Seb Derm and Lemon Juice

[Canada Dude]

I'm taking a tablespoon of lemon juice mixed with a glass of water every mourning. I have been doing this for about 3 weeks now and my Seb Derm is gone almost. No flare ups or nothing and my skin feels really good now. I tried it cause I heard it cleansed the liver and helped skin problems and such. I'm shocked it really is working, its amazing.

I was told the lemon juice should be 100% pure, not the store bought stuff. I picked some up at a health food store.

Try it and let me know if it works?

[RedHotCanuck]

Good news.

Where is your SD located? Mine is on my scalp.. sucks..

[DukeCity]

CanadaDude, - Yes I've read some positive stories about takng lemon juice every day, - Does the lemon juice you bought come in a bottle? - How much was it?

[redhotoz]

I've already posted about this in another thread, but I have started drinking the juice, freshly squeezed from 1/2 a lemon, 1/4 teaspoon of sea/ocean salt and topped with hot water, several times a day. I also drinks loads of plain water. I believe the salt helps to absorb the water into the body...so that we are not running to the loo all the time! LOL It's about hydrating the body (a bit of Drummond's theory).

My skin has shown HUGE improvement and I would recommend this. If you are sceptical about adding the salt, then just do the lemon juice and water thing. However, nothing ventured, nothing gained! This is not the only thing I am doing right now but I do believe this part of it has helped a great deal.

I wouldn't recommend lemon juice from a bottle. Go fresh and at least you know that there are no additives, preservatives or sugar added! Invest in a simple plastic juicer, it's easy. I must plant a lemon tree or two out back for the amount of lemons I buy! LOL

Jen

[Canada Dude]

Yeah, this lemon juiced is 100%, the real deal fresh in a bottle from a good health food store. It's in a 500ml bottle, only $4.99 it was the cost. I'm sure fresh lemons would do the same, or even a better job perhaps. I heard limes are great for this too, I have not tried any though. But ya my skin is so much better right now.

[Canada Dude]

Oh, my SD is located on my face only.

[polster]

I think the lemon juice idea has some similarities to the Organic Apple Cider Vinegar cure for Seb Derm. The thought is that bacteria in the gut exaerbates skin problems and the acid in Organic Apple Cider vineger Kills the bacteria. I assume the acid in Lemons works on the same concept.

http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/acvinegar.html

http://www.health911.com/remedies/rem_dand.htm

[Bonnie]

I am confused. I thought that acid in the stomach is what caused most breakouts. Are there good and bad acids?

[redhotoz]

Hi Bonnie

As much as lemons (or limes) are acidic fruits, they are alkaline-producing in our bodies.

Steve posted this link a little while ago:

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/4-13-2004-52881.asp

".....The ubiquitous looking lemon is full of magnesium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus, copper, zinc, iron and manganese. Its citric acid is nature’s best source of Vitamin C, the nutrient that keeps the body’s balance of iron consumption optimal, thereby ensuring the good health of your red blood cells and also stepping up the body’s resistance levels high.

Regular squeeze of a lemon over your food helps keep the immune system stronger and imparts greater ability to fight off infections. With its stimulating properties, lemon juice can activate the pancreas and the liver, aiding the digestive process and helping the overall well being of the body.

As an additional advantage, regular consumption of lemon juice has also been known to relieve the discomfort of rheumatism and arthritic pains. To serve as an overall rejuvenator, a glass of lukewarm water with the juice of one lemon does the trick, the body gets instantly refreshed. This also helps to remove toxins from the body......"

You might also want to check out Joanne's thread on the alkaline/acid theory:

http://forum.rosaceagroup.org/viewtopic.php?t=1830

".....FIrst of all it is important to note that there is a difference between 'acidic' foods and 'acidifying' foods, likewise between 'alkaline' and 'alkalizing'. We need to think about not the pH of the food directly, but what remains in the body after the food has been metabolized. The normal processes of respiration and metabolism (breathing and eating) have an oxidizing or acidifying effect. Therefore we need to consume sufficient quantities of things that balance these normal reactions: positively charged minerals, like iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc, which remain in the body after the organic matter has been processed. For example, lemons are of course very acidic, but the organic acids are metabolized, while an extremely good source of minerals is stored in the body, making lemons an excellent alkalizing food....."

Food for thought! :)

Jen

[Bonnie]

Thanks Jen for clearing that up for me. I have read so much about what is good and what is bad that after awhile it just all runs together.

I will print this so that I can refer back to it.

Thanks again,

Bonnie

[redhotoz]

You're welcome Bonnie

All I know is that it is helping me big time, along with cutting bread/wheat/gluten out of my diet, change in diet overall (based on several diet principles but mostly the Candida Diet http://groups.yahoo.com/group/candidasupport/ (I view this diet more about overall well being than controlling Candida specifically), de-stressing and red light therapy.

I'm all for the natural approach and always have been, even though I have done the med thing and topical thing in the past. Now it is a la natural - AND working - can hardly believe it myself! :)

Jen

[Strive]

That's great that you're seeing improvement. Watch your teeth, though. I understand that the lemon juice will hurt enamel over time. You could maybe use a straw to help bypass the teeth.

[skaistrendy]

so what would one rec.?

the lemon concept or the ACV? they both look very intriguing

[redhotoz]

so what would one rec.?

the lemon concept or the ACV? they both look very intriguing
Hi skaistrendy

I believe Apple Cider Vingegar diluted in water is also good to drink. However, the lemon/sea salt/water drink provides some extra benefits, with the minerals from the sea salt and digestion aid in the lemon juice. You can do both, as I do.

It's not going to cost you big bucks to try it anyway.

Jen

[skaistrendy]

so what would one rec.?

the lemon concept or the ACV? they both look very intriguing
Hi skaistrendy

I believe Apple Cider Vingegar diluted in water is also good to drink. However, the lemon/sea salt/water drink provides some extra benefits, with the minerals from the sea salt and digestion aid in the lemon juice. You can do both, as I do.

It's not going to cost you big bucks to try it anyway.

Jen

great! thanks for the info, when i read your input about the lemon with sea salt, you mentioned you put it in warm/hot water. since i do not like drinking warm liquids would it be fine if i put it in my cool spring water and shake it up?

By the way; for the Apple Cider Vinigar do i put like 2 table spoons in for 8 oz of water?

[redhotoz]

Yes, no probs about putting lemon juice and sea salt in cool spring water. I just like drinking it warm, as I used to drink a lot of tea. Probably just need to stir it, rather than shake it. Not sure if the sea salt will dissolve as well in cool water? Maybe dissolve it in a tiny bit of hot water and then add the spring water? Hey, let me now how you get on with it.

I don't drink as much ACV as the lemon/sea salt drink but the bottle I have here recommends "2 teaspoons in glass of water". I'm not sure how much 8 oz is sorry! I'm a metric girl. If 8 oz is an average glass of water, I would think 2 table spoons is a bit much and might be a bit over powering to drink. I know I could look up the measurements for 8 oz but I'm being lazy! LOL I want to get on and read about Eskimo diets! LOL

Jen

[cmburn22]

I have tried squeezing half of a lemon in about 10oz of water twice per day for the past 2 weeks and have seen good clearance of the flakes associated with SD on my face. Have yet to try this regimine yet with the sea salt however.

Thanks for the tip redhotoz!

[redhotoz]

Hey, that's fantastic to hear! Yeay! Canada Dude did start this thread though, I just replied with what I've been doing. Hope things keep improving for you!

Jen

[RedHotCanuck]

Do any of you have SD of the scalp? Has this worked for u?

[redhotoz]

Hey, I've had a few dry patches of skin of late, which is unusual for me, because my skin is normally more oily. Anyway, just thinking about SD on the scalp Mike. I use Rose Hip Oil on my face (4 or so drops into a damp hand and applied to a damp face, allowed to dry naturally) and I have noticed that the dry bits of skin are kind of smoothed over, or can be easily removed. This is all new to me, cos I've not had to deal with dry patches before. I like it much better than dealing with oily p&p. Anyway, I also read that adding Rose Hip Oil into your shampoo/conditioner/hair product helps too. So maybe you could try that Mike?

Just an idea.

Jen

[Canada Dude]

My SD is gone from using this still.

[Buster]

I am wondering how you define seb derm. Are you talking about tiny dry patches of red skin, or are you talking about oily, red/inflamed skin, sometimes with flakes? Excactly what symptoms did this lemon juice remove, and do yuo really mean remove or just slightly improve.
Just to be clear, since I am a bi hesitant to these claims, but I will try myself. Note that I do not have rosacea, but seb derm.

On dosage, would it be ok to lets say drink the juice of a whole lemon and a lime in one go, or would that be too much? What I mean to ask is will the skin get worse if you take too much juice?

[cmburn22]

I have the oily/inflamed red patches type of SD around the sides of my nose and chin and the dry flakey type in the beard area on the sides of my cheeks and behind my ears.

The lemon juice has helped (but not eliminated) the flakes (not the redness or oil production) in the beard area around 70%. The improvement came within 3 days of starting it.

Sometimes I will squeeze a whole lemon in a glass of 10oz of water twice a day, and other times only half of a lemon once a day. The result seems to be the same with either amount.



cm

[redhotoz]

Heather put this link up in the Sea Water thread and thought it would be a good reference here too:

http://proliberty.com/observer/20040711.htm

“When life gives you a lemon... squeeze it, mix it with six ounces of distilled water and drink twice daily.”

“The medicinal value of the lemon is as follows: It is an antiseptic, or is an agent that prevents sepsis [the presence of pathogenic bacteria] or putrefaction [decomposition of tissue]. It is also anti-scorbutic, a term meaning a remedy which will prevent disease and assist in cleansing the system of impurities.”

Due to the digestive qualities of lemon juice, symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching are relieved. By drinking lemon juice regularly, the bowels are aided in eliminating waste more efficiently thus controlling constipation and diarrhea.

-----
There is a lot more in the article which really is quite interesting to read.

Jen

[sarah]

say you dont have SD but yet flush easily to foods d,id you still find that drinking water with a little lemon in didnt make you flush or increase redness?

[Canada Dude]

Drinking lemon juice will not help or bother rosacea, but the bonus is the redness will fade from the SD, so it kinda looks like your rosacea is better, but it's just the SD.

I would say I'm 80 -90% clear of SD, I still have the slight redness on the sides of nose and in the T area, very lite though. I have not had one flair up for the last 3 months now at least, when I used to get them every 6 days of so. This stuff rules!

[sarah]

well i tried some tonight and sure it made me fush any one else have that problem as it being citrus, i dont think i have SD though

[redhotoz]

Hi Sarah

I don't have SD and I feel that the lemon juice (with sea salt and water) is helping my Rosacea. Perhaps try a small amount in water and see how you go with that. Lemon juice is alkaline-producing in the body, even though it's an acidic fruit.

Good luck!

Jen

[Tioh2001]

Jen,

I was thinking about you this morning when I was washing my hair!

As much as possible, I have stopped using all products which contain chemicals....therefore I have not used shampoo or conditioner for many years.

To wash my hair I use a diluted natural soap (Dr. Bronners soap) and to condition my hair, I use....lemon water!

In an empty water bottle, I add the juice of 1 lemon. Then after I finish washing my hair, I add about 10 ounces of water to the lemon juice and pour it over my hair. I massage it in a little. I do not wash it off.

I can honestly say, that lemon water is the best conditioner I have ever used. It detangles my hair and makes it easy to comb when wet (which is a minor miracle as I have long and very thick hair). It does not aggrevate my skin problems. It smells nice. It's natural....I think it is great!

Of course, I also drink lemon water. My recipe is: juice of 1 lemon to approx. 16 ounces of water.

I go through a lot of lemons every week!

Heather

[redhotoz]

Shhh Heather! People will start to talk! LOL Just kidding!

That's very interesting and I will give it a go. I planted a lemon tree out back because of the amount of lemons I go through. I also have friends with lemon trees who have no use for the lemons! Lucky me! :D

Thanks for the idea.

Jen

[Tricia]

Hi Jen,

I was just curious as to why you stopped drinking tea? I love my green tea in the morning and a herbal cup after dinner really hits the spot. Makes it easier to not reach for a cookie.

Please don't tell me this is yet another thing should cut out of my diet! ;)

Tricia

[redhotoz]

Hi Tricia

I was a tea drinking addict! LOL Honestly, I would sometimes drink half a dozen big mugs of tea before 10am! Way too much! Not to mention the rest of the day's intake of tea!!!

For a number of reasons, caffeine is not good for us. So for me, a transition from drinking loads of tea to drinking a warm drink of lemon juice/sea salt/hot water made it easier. I have really noticed the difference in my face and in myself generally speaking, since making the change. It's also very refreshing. Actually I find it more refreshing in the morning than tea.

You can drink decaf and herbal teas. No probs. I'm sure they make a decaf green tea.

Honestly though, do what you feel comfortable with. If you want a cuppa of caffeinated green tea in the morning to wake you up, then do it. Just don't do what I used to do and go over board! Arggh! Maybe you could buy decaf next time and make the change slowly. Coming off caffeine too quickly can cause headaches and lethargy. Of course, that does depend on how much caffeine you were drinking before.

I've read many posts and articles about caffeine not being good for Rosacea. Not even about diet. Slowy, slowly is the key.

Oh hey, I try to look at what I *can* eat/drink rather than what I shoudn't. I also figure that over time I can relax the diet a bit but for now I really want to have control over my face. It's not perfect but sooo much better. I feel so much more in control of things now - physically and mentally. Yeay! :D

Jen

[Tricia]

Ah, I know what you mean about being a caffeine addict except for me it was coffee and diet coke. I literally threw my nerves in to such a tizzy (that along with more than a few cigarrettes) so I gave it up all together a few years ago but stilll stuck with herbal tea for my "fix".

Lately though I've been drinking minimal amounts of caffeine through green tea and for me it seems to actually seems to help with flushing. Or maybe it's that little jolt it gives that makes me not care so much. Life seems to be better for me with a little caffeine!

I agree though that it depends on what works for the individual. And with rosacea we need to be careful with stimulants like caffeine.

Too bad though, coffee is now said to have more antioxidants than just about anything out there and it helps with prostate cancer and liver disease, up to about 4 cups daily. If I drank that much I'd probably have a nervouse breakdown!

;)

Tricia

[redhotoz]

That's interesting about coffee. Just goes to show that things that are drummed into us as being a 'no no' for good health, soon turns around. Did that make sense? LOL I mean, we used to have a big health campaign against eating too much red meat. NOW, the latest health campaign is to get it into ya! - red meat is good for us!

Yup, I am prepared to challenge the standard beliefs now. I've read enough to consider that we shouldn't necessarily believe everything that is drummed into us. In fact, it's been a fascinating learning cuve for me with this natural healing thing.

I like your jolt of caffeine vs not caring as much about flushng! LOL Very funny!

Jen

[Buster]

I never drink coffee, I am convinced it will increase sebum output.
Anyways, I have been on the lemon juice thing for 4 days, I squeeze the juice out of a lemon and a lime every morning and drink it, and another lime in the afternoon. My skin has gotten better, but it can be for different reasons. I will keep you updated.

I would like to har from the guy who said the lemon cured his seb derm, though. Give a recount of that.

best wishes

[Buster]

I think lemon juice has helped my seb derm somewhat. I am now including pure aloe vera juice to the mix. After what I read on the net they claim that aloe vera juice has the capacity to regulate the immune response, and I know from earlier that topical aloe vera is ok for seb derm, better than a lot of things, so I figure that drinking aloe vera juice is something that is worth trying.

Anyone tried it?

[redhotoz]

Hi Buster

So glad to hear that the lemon/lime juice is helping your Seb Derm. Do you mix the juice in water or drink it straight up?

Drinking Aloe Vera Juice came up in another thread here:

http://forum.rosaceagroup.org/viewtopic.php?t=3347

It's not a full answer but at least comments from two Rosaceans.

Jen

[Buster]

Hi :)
I squeezee the juice of a lemon or a lime into a bowl and then I pour the aloe vera juice into the bowl, I sometime add some good fruit juice, but only half a desiliter or so. I just drink it straight up.

Im not sure how long this regimen should be kept up, but I dont think there are any side effects to it, so it should be safe over time.

Anyways, thanks for always being interested and asking qs and keeping this place alive.

Have a nice sunday amd a good week.

We should count our blessings.

Mads

[redhotoz]

Hi Buster

I am a little concerned about you drinking Aloe Vera juice, especially from the link I posted just before. Do you have any links to the info you found on it? Yes, side effects are what I worry about with this.

The reason I add sea salt to my lemon/water drink is for the natural minerals, which makes it an "electrolyte drink" - good to aid digestion, hydrate the body and packed full of goodness. You might want to consider this option.

Thank you for your kind words Buster! Made my day (and night)! Hope you have a brilliant week too. I'm off to do parent help tomorrow morning. The kids have a pj party, so I have to wear my jammies to shcool! LOL Must dig out my Elmo slippers! :lol:

Jen

[flemmo]

I was thinking of trying lemon juice for my SD. Problem is I have rosacea too. Would this be a bad idea as generally speaking we should avoid acidic foods such as citrus fruits?

[nzdolphin]

I've been drinking aloe vera juice (20ml twice daily) since September last year and it's been great. BUT all aloe vera juice is not the same, apparently. Mine is Lifestream organic aloe vera juice (pesticide free, etc, etc) and they advertise 'only the inner gel, therefore no laxative effect'. I assume some products are not as pure and probably use more of the plant than they should, or plants that are grown in unsuitable conditions, i.e. over-produced, poor soil, chemicals leeching into the plants, etc.
It pays to buy the recommended brand through a reputable natural health outlet, and to read the labels. Hope this helps.
And, I've started drinking juice of 1/2 lemon twice a day (rinsing my mouth afterwards because it's apparently not good for your teeth if you have a lot over a long period of time).

[Melissa W]

Hi,
I consulted with an ayurvedic guy a few months ago and one of his recommendations was to drink a glass of water with lemon juice squeezed in it every morning. He said it makes the body LESS acidic. Supposedly, rosaceans have too much acidity in their body and need to become more alkaline. I haven't tried it yet because I am overwhelmed with all the different recommendations from all these different sources. I did feel that was something I would try though at some point.

Best wishes,
Melissa

PS He also suggeted drinking aloe vera juice but I do NOT think I will try that. At least not any time soon.

[francois]

In my opinion, the reason why lemon-water drink helps is that it improves digestion. I am a big supporter of the idea that bad digestion is a factor that worsens already existing skin problems. I think the Apple Cider Vinegar would help, the way lemon juice does. Also, I squeeze a lemon into my salad since I cant enjoy dressings and toppings.

[christophe/]

In November 2006 my hairdresser said i better check with the dr coz it looked like i was loosing hair. A month later i checked with a dr and it was Seborrhoic Dermatitis. By this time i was scared i would be bald in a few months the way the hair was falling out. My pillow would be full of hairs in the morning! it was terrible. I prayed about it a lot and I thank God that it's gone! I squeezed aloe vera into a juice and poured a little ( a few drops) on my scalp. I tried this for a few days and at the same time i tried doing the same thing with lemon juice. I did this for about a month and the hairs stopped falling out, etc. It took then probably another month for the hair to grow back so that it looked normal. That's one problem fixed! Now i've got KPRF (Keratosis Pilarus Rubra Faceii) to tackle. And it's a much harder one!!!

[Firefly]

It could be a coincidence but about five days ago I started drinking one squeezed lemon a day, added to 0.5 litre of water and some maple sirup for the taste. Just to give it a try based on other peoples experiences. Since then there's been a slightly noticeable improvement on my seb derm redness AND the dry persistent rosacea redness. Particularly the dry seb derm patches (forehead, cheeks and jawbone) don't seem to have that dry appearance anymore however it's still sd texture. Don't want to rush to conclusions but it seems obvious!

The feel of my skin seems to be softer and better moisturized as well. I don't want to rave about the lemon juice as I am on an alkalizing diet for over 7 weeks now which already controls p and p's and reduced the redness a little bit, but the changes above just occured.

Also important to note that I was a little bit reluctant to try this because I do flare up after eating oranges. No problem with the lemon juice at all!

I was thinking of trying lemon juice for my SD. Problem is I have rosacea too. Would this be a bad idea as generally speaking we should avoid acidic foods such as citrus fruits?

[Skywolf]

Firefly,
that is almost the ingridents for the 'Master Cleanse"
Master Cleanser
2 tbsp lemon or lime juice (1/2 lemon)
2 tbsp of pure grade B maple syrup
1/10 tsp cayenne pepper (red) or to taste
12 oz of purified water
It detoxes the body, though Im not sure the pepper part would go over too well with the people here with flushing problems, or just sensitive digestive systems to spicy stuff (a flushing problem of a different sort, lol)

Laura

[Firefly]

Oh well, I made it up myself 8) (almost, must have picked it up somewhere :wink: )

Whatever the pepper does to me (I really don't have a clue yet) it's worth giving it a try. Will comment on this later!

Thanks,
Hilda

[Skywolf]

Word of warning to anyone, this will kick your digestive system into full gear (trying to be delicate here) Also you do have to use real maple syrup, not the stuff we buy cheap to put on pancakes. That can be expensive. You can add a bit of sea salt to this if your going well, going a lot, to replace minerals. NOT table salt.

Laura

[Firefly]

Have done some reading about this cleanse the past few hours and I'm curious about you having any experience with this? I'm very interested but I can't afford losing any more weight as I am already skinny to the bone. Maby there's a possibility of a slower gentle cleanse, eating pure healthy foods and drinking a reduced amount of the juice. And as far as I understand 'kicking your system into full gear' only happens when you drink the senna leaf tea and salt water in addition to the lemon juice? I'll do that when I don't have any other plans than staying at home and watch some tv...

[Skywolf]

I have done 2 master cleanse fasts, one with using the tea and the salt water flush, and one without. It defenatly is more of a bathroom run with the whole system, but it did get me going with just the lemon juice drink but not to the point of "Uh Oh" I should have been more clear on that, sorry.
I hesitate to reccomend doing this as it is a fast, and not for eveyone, and you will loose weight, some more than others. It takes weeks of prep, and then follow up. I dont have sub derm so I cant report on the effects it would have on that.

Laura

[Skywolf]

Oh, the reason I didnt do the tea and salt flush on the second cleanse is that they were to just too harsh for my system. The tea gave me bad cramps, and that saltwater flush, oh my, it tastes SOOOO terrible. I found that by adding some of the salt to the lemon drink kept things moving along just fine.
And now I think I am done talking about my bowels, LOL. :oops:

Laura

[fut]

My little recipe,

A few tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon
A few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
A couple of ice cubes,
The rest of the cup filled with Apple Cider (or Apple Juice)

It tastes great (better then Snapple!) and has been helping my complexion! Skin tone is improving!!

[red face lady]

I have just started to use the ACV about one week ago? Skin on face is better but still alittle dry and red stubburn spots. I'm also taking "Virgin Coconut oil" I red this is good also. How long does it take to work? :oops: I'm sick of doctors!