Encyclopedia of Homeopathy

SKIN & BONES• 193ROSACEARosacea, or acne rosacea, resembles mild adolescent acne in some respects, butits main feature is flushing of the skin. It is most common among middle-agedwomen. In serious cases in elderly men, it may lead to a bulbous swelling of thenose called rhinophyma. Rosacea tends to last for between five and ten yearsbefore disappearing.Symptoms• Flushed cheeks and nose, possibly inducedby drinking hot drinks or alcohol, eating spicyfoods, or entering a warm room.• Possible permanent redness of the skinand small, pus-filled spots that are similar tomild acne.CausesThe causes of rosacea are largely unknown,but oral contraceptive drugs and corticosteroidointments prescribed for other skin conditions,such as eczema, may precipitate it. Stress mayexacerbate the condition. In women rosaceaoften strikes during or after menopause, whenthe condition is most probably linked tohormonal changes affecting the sebaceousglands in the skin.Conventional careThe usual treatment for rosacea is a longcourse of tetracyclines. These are very effectivein suppressing the small, pus-filled spots, butthey do not tend to make much difference tothe underlying red discoloration. Beingantibiotics, they may harm the bacterial floraof the intestine, necessitating the subsequentuse of acidophilic supplements.Homeopathic medicineA homeopathic practitioner will take a fullmedical history, paying particular attentionto the onset and progression of rosacea and itspossible triggers, followed by an examinationof affected areas.Many remedies are suitable for theconstitutional treatment of symptoms of rosacea(see page 18), but prescription will depend uponthe individual. Among the remedies oftenchosen are Carbo veg., for when blood stagnatesin capillaries, resulting in poor oxygen supplyto facial tissue; and Lachesis for hemorrhagingthat allows infection to set in. Psorinum isprescribed for problems of the sebaceousglands; and Rhus tox. is given for infection suchas that forming boils. Homeopathic remediesprescribed for acute symptoms includeBelladonna, for the early stages of rosacea,when the face is red, dry, and burning hot;and Arsen. alb., when the skin is flaky andscaly, there is restlessness, and the conditionis better for warmth generally as well as forwarm compresses applied to the affected areas.Viola tri. may be prescribed if rosacea is mainlyconcentrated on the chin, and the urinesmells like cat urine; while Silica is givenif the main problem is pustules that remainfor long periods of time. Calc. phos. is prescribedfor rosacea that is found mainly on the nose,and is accompanied by many pimples; andKali. brom. is given when the forehead andcheeks in particular are flushed, and thereare itchy pustules.LifestyleSpecifically, if rosacea is associated with vaginaldischarge and general fatigue in women, a yeastandsugar-free diet accompanied by acidophilicsupplements is advisable. Naturopaths—thosewho promote health and natural healing bymeans of diet, exercise, and complementarycare—believe that rosacea develops as a result ofboth stress and an inappropriate diet, especiallyone that is high in animal protein and fat,refined carbohydrates, and dairy products.Following a mainly fish and vegetarian dietfor one month may be beneficial. Alcohol andcoffee are best avoided. If stress is an aggravatingfactor, relaxation techniques, yoga, meditation,or tai chi may help on a daily basis. Anyemotional problems should be solved, withthe help of a counselor if necessary. Localapplications of calendula solution or tea-tree oilmay alleviate the condition (10 drops calendulamother tincture to 1.25 quarts [liters] cooled,boiled water, or 2 drops tea-tree oil).CAUTION• If the nose is swelling, consult a doctor.• If an acnelike rash develops while takingsteroids, either orally or in an ointment,consult a doctor to discuss discontinuation.CASE HISTORYWilliam was a 57-year-old retired blacksmith.He came to the consultation with a ten-yearhistory of rosacea. It had started withsmall spots above the eyebrows, but hadprogressed to boils and redness of thewhole face. He had been prescribed anantibiotic, oxytetracycline, which upsethis bowels, and then another form oftetracycline to be applied (as a solution)to the affected areas.PERSONAL DETAILSAs well as a red face and several small boilson his nose, William had a coated tongue,a slightly swollen upper lip, and a strongbody odor. He described himself assuperstitious and a perfectionist. Hebecame depressed easily, and worriedconstantly about his health.FOOD PREFERENCESWilliam had a huge appetite, even needingto eat in the middle of the night, but henever put on any weight. He liked beerand acidic foods, but not meat. He hada great thirst, but his skin condition wasexacerbated by drinking coffee.GENERAL DETAILSWilliam felt the cold greatly, and wore a lotof clothes even in summer. He hated winterand loved hot, sunny weather. Despite this,he had a tendency to feel very hot in bed,and did not like becoming overheated fromphysical exertion.PRESCRIPTION & FOLLOW-UPWilliam was prescribed Sulphur,which helped the rosacea initially.The condition deteriorated, however,if he stopped using tetracycline. He wasthen given Psorinum in increasingpotencies over a period of about18 months, and this produced aremarkable improvement in his condition.He was able to stop applying tetracycline,and eventually to take Psorinum on the oddoccasion only if he felt the rosacea mightbe about to flare up again. Interestingly,William had also suffered from irritablebowel syndrome for about 40 years, andthis condition also improved for takingPsorinum. When last heard of, Williamhad been completely clear of symptomsof rosacea for four years.