Rosacea
Introduction
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that especially affects the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. The skin can quickly become red, constantly remain red or develop bumps and pimples. Sometimes the face feels warm, burning or sensitive. Also the eyes can participate. Rosacea can affect your comfort and how you feel in contact with others.
The symptoms vary per person and can flare up in periods. In Chinese medicine acupuncture and herbs are tailored to your skin complaints as well as to other health characteristics. The treatment focuses on the symptoms that are at the forefront of you, such as heat, redness or inflamed spots.
Common symptoms
- Fast flushing or flushed redness in the face
- Redness that remains visible longer and sometimes small visible blood vessels
- Red bumps or pimples, without the blackheads that can occur with acne
- Burning, irritating or sensitive skin sensation
- Uncommonly dry, irritated or tearing eyes
- In some of the people thickening the nasal skin, usually only after prolonged complaints
Not everyone has all these symptoms. Rosacea can also be present on darker skin when redness is less visible.
Possible causes
The exact cause of rosacea is unknown. Inflammation reactions and increased sensitivity of the skin are likely to play a role. Sunlight, heat, alcohol, spicy food, certain skin products and emotional stress can provoke or exacerbate complaints. What stimuli do that vary per person. Alcohol can cause a flare, but is not the cause of rosacea.
Within Chinese medicine, the difference between rapid onset of redness, inflamed bumps and long-lasting dark red discoloration is also considered. Complaints outside the skin, such as thirst or altered bowel movement, can help to determine the treatment pattern.
How can acupuncture help with rosacea?
An acupuncture treatment is tailored to the shape of your rosacea and the overall picture of complaints. During the first consultation, we discuss when the skin flares up, how it feels and whether you also have eye problems or other symptoms. Depending on that image, the treatment can focus on:
- To reduce the feeling of heat and burning;
- Relaxing redness and inflamed spots;
- To reduce sensitivity to flares;
- To support your overall well-being when tension plays a clear role.
The choice of acupuncture points depends on the appearance and the TCM pattern. With heat and red, inflamed spots, the approach can be different than with long-lasting dark red skin changes.
How can Chinese herbal medicine help with rosacea?
Chinese herbs are not usually chosen based on the diagnosis rosacea alone. The combination of redness, bumps, sensitivity and other symptoms determines which herbal treatment can be appropriate. Herbs can be used daily between acupuncture treatments.
Depending on the individual image, treatment can focus on:
- • redness and a warm or burning sensation;
- Inflamed bumps and pimples;
- long-lasting dark red discoloration;
- Additional symptoms that occur together with skin problems.
The herbal choice will be re-evaluated during the treatment course if your skin symptoms or other symptoms change.
How does Chinese medicine view rosacea?
Within the TCM, redness of the face is often associated with Heat. This means a pattern that can be expressed in heat, redness, thirst or inflammatory symptoms. Especially the TCM organ systems Lung and Stomach are connected to rosacea. In case of longer existing, dark red or purple discoloration also the flow of Blood is looked at. These are TCM concepts; they do not automatically mean that there is a disease of the anatomical lungs or stomach.
According to the TCM, two people with rosacea can have a different pattern and receive a different treatment.
What is a TCM organ system?
A TCM organ system describes a group of related body functions and is wider than just the anatomical organ with the same name. Read more at TCM basics .
What is a TCM pattern?
A TCM pattern is a recognizable combination of complaints and physical characteristics that indicates which imbalance is likely to contribute to the complaints. Read more at TCM basics .
Below are only the most important patterns discussed. Other patterns are possible and multiple patterns can occur at the same time. This allows you to recognize yourself in different descriptions. Also, someone with a certain pattern does not have to have all the symptoms mentioned. The pattern is determined on the basis of the overall picture of complaints.
Most common TCM patterns
Heat in Lung and Stomach
Brief explanation
With this pattern, redness is at the forefront that can be made clearer by heat. The TCM treatment focuses on reducing this Heat.
Common symptoms
Sustained redness of nose and cheeks, easily flaming with heat, warm or oily skin, dry mouth and thirst. During examination also tongue and wrist can give clues.
Blood-Heat
Brief explanation
Blood Heat is a TCM pattern in which the redness is often deeper in colour and goes together with inflamed spots.
Common symptoms
Sustained dark red skin, visible small blood vessels, red bumps or pimples. Sometimes dry stools and dark yellow urine are also present.
Blood stasis
Brief explanation
By Blood stasis, the TCM means a pattern in which the flow in the affected area is perceived as being impaired. It is mainly described in the event of prolonged skin changes.
Common symptoms
Hard red to purple-red discoloration and thickening of the skin, especially on the nose.
What can you do for yourself?
Be aware of the conditions in which you provoke a flare; you do not need to avoid all possible triggers by default. A mild skin care and daily protection against sunlight are important parts of the care for rosacea. Discuss persistent complaints with your general practitioner or dermatologist: the treatment can be chosen based on the symptoms that are at your forefront.
Outlook
Rosacea often has a long and varied course of action. Within the TCM, the assessment of the treatment course depends on the duration and severity of the complaints, skin symptoms and the underlying pattern. Recent flares with heat and redness require a different approach than long-lasting, dark red discoloration or thickening of the skin. Longer existing changes usually require more time; the aim is to reduce complaints and flares without promising a lasting result.
As a guideline, acupuncture can be treated once a week in the initial phase. If improved, the frequency can be reduced. Chinese herbs can be used, if appropriate, daily between treatments. Existing visible blood vessels or thickened skin may require dermatological treatment.
Medical safety
Let rosacea be assessed if the diagnosis has not been made or if the skin symptoms change; other skin conditions may look like them. Also, let a thickening nasal skin be evaluated by a doctor or dermatologist. An painful eye, lightness or change of vision requires rapid medical assessment. Eye complaints in rosacea may require treatment by a doctor or ophthalmologist. Do not adjust prescribed medication independently.
Contact
Do you suffer from rosacea and do you want to know whether acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine can match your symptoms? During a first consultation we discuss your skin complaints, possible triggers, eye symptoms and other relevant symptoms. Based on the overall picture, we look at which TCM pattern is probably in the foreground and what treatment fits.