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 The Violette House, 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, Really?

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?

Rosacea in Traditional Chinese Medicine

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 and oil pulling help calm inflammation and restore equilibrium between the mouth, gut, and skin.

Acupuncture for Rosacea: Cooling the System from Within

At The Violette House, 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.

At-Home Support for Rosacea Relief

Floss and oil pull daily
Reduce oral bacteria and systemic inflammation that may be contributing to redness.
Simplify your skincare
Avoid harsh exfoliants and synthetic fragrances. Choose botanicals like calendula, oat, or chamomile.
Drink herbal teas
Chrysanthemum, dandelion, and mint are cooling in nature and support Liver health.
Minimize gut irritants
Try eliminating spicy food, alcohol, and sugar. Focus on warm, cooked, anti-inflammatory meals.
Support your nervous system
Use breathwork, gentle movement, acupuncture, or Epsom salt baths to regulate stress.
Sleep before 11 p.m.
TCM teaches that the Liver and Heart detoxify between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. Early sleep helps clear internal heat.
Consider acupuncture
If your skin is constantly inflamed or reactive, working with the underlying systems can offer lasting relief.

Your Skin Is Asking for Balance—Not Perfection

Rosacea doesn’t mean your skin is flawed.
It means your body is speaking.

Through heat. Through hypersensitivity. Through the quiet overwhelm you may have learned to ignore.

At The Violette House in Groton, MA, we help you listen—through acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and holistic care that supports healing from the inside out.

Because your skin is not separate from your gut.
Your gut is not separate from your hormones.
And your healing doesn’t start on the surface.
It starts beneath—where real balance begins.

Book Now

The Hidden Root of Rosacea: A Holistic Approach to Redness, Heat, and Inflammation