16/09/2025
The Hidden Root of Rosacea: A Holistic Approach to Redness, Heat, and Inflammation
Rosacea is often mistaken for a purely cosmetic issue—persistent redness, visible capillaries, flushed cheeks. But beneath the surface, it’s something far more telling: a message from the body that heat is rising, that inflammation is circulating, that something within the gut, the liver, or the nervous system has been thrown out of rhythm.
At Joy TCM Clinic, we don’t just treat the skin.
We listen to it.
Because chronic skin conditions like rosacea aren’t about vanity.
They’re about vitality—and the ways our body quietly calls out for balance.
What Is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition most often seen on the face—particularly the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. It can appear as:
-Persistent facial redness
-Flushing or heat flares
-Small bumps or pustules
-Visible blood vessels
-Skin sensitivity, tingling, or burning
While flares may be triggered by spicy food, alcohol, stress, sun, or hormonal shifts, these are only surface-level instigators. The true question is: why is your body reacting so intensely to everyday stimuli?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Perspective on Rosacea
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), rosacea is a sign of internal heat. That heat can take many forms:
Liver Heat from emotional suppression, stress, or hormone disruption
Stomach Heat or Damp-Heat from poor digestion, sugar intake, alcohol, or spicy food
Blood Heat from long-standing inflammation, leading to visible vessels and pustules
Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat, where the body lacks the cooling fluids it needs to regulate temperature
In every case, the skin becomes a release valve. It reflects what the deeper organs are holding onto.
The Gut–Skin Connection: Inflammation From the Inside Out
Modern medicine is catching up to what Chinese medicine has always known: the gut and skin are intimately linked.
Many people with rosacea also experience gut dysbiosis, leaky gut, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
These imbalances drive systemic inflammation, which often shows up in highly vascular areas of the face.
When the microbiome is disturbed, histamine sensitivity increases—leading to flushing, redness, and heat.
If your skin feels reactive or chronically inflamed, your gut may be the first place to begin healing.
Hormones and Rosacea: The Silent Influence
For many women, rosacea flares during midlife transitions—pregnancy, perimenopause, postpartum. This isn’t coincidence. Hormonal fluctuations affect blood vessels, inflammation, and the skin’s ability to self-regulate.
In TCM, this pattern is often rooted in Liver Qi stagnation and Kidney Yin deficiency, which are common during hormonal transitions. Supporting these organ systems helps regulate internal temperature, calm reactivity, and clear inflammatory patterns at their origin.
The Oral Health Factor: A Hidden Driver of Heat
Though often overlooked, oral inflammation can contribute to skin inflammation.
Bleeding gums or periodontal disease increase systemic cytokines, which worsen flushing and sensitivity.
An imbalanced oral microbiome can aggravate gut health and trigger rosacea flares.
Chronic jaw tension—from stress or grinding—can restrict lymphatic flow and facial circulation.
Simple rituals like flossing can help calm inflammation and restore equilibrium between the mouth, gut, and skin.
Acupuncture for Rosacea: Cooling the System from Within
At Joy TCM Clinic, we use acupuncture to reduce inflammation, support hormonal transitions, and cool internal heat. Each treatment is tailored to your specific constitution and root imbalance.
Depending on your needs, we may focus on:
Clearing Liver Heat (for emotional triggers or hormone-related flares)
Harmonizing the Stomach (if digestive heat or food sensitivities are present)
Nourishing Yin (to restore moisture and reduce false heat)
Strengthening the Lung and Wei Qi (for sensitive or reactive skin)
Facial acupuncture can also support lymphatic drainage, improve circulation, and enhance skin integrity—all while offering deep nervous system regulation.
Chinese Herbal Medicine: Healing Rosacea from Within
Chinese herbal medicine is an essential part of rosacea treatment, working alongside acupuncture to address internal imbalances that contribute to flare-ups. In TCM, rosacea is often associated with excessive heat in the body, particularly in the stomach and lungs.
Herbal formulas are tailored to each individual and may include:
-Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis): A powerful anti-inflammatory herb that helps clear heat and reduce redness.
-Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa): Cools the blood, nourishes the skin, and reduces sensitivity.
-Bai Xian Pi (Dictamnus dasycarpus): Used traditionally to treat inflammatory skin conditions, helping to reduce redness and irritation.
-Zhi Zi (Gardenia jasminoides): Known for its detoxifying properties, it helps clear heat and reduce flushing.
A 2022 study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine found that patients who received a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine saw greater improvements in their rosacea symptoms compared to those using conventional treatments alone.
Why Treatment is Important
If rosacea goes on untreated for years you can have permanent damage. Skin erythema (redness) will not go away and it becomes more difficult to treat. Long-term, dilated blood vessels, inflammation of the eyelid margins (blepharitis), keratitis and sebaceous gland hypertrophy (of the nose) appears.
Skincare Recommendations
We can help recommend products that won’t aggravate or stimulate your rosacea. Use products that won’t cause stimulated blood flow, will treat your skin very gently, are non comedogenic (won’t clog your pores) or irritate your skin. Choose sensitive and cream-based cleansers. Gentle, non-alcoholic, non-spicy toners are best. Natural-based mineral sunscreens for sensitive skin, and of course minimise sun exposure and wear a good hat.
Lifestyle Recommendations
Anything that causes increased blood to your face (known as vasodilation) can cause a flare up of rosacea.
-Minimise sun exposure. Use natural-based mineral sunscreen when in the sun.
-Avoid a lot of activity in hot weather. Hot kitchens, opening hot ovens or dishwashers, before entering a hot car etc.
-Avoid saunas and steamrooms.
-Don’t use hot water on your face, very cold water can aggravate it too.
-Ni****ne affects blood flow and should be avoided.
-Avoid exercising in the heat or sun. Chlorine in swimming pools can affect your skin.
-Avoid products with fragrance because fragrances can often cause reactions.
-Try to reduce stress. Try deep breathing, yoga, or other relaxation techniques.
-Keep hydrated with filtered water,
-Limit spicy foods, alcohol, and heating beverages (coffee and caffeine).
Other triggers may include wind, hot baths, cold weather, specific skin products, exercise, or other factors.
Why Choose Chinese Medicine for Rosacea Treatment?
Unlike conventional treatments that often focus only on symptom management, acupuncture and Chinese medicine work to restore balance to the body for lasting improvements. This approach is particularly beneficial for those who:
-Have not responded well to antibiotics, steroids, or other conventional treatments.
-Experience rosacea flare-ups triggered by stress, hormonal changes, or digestive issues.
-Prefer a natural, holistic approach that supports overall health and well-being.
-Expert Dermatology-Focused Care at Joy TCM Clinic
At Joy TCM Clinic, we specialise in treating skin conditions, including rosacea, acne, eczema, hives and psoriasis.
Take the First Step Toward Calmer, Healthier Skin
If you’re tired of struggling with rosacea and want a natural, effective solution, acupuncture and herbal medicine could be the answer. Book an appointment today at circuit road clinic (5 min walking distance from Macpherson mrt exit E) and start your journey toward clear, balanced skin.
Contact us now via whatsapp 91900257 to schedule your consultation and discover how TCM can help you achieve long-term rosacea relief.
