Newly diagnosed with Rosacea and seeking help

[Megkm]

Hi,

I recently was diagnosed for rosacea and are awaiting a skin biopsy. (not sure what the biopsy is for?) I was given a topical cream to use however, with fall upon us my skin has been acting up quite badly.  Every spring and summer I break out.  I really don't know what to do about the break outs during the temperature changes. Just a change of 10 degrees can trigger it.  I feel absolutely hopeless because each season it is getting worse.  Can some one please help me or have any suggestions?  There are other triggers but, I can somewhat control them.

Thank you andand any advice would be greatly appreciated!
M.

[gymdandee]

Researchers first determined the link between infection and stomach ulcers, pinning down a specific bacteria called Helicobacter pylori as the culprit. Now, it’s considered the No. 1 cause of ulcers and gastric cancer. Those aren’t the only problems Helicobacter can
cause though. In fact, the majority of the people who test positive for it don’t have ulcers or stomach cancer. But that doesn’t mean they’re not affected negatively by it. Helicobacter infection can lead to lots of different and seemingly unrelated health problems, from
intestinal parasites to autoimmune diseases to skin conditions. On the bright side of all this, research indicates that getting rid of Helicobacter infection can help eliminate these problems entirely. Of course, the most common treatment for Helicobacter is a
combination of three antibiotics work, or aren’t advisable based on the patient’s particular situation. That’s where herbs step in. one of the newest discoveries about Helicobacter and how it could be affecting you right now. The basic idea behind hypochlorhydria is that low
levels of stomach acid can result in numerous health problems (too many to list here). For the most part, it’s been generally accepted that decreasing levels of stomach acid are a normal part of aging, albeit one that is often overlooked by mainstream physicians.
But new research published in July 2004 suggests that it may not be a natural decline after all Helicobacter might be to blame. It can cause a condition called atrophic gastritis that has been linked to low stomach acid output. the implications of low levels
of stomach acid are far-reaching. It can cause digestive problems such as pain, indigestion, abdominal swelling or bloating, nausea and vomiting. It can also lead to microbial contamination of the small intestine and even intestinal parasites, since gastric acid is the first line of defense against these organisms. Finally, low gastric
acid can lead to nutrient malabsorption, particularly vitamin B12, iron and other
vitamins and minerals.Curing a deadly blood-clotting disorder without Prednisone
But the effects of Helicobacter infection itself can reach beyond the digestive tract and stomach acid output. In some cases, its presence appears to upset the normal
functioning of the immune system, leading to chronic disorders and even autoimmune diseases. Take idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) for example. It’s an autoimmune disease that causes the blood to leak from fine blood vessels. In many cases, people with ITP die because they don’t have enough platelets for their blood to clot. Ordinarily the “only” treatment for this is months—even years—of treatment with Prednisone, an
artificial form of cortisone, which can cause bone thinning, hypertension, suppressed immune system, and cataracts. Now there may be another option. One investigation of 16
patients with ITP found that Helicobacter was present in 87 percent. But eradication of
Helicobacter led to a complete remission of ITP in more than half of these patients.
no one in the USA is doing this to treat cases of ITP—yet. But now any natural medicine
doctor who reads this can start testing and treating their patients with ITP for Helicobacter, and in many cases curing the problem without Prednisone.
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition with a connection to Helicobacter. (H PYLORI ) Even “conservative”
medical circles have started to acknowledge that there may be an association between Helicobacter eradication and improvement of rosacea. In fact, in many cases, eliminating Helicobacter has resulted in complete recovery from this stubborn skin disorder.
There is also a strong association between Helicobacter and an allergic skin condition called chronic urticaria, and eliminating it has resulted in clinical improvement in 73 percent of patients. In fact, treatment against Helicobacter should be considered for anyone with a chronic skin or autoimmune disease who tests positive for this organism. According to one group of Japanese researchers: “In chronic skin diseases, persistent infection with H. pylori may be an eruption trigger and may cause deterioration of the disease into an intractable and chronic form. Herbs that will stick around for the long haul
If you have any of the conditions listed above, consider getting tested for Helicobacter. If you test positive, consult your physician about whether to try the herbal route  first, or if you should go straight to the (more risky) conventional antibiotic treatment.
If you decide to go with the herbal approach, there’s garlic, especially as the fresh crushed
clove. Unsweetened cranberry juice and green tea (without sugar) are also good options. Cranberry juice has been shown to prevent Helicobacter from sticking to the stomach wall and the tannins in green tea are active against the bacteria. Other herbs shown to be active at fighting Helicobacter (at least in test tubes) include cinnamon, thyme, and turmeric. The essential oils of lemon verbena and lemon grass are also effective and
make pleasant teas that you can drink on a regular basis. But the most potent herbs found
to date are goldenseal and rhubarb root In fact, one clinical trial on rhubarb showed that it has an 89 percent success rate in treating Helicobacter. Make sure to take these herbs separately, not together. Just keep in mind that herbal therapy does take longer than
antibiotics—four to six weeks as opposed to one or two. But herbs can be used long after the infection is gone.

[gymdandee]

P.S. If you go the herbal route I recommend using Gaia brand Cinnamon Bark.

[Paxiled]

My understanding is that the most effective natural treatments for heliobacter are mastic gum and manukka honey, and a third one I forgot.  Don't know about rhubarb, but goldenseal, while a good antibiotic, I just don't know that it's potent enough or specific enough for a deep-rooted heliobacter infection sufficient to cause something as tangential as rosacea.,  On the other hand, since rosacea is treated with antibiotics, goldenseal might work for it without necessarily working against heliobacter, but again, it's a general antibiotic, not specific to certain ones.  Hope it is strong enough to work, but it's an herb best used in combination with stronger antibiotics when it comes to persistent infections.  The same would go for the other herbs mentioned -- they do have antimicrobial effects, but it isn't the main effect of the herbs and so isn't as strong as something specific to hpylori, which an ND would know better than I would.  Interesting stuff, Gym.  Thanks again.

[Paxiled]

As to the original post, most natural medicine tends to look at skin problems as connected to the liver, and will often suggest a liver cleanse using herbs that have a connection to skin problems, such as burdock, yellowdock, dandelion root, and others.  However, I confess to failing miserably at helping my wife's rosacea, so not everyone responds to everything.  We tried liver cleansing, blood cleansing, and natural antibiotics, and no success.  Never thought about hpylori, though.  I have seen others have some success with this route, however.  Good luck.