What is Rosacea?
Acne Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition of the vascular system and blood that makes your face appear red. It may also cause localised swellings such as red cheeks and nose. On a closer look, the raised skin sores appear like acne.
Predisposition
It can affect men and women however is most common from age 40 to 70. People with fair skin. Predominately affects women.
Rosacea causes swelling of the blood vessels underneath the skin. It can be associated with consuming hot beverages & food, hot weather and also stress and emotional feelings.
Photo by Daniel Xavier
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
- Facial redness & flushing, burning, later papule, pustules and blepharitis.
- A lot of spider-like blood vessels (telangiectasia) of the face
- Red nose (may also be bulbous in appearance from the inflammation – rhinopehyma is a swelling and enlargement of the nose)
- Acne-like skin sores that may ooze or crust
- Burning or stinging feeling in the face
Medical Treatment
- Antibiotics taken by mouth or applied to the skin may control rosacea. We don’t recommend this as it will cause long-term weakness and issues with your gut function.
- Isotretinoin is a strong drug that your provider might consider. It is used in people who have severe rosacea that hasn’t improved after treatment with other medicines.
- Rosacea is not acne and will not improve with over-the-counter acne treatment.
In very bad cases, laser surgery may help reduce the redness. However, note this can be a very expensive and invasive procedure.
Cure for Rosacea
There is no known cure for rosacea. This is why many people choose Chinese medicine to find out how they can holistically support their body to help their rosacea.
Your Acupuncturist can help you identify the things that make your symptoms worse (i.e. triggers). Triggers vary from person to person. Avoiding your triggers may help you prevent or reduce flare-ups.
Clinical Treatment
In the clinic we can support your body to heal rosacea with many wonderful natural medicines;
- Australian Bush Flower Essences – to clear toxins and release stagnant emotions
- Cell/Tissue Salts – vibrational medicine to oxygenate the blood, clear heat, tonify your essence (especially if it is hormonal)
- Chinese herbs: we have a very good formula that can redirect the heat and flushing back to the kidney qi instead of up to your face
- Acupuncture to release inflammation and heat, tonify your blood and associated organ energies
- Holistic supplements to physically feed the cells of your body.
- Mindset & Affirmations: the body rules the mind and we always love to find out what you are doing that may be triggering rosacea flare ups.
Chinese Medicine & Rosacea
Depending on your constitutional pattern, acne rosacea can present as:
- Pale skin – lung yin and heart blood deficiency
- Sudden appearance of facial flushing with burning or irritation – ascending lung yang
- Symptoms appear suddenly with alcohol, heat or anxiety – wind
- Can become more permanent as red erythema in later stages – stomach or lung heat
Acupuncture for Rosacea
With modifications to your diet, lifestyle and taking Chinese herbs, Acupuncture can clear a lot of the heat that causes rosacea. Recommended treatment is two sessions in the first week, then weekly for one month followed by a treatment every 10 to 14 days depending on how the patient responds.
Rosacea is not just excessive heat in the body, because the imbalance affects the skin the patient will usually have a blood deficiency so Chinese herbal medicine to tonify and oxygenate the blood is important in healing the skin.
Why Treatment is Important
If rosacea goes on untreated for years you can have permanent damage. Skin erythema (redness) will not go away and it becomes more difficult to treat. Long-term, dilated blood vessels, inflammation of the eyelid margins (blepharitis), keratitis and sebaceous gland hypertrophy (of the nose) appears.
Skincare Recommendations
We can help recommend products that won’t aggravate or stimulate your rosacea. Use products that won’t cause stimulated blood flow, will treat your skin very gently, are non comedogenic (won’t clog your pores) or irritate your skin. Choose sensitive and cream-based cleansers. Gentle, non-alcoholic, non-spicy toners are best. Natural-based mineral sunscreens for sensitive skin, and of course minimise sun exposure and wear a good hat.
Lifestyle Recommendations
Anything that causes increased blood to your face (known as vasodilation) can cause a flare up of rosacea.
- Minimise sun exposure. Use natural-based mineral sunscreen when in the sun.
- Avoid a lot of activity in hot weather. Hot kitchens, opening hot ovens or dishwashers, before entering a hot car etc.
- Avoid saunas and steamrooms.
- Don’t use hot water on your face, very cold water can aggravate it too.
- Nicotine affects blood flow and should be avoided.
- Avoid exercising in the heat or sun. Chlorine in swimming pools can affect your skin.
- Avoid products with fragrance because fragrances can often cause reactions.
- Try to reduce stress. Try deep breathing, yoga, or other relaxation techniques.
- Keep hydrated with filtered water,
- Limit spicy foods, alcohol, and heating beverages (coffee and caffeine).
Other triggers may include wind, hot baths, cold weather, specific skin products, exercise, or other factors.
Emotional & Metaphysical Causes of Rosacea
Louise Hay – Skin Problems
Probable Cause – Anxiety, fear OR Old, buried guck OR I am being threatened.
New Thought Pattern –
“I lovingly protect myself with thoughts of joy and peace. The past is forgiven and forgotten. I am now free.”
“Stressed out.” You may have been or currently are feeling the effects of overload and chronic deprivation in your life, due to excessive responsibilities. External demands and/or to self-imposed stresses resulting from your over-giving “serve-aholic” lifestyle. You may have been placed in a position of extremely excessive responsibility in your family and life.
“Coals from the fire.” It means a process of insisting on taking coals from the fire of your disorder. You may have been engaged in a systematically dissipative or self-destructive lifestyle (such as alcoholism, overeating or burning yourself out energetically). It may be an ancestral pattern that got started early on in a significantly dysfunctional family, in which your were always burdened to participate and/or serve as the “sane one” for the family — to the point where you were programmed to slowly self-destruct.
Holistic Rosacea Advice
- Chinese Herbal Medicine – rosacea is an inflammatory condition that occurs from an internal imbalance in your body. Both Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can clear the stagnation, heat and nourish the deficiency for real changes not only in your face, but your body and general health too.
- Eating an anti-inflammatory diet. Eliminate refined sugar, gluten, and dairy. Avoid potential food triggers. Be aware of histamine intolerances. If so, avoid fermented and preserved foods.
- Rebalancing gut microbiome. Eat many varied colored (especially green) vegetables and lots of fiber to nourish beneficial gut bacteria. Use a high potency probiotic.
- Get enough sleep. Sleep is one of the best way to reduce anti-inflammatory markers.
- Exercise to get your blood flowing and improve mental health.
- Stress management. Have boundaries and connect to yourself, stop over-giving and nurture yourself.
- LED light therapy. Photobiomodulation light therapy has shown in studies to suppress anti-inflammatory agents in the skin. ( I always use adding my TGA-approed photobiomodulation light in my acupuncture treatments for this reason. Benefits include “increase microcirculation, accelerate tissue repair, clear acne, diminish wrinkles, increase collagen production and decrease inflammation.
- Anti-inflammatory facial serums. Ask Dr Ilana for her recommendationshe can prescribe you one according to your type of rosacea.
Specific Foods for Skin & Rosacea
The best foods for treating rosacea and supporting your skin include:
- Organic vegetables and fruit — These contain anti-inflammatory compounds, antioxidants to lower oxidative stress and sun damage, and vitamins and minerals that help rebuild healthy skin cells. Leafy greens and orange/yellow fruits and vegetables are especially beneficial since they provide carotenoids that fight damage from sun exposure. Why is choosing organic important? Whenever you can, reduce your exposure to toxins and chemicals that can trigger skin reactions by buying organic. Fruits are very healing for your skin too, full of AHAs.
- Healthy fats — Coconut oil, olive oil, avocado, nuts and seeds (like flaxseeds and chia seeds) can all help reduce systemic inflammation within the gut.
- High-quality “clean proteins” — The immune system needs enough quality protein to work properly, but some types are most likely to trigger reactions than others. Wild-caught fish like salmon (which provides anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids), organic eggs (providing you don’t have an allergy), grass-fed animal products and small legumes.
- Anti-inflammatory foods and herbs — Turmeric, ginger, garlic, onions, cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, cabbage, collard greens, etc.), carrots, tomatoes and green tea can all help specifically combat skin inflammation, according to studies.
Herbs & Topical Support
- Turmeric
- Ginger
- Aloe vera gel (used topically on your face)
- Raw honey (used topically on the rosacea, organic is best)
- Essential oils: Tea tree, lavender, chamomile & rose essential oils have all been found to fight skin inflammation and help treat sensitive skin. To treat the area, simply rub three drops of oil on three times daily mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of a good carrier oil. Always combine these with a carrier oil (including coconut or jojoba oil), and apply to the affected area no more than twice daily. Perform a skin patch test first, and then start gradually to test results, making sure you don’t experience an allergic reaction.
References
Thambirajah, Radha. Cosmetic Acupuncture (2nd Ed). Singing Dragon, London, 2016.
Michael J. Lincoln, Ph.D.’s “Messages from the Body – Their Psychological Meaning.
Cosmetic Acupuncture & Holistic Rosacea Consultations
If you are in need of support for your skin and rosacea, we are experienced, caring and holistic health expert to support you. A tailored course of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can ensure your body is performing at its peak optimally to help clear the inflammation in your face. We also offer Gua Sha facial, holistic microneedling and cosmetic acupuncture
At Femme Vital Acupuncture in Fairfield, the Inner North, Melbourne, expect the best holistic health consultation, tailored treatment and advice with over 16 years experience supporting natural skin health with acupuncture and Chinese herbs.
You’ve found the right place for supporting you with Rosacea Acupuncture in Melbourne.
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