Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that affects over 14 million people in the US. Managing any chronic disease can be challenging, and rosacea is no exception.
If you want to try natural home remedies to find relief from your rosacea, you’re in the right place — we’ll explore the symptoms and causes of rosacea, 12 home remedies you can try, and some lifestyle changes you can make to help avoid the most common triggers.
Related: Home Treatments for Sensitive Skin
What Is Rosacea? Symptoms and Causes
There are four kinds of rosacea, and each one has different symptoms. You can also experience multiple of these types at the same time.
The trademark rosacea symptom is flushing and redness and small, red bumps on the skin (typically on the nose, forehead, and cheeks).
Other common rosacea symptoms include:
- Red skin and acne-like breakouts
- Swollen, sensitive skin
- Burning, stinging skin
- Dry, rough skin
- Bumpy skin texture
- Bloodshot, watery eyes
- Dry, itchy eyes
- Sensitivity to light
The exact cause of rosacea is unknown — it’s likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, some things can make rosacea symptoms worse, including:
- Eating spicy foods
- Drinking hot coffee and tea
- Eating foods containing cinnamaldehyde — chocolate, citrus, tomatoes, etc.
10 Natural Home Remedies for Rosacea Relief
If you notice changes to your skin, you should always talk with your doctor. Rosacea is fairly benign; however, sudden changes can indicate another underlying condition that may need medical treatment.
If you have rosacea without serious underlying causes, you have a few treatment options. If your rosacea isn’t extreme, you can try some of these home remedies before seeking prescription medication:
1. Aloe Vera
The gel from aloe vera plants is moisturizing and emollient and can be a successful topical remedy for treating rosacea.
You can either purchase moisturizers that contain aloe vera or harvest leaves from the plant and apply their gel directly to your skin. However, it is possible to have a negative reaction to aloe vera; you should always do a patch test before using it on large areas.
2. Chamomile
Chamomile is another common ingredient in moisturizing products typically used to treat inflamed skin.
It’s known for being a successful rosacea remedy. You can either purchase moisturizing products that include natural chamomile, dilute and apply chamomile essential oil to your skin, or use cool chamomile tea as a compress or skin wash.
3. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a popular moisturizer for various skin conditions, including rosacea.
It’s known as a moisturizer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory that can be effective for treating rosacea at home. You can apply a small amount directly to your skin.
4. Comfrey
The comfrey plant is known for producing a compound called allantoin that can help alleviate skin reactions.
One study found that allantoin can reduce the redness associated with rosacea and improve symptoms with no side effects. You can look for products like creams and lotions that contain allantoin or natural comfrey to get its skin benefits.
Related: Best Eczema Treatments
5. Feverfew
In addition to comfrey, feverfew is another plant that is commonly known to be a natural rosacea remedy.
It has antioxidant qualities and protects against UV exposure, which often worsens rosacea symptoms. However, some products containing feverfew have parthenolides, which can increase skin sensitivity — look for topical feverfew creams and lotions that don’t have parthenolides on their ingredient list.
6. Green Tea
Green tea has been shown to help treat rosacea due to its antioxidant properties.
Antioxidants like green tea are helpful for inflammation — a prevalent symptom in skin conditions like rosacea. It’s a popular ingredient in skin care products designed for rosacea, and you can apply those products directly to your skin or use cooled green tea as a compress.
7. Lavender Essential Oil
There are various essential oils that may help improve rosacea symptoms. Out of all of them, lavender essential oil is the most well-studied and easy to find.
To treat your rosacea with lavender essential oil, you can dilute it in a carrier oil and apply it to your skin or mix it in with your favorite moisturizer.
8. Niacinamide
Niacinamide is found in many foods — it’s a B vitamin that you shouldn’t confuse with vitamin B-3 or niacin.
It’s an ingredient that’s commonly extracted into lotions and creams used for skin conditions like rosacea. Getting relief with niacinamide is as easy as looking for products containing the ingredient and applying it as directed.
9. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a common remedy used to treat rosacea — it’s thought to help strengthen the skin, reducing water loss that can worsen the condition. It can also help relieve itching.
Some skin care products, like face masks and moisturizing creams, include oatmeal in their ingredients, making them a great home remedy to help relieve rosacea symptoms.
10. Tea Tree Essential Oil
You can use tea tree oil for various skin conditions because of its inherent anti-inflammatory properties. Tea tree oil also helps with itching.
While there aren’t many studies regarding tea tree oil specifically for rosacea, it’s been shown to help other similar conditions, making it a great home remedy to try. You can dilute it in a carrier oil and apply it directly to your skin.
Making Lifestyle Changes & When to See a Doctor
In addition to these home remedies, you can make some lifestyle changes to help manage your rosacea and avoid the most common triggers:
- Create a routine to help manage your stress and anxiety — these can cause rosacea flare-ups.
- Track the food you eat to determine and remove trigger foods from your diet.
- Eat more anti-inflammatory foods — avocados, ginger, kale, etc.
- Wear sunscreen when you go outside to prevent flare-ups from UV exposure.
- Avoid medications that can worsen rosacea, like topical steroids and beta-blockers.
Related: Repairing Your Damaged Skin Barrier
If home remedies and lifestyle changes don’t make a dent in your rosacea symptoms, your doctor can help you look into medication options.
If your flare-ups are painful and extreme, see your doctor about the prescription and over-the-counter rosacea treatments that are available.
Choosing the right moisturizer is one of the best ways to get relief from your rosacea symptoms — learn why pH matters and shop for moisturizers designed for people with rosacea and other skin conditions.