Rosacea and its Possible Causes

When my dermatologist prescribed Soolantra, an anti-parasitic with Ivermectin, for my rosacea, I didn’t understand what that meant. Does that mean I have parasites on my face? What I discovered is a controversial theory that rosacea sufferers are linked to an overabundance of demodex mites on the skin.

Confused and kind of grossed out, I spent hours researching and stumbled across Dr. Tara O’Desky’s website Rosacea Help. She was a rosacea sufferer but healed her rosacea naturally. Being an advocate for natural treatments, I was instantly intrigued.

She talked about her gut health and that in order to heal we need to address the root cause of rosacea. It’s an inflammatory condition so she eliminated all the foods that could lead to inflammation like gluten and dairy. I already did this but didn’t think about environmental toxins or going on a heavy metal detox or toxin cleanse. I made a virtual appointment to talk to her and she helped me immensely! She armed me with a clean eating menu plan and the recipes were incredibly easy yet delicious and most importantly, healthy. She put me on a liver detox. She advised me to go outside and exercise and practice meditation consistently.

We discussed the demodex mites and the treatment she used. Apparently we all have demodex mites on our skin but rosacea sufferers have an over abundance of them. Experts aren’t sure if it’s a cause of rosacea or a symptom of rosacea. Perhaps the mask-wearing was a trigger. I decided to try what she suggested just in case. All the tips are are up on her website. (I don’t have any affiliation or receive any compensation for the products / websites I provide links to.)

First, I purchased the ZZ Cream.

I followed the instructions on her website such as switching my pillowcases every night and spraying my bedding with tea tree oil. I had no idea if this was necessary in my case, but I figured it couldn’t hurt. She recommended bathing with sulfur soap because the mites don’t like sulfur or tea tree oil.

I found a website Celtic Complexion that is especially useful for fair-skinned people using all natural ingredients. They have a gentle facial cleansing cream that I love. There’s also a calming serum I purchased that helped tone down the skin redness.

After 4 months of constant use of the ZZ Cream, my rosacea disappeared. I started the treatment and healthy eating in July and by the end of October 2021, I had clear skin with no redness.

I still use the ZZ Cream for maintenance once in a while. My skin isn’t 100% the way it was before the rosacea as it has some dark spots and scarring, but I’m hopeful it will get there through a diligent skincare routine.

I never used the Soolantra my dermatologist prescribed. It may be helpful and work great. However, it’s very expensive if your insurance doesn’t cover it. The ZZ Cream seemed just as good and it was cheaper although it ships from Hong Kong so you have to wait a while. Plus there’s no ivermectin in the ZZ Cream. The main ingredients are zinc oxide and sulfur.

If you suffer from rosacea, don’t despair. The dermatologists may tell you that it’s genetic and no cure. But I don’t believe this. Based on my own experience, it’s curable and you can heal it through diet, all natural skincare, and a more mindful lifestyle. I’m so grateful I found Dr. Tara and I also found a lot of useful information at the National Rosacea Society. It’s a slow process, but once you find the treatment that works for you, like I did, your skin will heal.