Treat Rosacea With Oregano Oil

Rosacea is a common skin disease that usually begins as an inclination to blush more readily than other people. If the condition is not diagnosed and corrected, those who have this skin condition will have permanent redness in the center of their face. Then it will slowly spread to the nose, forehead and the chin. It is also called adult acne because it usually affects people over 30 years old.

But it is different to acne, because rather than just the outer layer of the skin, it affects the entire blood vessel network of the face. It can also manifest on the scalp, neck, ears and back. In serious cases, it can affect the blood vessels of the eyes, called Keratitis or infection and inflammation of the cornea, resulting in extreme pain, blurred vision and sensitivity to light.

This skin condition may be aggravated by sunshine, humid and hot weather, spicy food, taking a very hot water bath, wines, anxiety, etc. Statistics of the National Rosacea Society show that 14 million adults, between the ages of 30 and 50 are affected by this condition.

What Causes of Rosacea
Science has not really pinpointed the causes of this skin disease. However, it is suspected that certain types of food and drink can trigger or aggravate the symptoms. Some of these include alcohol, spicy foods, greasy foods and chocolate. Elements in the environment such as bacteria, pollutants and bright sunlight are also suspected of setting off the condition. Genetic make-up and stress may also trigger the disease. Those with fair skin and who readily blush are also at risk.

Rosacea Symptoms
The symptoms of this disease vary from person to person. Here are some of them.

• Frequent flushing – this is usually the first sign and people tend t disregard it.
• Continuous redness of the skin – where the skin eventually looks like it has a bad sun burn that persists.
• Visible blood vessels – in more acute cases, the red lines in the face becomes more prominent, because of the inflamed blood vessels. This usually shows up on the nose and the cheeks.
• Pimples, bumps and blemishes – this is called acne rosacea, where stinging and burning sensation may be felt.
• Swelling of the face.
• Thickening of the skin.

How Rosacea is Usually Treated
There are medicines used for treating rosacea which includes Accutane, Erytomycine and Netronidazole, but only to reduce the effects of the symptoms and not to treat the underlying causes. The initial treatment is to apply facial creams to the affected part to control the inflammation and stop the condition from getting worse.

Antibacterial lotions and tablets are administered to treat the redness and spots. If the condition does not improve, stronger antibiotics are used. In some serious cases, surgery is carried out to give a better appearance to the skin. This will include derma abrasion, cryosurgery and laser treatment.

None of these treatments are 100% effective. Additionally, the long term use of such medications carry adverse side effects. Clearly, a better alternative would be to use a natural product which can effectively control the microorganisms that cause rosacea, and the skin inflammation and infection that results.

Oregano Oil – A Safer and More Effective Alternative
Oregano oil is a natural product derived from the wild oregano plant, Origanum vulgare. This plant has been used throughout history for treating common ailments such as colds, stomach problems, respiratory conditions and skin diseases. The essential oil extracted from the leaves of the plant has been proven to kill harmful microorganisms like fungi, viruses, parasites and bacteria. It can therefore treat rosacea effectively without leaving any side effects.

Rosacea Can Be Controlled by Oregano Oil
This was proven by Dr. James Meschino, the director of the RenaiSante Institute of Integrative Medicine in Toronto, Canada. He successfully treated his rosacea patients by using an oregano oil topical lotion at night. He said: “This essential oil contains volatile oils which kill a large variety of microorganisms. It also seems to knock out the skin mite which has been associated with rosacea.” The patients given the oregano oil treatment have experienced an 80% to 90% improvement in their skin condition.

Why Oregano Oil Is a Powerful Antimicrobial Agent
The chemical analysis of this essential oil shows why it is an effective antimicrobial agent. It contains large amounts of phytochemicals, phenols and flavonoids which function as germ killing substances. Of these, carvacrol and thymol are the most active agents. Apart from eradicating the germs, carvacrol is also found to be a very effective anti-inflammation agent. The other phytochemicals are trepinene, bisalbone, borneol, caryophyllene, linalyl acetate, linalool, pinene, cymene, myrcene and geranyl acetate.

Apart from these germ-killers, oregano oil packs a considerable amount of vitamins (A, C and D) plus minerals like magnesium, copper, potassium, calcium, zinc, iron and boron.

Controlling Rosacea with Oregano Oil
You can use the same method that Dr. Meschino used to treat his patients. Apply the oregano topical cream at night and not during the day. And to facilitate the healing, take 250 mg of oregano capsules two times a day.