- it is now confined to one place on one side of my face I hope to clear it completly. I still use a weak solution of borax and H202 one or twice a week. Best of luck

Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Denver-t (Denver, Colorado) on 01/15/2010

Hi Gaynor, Thanks for the comments. How did you use the lavendar oil? Straight out of the bottle or was it diluted with something? After I have applied the redness reducing cream, I apply a good quality facial cream and then take a cotton swab dipped in TTO and apply (lightly) to any red spots that appear. It seems to work well since, as I mentioned earlier, I have the most sensative skin immaginable. Also how often do you apply the yogurt? I don't really have an extra half hour in the morning. Will try during the evening and let you know. Thanks again.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Tea Tree Oil

Posted by Barbara (New York, New York) on 01/15/2010

I have struggled with Rosacea for more than a decade, and have tried countless prescriptive lotions and medication -- which have worked. However, I am very concerned about the side effects and do not wish to further strengthen the power of the pharmaceutical industry.

I drank 1 Tablespoon of organic ACV (with water) twice a day for the past 10 days.

The first few days I rinsed my face with a ACV rinse (1/2 water, 1/2 ACV), but the stinging sensation and redness increased, so I discontinued.

I apply Tea Tree Oil facial cream in the evenings, daily.

As of yet, I see very little change in the redness on my face, nor in the flushing and burning. Perhaps because of differing body chemistries it takes some longer to see a response than others. Certainly I feel it was worth a try, as ACV has many positive benefits to the body.