Rosacea is a fairly common skin disorder in which the nose, cheeks, forehead or chin are chronically reddened. They are prone to break out in what looks like acne but isn't. Unlike acne, rosacea doesn't produce the typical blackheads or whiteheads and is more likely to be a problem after adolescence. The typical person who suffers from rosacea is in the 30-50 age group. Rosacea affects about 1 in every 20 Americans. There is no known cure for Rosascea.

Despite what some products claim, there is no known "cure" for Rosacea......

It is important to treat this condition immediately because if caught quickly, the condition may never progress. In advanced or chronic cases, rosacea causes permanent redness especially on the nose. Women are more likely to have rosacea than men but men tend to experience more severe cases.

So what causes Rosacea?

Researchers have discovered several triggers for Rosacea and although they vary from person to person, the catalyst for an outbreak appears to be anything that dilates blood vessels in the face. This can include:

• Alcohol
• coffee
• spicy foods
• exposure to the sun or wind
• Stress.

The problem that most people face when it comes to treating Rosacea is that there is not one common cause and it varies from person to person. The good news is that researchers have found links between rosacea and digestive problems.  This is probably the first step to knowing how to treat rosacea

For instance, many rosacea sufferers have been found to have extremely low levels of stomach acid which in turn prevents proper digestion of key minerals. This can lead to an overgrowth of bacteria on the skin itself. Also, B-vitamin deficiencies appear to be fairly common with people who suffer from Rosacea. Probiotic organisms (ie. good bacteria) are also often depleted.

While food and drink could be the trigger that causes rosacea, a lot of times there are other things that are a bit off that could be tried. Since there is a connection between digestive problems and rosacea, there are many root causes that are associated with either eliminating toxins from the body or the body's ability to process vital minerals and vitamins associated with elimination and digestion. Here are some root causes of Rosasea....

• Low Levels of Stomach Acid-hydrochloric acid(HCI) supplements can help with low levels of stomach acid. However, because HCI supplements such as Betaine can also cause ulcers if misdiagnosed, it is important to take these supplements under the supervision of a doctor.
• A high fat/low fiber diet- The alternative is to eat vegetables, fruits, nuts and sprouts because they not only help convert food into nutrients that are beneficial to the skin and circulatory system, these all contain a fiber rich diet.
• Dysbiosis(imbalance of the gut bacteria)- A Betaine hydrochloric supplement will help with this. It also helps to prevent the overgrowth of bacteria in the digestive tract that may be an influencing factor for rosacea.
• Reaction to synthetic hormones
• Nutritional deficiencies- Most of the time the deficiency is in B Vitamins. If you can't get enough in your natural diet, you should supplement with a B-Complex vitamin. B-12 is especially good with reducing rosacea flare-ups.
• Constipation- A diet high in fiber will help with constipation. Also, coconut oil is known to keep bowels loose and freely moving.
• Hormonal Imbalance-Normally this is caused by menopause or a menopausal transition.

I can't emphasize enough that there is not one sole treatment for Rosacea and the treatments vary from person to person. This said, there are some herbal remedies for helping to reduce rosacea flare-ups. Once again, these herbs are primarily involved with improving digestion and elimination in the body....

Lipase Enzymes will help digest food more effieciently. People who suffer from Rosacea seem to benefit most from enzymes that help to digest fat.

Do NOT use steroid creams as this will just aggrevate the situation. While the problem of rosacea appears to be a surface issue, in reality it involves the constriction of blood vessels under the skin.

Milk Thistle can help with Rosacea because it improves overall liver function and helps detoxify the skin.

Additionally, there are studies that have shown that green tea may help with detoxifying the body as well. This is because green tea is rich in antioxidants and other substances that help with detoxification.

Another herbal supplement that may help with treating rosacea is Reishi because it improves liver function.

Chlorerlla, spirulina, alfalfa and other "green" foods are good for rosacea because they supply phytonutrients that help to improve skin health.

Essential fatty acids will help reduce inflammation of the skin. Fish oil and flaxseed oil are both excellent sources of fatty acids. Coconut oil also has some benefits.

Gentian Root helps to improve overall digestive function and could help with rosacea.

Finally, burdock root has been subscribed to as a treatment for rosacea as well as other chronic skin disorders.  The way it works is it helps to balance hormones and works well with detoxification.

There are all sorts of things that could cause rosacea and since every case is different, someone who suffers with this skin condition has to recognize the things that trigger rosacea. Here are some natural ways to reduce the possibility of a rosacea outbreak.

Keep your diet clean- Eat raw vegetables and fruits, organic if possible. A good diet will go a long way to helping nearly all health problems. Since rosacea is so closely connected to digestion, a clean diet is especially important. Stay away from saturated or man made fats. Fats cause inflammation.

Your rosacea may be a food allergy. Don't rule it out. Keep a food diary for a month and when you see a flare-up, take a look at what you ate previously.

A fasting program such as a 3 day fast, once a month will help to detoxify your body.

Use natural and mild soaps when cleaning your face. Pat the skin down rather than rubbing it.

If you can, avoid wearing makeup. If you must, choose all natural make up.