Nutritional approaches to rosacea include eating foods that improve your skin's appearance while avoiding foods that provoke facial flushing or irritation. Nutrients that encourage healthy skin growth and repair may help you cope with the food triggers and environmental stressors that aggravate rosacea. A diet that promotes your overall health will ultimately benefit your skin, notes MayoClinic.com.
Symptoms
Rosacea is a skin disease that causes facial redness, irritation and visible capillaries in the cheeks and nose. In some cases, small papules or pustules may develop in affected areas. Rosacea, which often affects people with light skin and eyes, may begin as a flushing in the cheeks. In later stages of the disease, discoloration may spread to your nose, forehead, chin, ears, back and chest. There is no cure for rosacea, but your health care provider may prescribe topical medications to treat symptoms or antibiotics to reduce inflammation.
Strategies
Planning a diet to relieve rosacea symptoms involves protecting the health of your skin and minimizing rosacea flare-ups. A diet rich in high-fiber complex carbohydrates and low in refined sugars, starches and saturated fats promotes resilient skin. Many people who have rosacea report that certain foods or beverages worsen the condition. Identifying your personal dietary triggers and eliminating them from your diet or eating them only occasionally may diminish facial inflammation, says RosaceaNet.
Nutrients
To nourish your skin, plan your diet around fresh, minimally processed foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals. Proteins such as fish, poultry, tofu, eggs, milk and yogurt provide the materials for skin regeneration. Whole-grain breads, cereals and pasta give you low-fat energy and contribute to cardiovascular health. Fresh fruits and vegetables that contain vitamins A and C facilitate tissue growth and repair, strengthen blood vessels and support your immune system. Dark green vegetables such as kale and broccoli and orange vegetables such as carrots and sweet potatoes provide vitamin A. Citrus fruits, papaya, cantaloupe, broccoli, cauliflower and potatoes are rich in vitamin C. Berries, nuts and fish are rich in antioxidants, chemical compounds that help prevent skin damage. If certain fruits, vegetables or dairy products aggravate your skin, work with your health care provider or a dietitian to find adequate nutritional replacements.
Prevention
Any food or beverage that stimulates blood flow to your skin may increase the facial flushing of rosacea, says MayoClinic.com. Spicy foods such as hot peppers, curry, chili powder and cayenne are common rosacea triggers. Your skin may react to fermented products such as yogurt or ripened cheese, liver, soy sauce, vinegar and certain vegetables and fruits. Reactions to foods are highly individualized. Keeping track of your responses to food will help you determine which foods you should limit or avoid, advises RosaceaNet.
Suggestions
Hot beverages, alcohol and caffeine can aggravate rosacea. If you drink alcohol, limit your consumption and avoid red wine, a common trigger. Protecting your skin from sun exposure and avoiding extremes of heat or cold may also reduce facial flushing. Use non-abrasive, fragrance-free skin care products to avoid irritating your skin.
