Rosacea is a chronic skin disease with no known complete cure. Symptoms of rosacea include facial redness, itching and bumps or spots that may resemble adult acne. As well as the face, rosacea can be present on the ears, back, chest and eyes. In the eyes, ocular rosacea causes grittiness, dryness and burning. Although rosacea is unlikely to go away of its own accord, dietary changes are often successful in reducing or even eliminating rosacea symptoms.
Hot Foods
Because rosacea occurs in people who flush or blush relatively easily, foodstuffs which increase flushing have the potential to worsen the symptoms of rosacea. According to the American Academy of Dermatology's "Rosacea" pamphlet, foods which are consumed at a hot temperature are likely to make rosacea worse--you should limit your exposure to very hot foods and beverages. A diet of only cold food would be extremely boring, so include hot foods in your diet but make sure that only one or two meals per day consist of hot food. Additionally, consume hot foods and beverages such as soup and coffee at a slightly lower temperature, so that they are warm rather than piping hot.
Spicy Foods
Like high-temperature foods, spicy foods act as blood vessel dilators and therefore worsen the symptoms of rosacea. To help your rosacea, avoid spicy foods such as curries, hot sauces, peppers, spicy seasonings and even black pepper. The rosacea diet recommended by HealthySkinGuide.com notes that meat marinades and vinegars have also been shown to negatively effect rosacea. Cutting out or greatly reducing your intake of these foods should help your rosacea symptoms.
Alcohol
Although rosacea is not caused by consuming alcohol, drinking alcoholic beverages will worsen rosacea symptoms in most patients. Alcohol consumption makes the skin flush, and so its effects upon rosacea are similar to those of hot foods and spicy foods. Writing in January 2008 in the "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette," Pohla Smith notes that red wine is particularly notorious among individuals with rosacea for its amplification of existing symptoms.
Miscellaneous
The foods which cause a worsening of rosacea symptoms--known as trigger foods--will vary from individual to individual, but several common foods have been identified as likely triggers for a majority of rosacea patients. These include citrus fruits and juices, bananas, tomatoes, red plums, chocolate, pasta, figs, raisins and liver. Dairy products including cheese, yogurt and sour cream are also identified as common trigger foods by HealthySkinGuide.com.
Helpful Foods
Just as foods which dilate the blood vessels will worsen rosacea symptoms, those foods which have a constricting effect on blood vessels will help improve the symptoms and reduce redness and flushing. Foods which act as vascular constrictors include blueberries, cherries and blackberries, according to the rosacea dietary guide at HealthySkinGuide.com. The same source also recommends that cooked food is preferable to raw food, and lean proteins such as tofu, fish and chicken are better for the rosacea patient than red meats. Hydration is also important in controlling rosacea, so drink between 10 and 12 glasses of water each day between meals.
