All About Rosacea

Health and Wellness
Written By Haley Morris

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a dermatological condition classified by flushed skin, visible blood vessels and raised bumps on the skin. Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin issue with no direct cause. There is no cure for Rosacea, but it can be managed with lifestyle and treatment options.

Symptoms of Rosacea:

  • Flushed Skin

  • Visible blood vessels

  • Rash

  • Thickened Skin

  • Acne Pustules

What are possible Rosacea triggers?

There are many things that can trigger Rosacea, but everyone is different, so it is important that you find your specific triggers and manage them. Using a diary is an effective way to find what increases your Rosacea symptoms.

Click here for a FREE Rosacea Diary from The National Rosacea Society.

Some triggers of Rosacea are:

  • Heat

  • Emotional Distress

  • Certain foods

  • Alcohol

  • Sunlight

  • Exercise

  • Dry and cold climates

What foods can trigger Rosacea?

Rosacea is an inflammatory condition so avoiding foods that trigger inflammation is key to controlling your symptoms. Some foods that can cause a Rosacea flare are foods high in histamines, spicy foods, and foods containing Cinnamaldehyde.

Some examples are:

·       Tomatoes

·       Citrus Fruits

·       Chocolate

·       Dairy

·       Soy Sauce

·       Eggplant

·       Avocados

Histamines act in an inflammatory response triggering swelling and increased blood flow. Histamines are most found in Alcohol, processed meats and cheeses, fermented beverages, soy sauce, and chocolate.

Spicy foods can cause flushing and burning of the face. There is no direct link between spicy foods and Rosacea, but it can cause an increase in skin redness and burning.

Foods containing Cinnamaldehyde can trigger vasodilation of the blood vessels which cause redness of the skin. Cinnamaldehyde containing foods are tomatoes, citrus fruits, and chocolate.

How can I reduce Rosacea flare ups?

There are many ways you can reduce and control your Rosacea flare ups. Once you've found your specific food triggers you can then eliminate or reduce your intake of these foods. You can also track other triggers like heat, your cycle etc. then work on improving those.

  • Use gentle and hydrating skincare. My favorite Brands are Primally Pure and Luna Nectar.

  • Use sunscreen! Using 30 SPF daily will help protect your skin from the harmful UV rays. My favorite Daily sunscreen in Earth Harbor.

  • Find ways to reduce your stress. These can be reading, cooking, exercising etc. Find what works for you!

  • Stay Hydrated! Most people with Rosacea have dry, sensitive skin. Staying hydrated is key to reducing dryness. Some of my favorite hydration products are LMNT, and Clearly Filtered.

Resources

https://www.rosacea.org/patients/rosacea-triggers/factors-that-may-trigger-rosacea-flare-ups

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8794493/#:~:text=Triggers%20reported%20include%3A%20spicy%20food,vegetables%20(9%25)%20as%20triggers.

https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rosacea

https://www.rosacea.org/patients/materials/rosacea-diary-booklet

Haley Morris
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