Hot foods or spices trigger flushing and skin irritation in many people who have rosacea, but few cases of strong reactions to cinnamon have been reported in clinical literature. If you have this inflammatory skin condition, which can cause persistent redness in your cheeks, nose and chin, you may have noticed that foods or supplements that contain cinnamon increase blood flow to your face. If cinnamon has no effect on your rosacea, you may want to try the ground version of this mild spice as a flavorful alternative to hotter seasonings, the National Rosacea Society suggests.
Uses
Cinnamon bark and cinnamon oil have traditionally been used as home remedies to relieve digestive complaints and menstrual pain. As a complementary therapy, cinnamon may have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, according to Drugs.com. Ground cinnamon bark taken in specific doses may help regulate blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. However, clinical research has not confirmed that taking cinnamon supplements is an effective way to manage the disease. Throughout its history as a spice, cinnamon has served primarily as a flavoring for foods or as an aromatic ingredient in fragrances, Drugs.com notes.
Reactions
The Food and Drug Administration classifies cinnamon as a generally safe supplement. According to Drugs.com, ingesting cinnamon bark in large quantities or cinnamon oil in moderate quantities may have a stimulatory effect, causing perspiration, an accelerated heart rate and increased intestinal movement. When used as an ingredient in toothpaste or other oral care products, cinnamon may cause rosacea-like redness and irritation on the skin surrounding your mouth, a condition called perioral dermatitis, according to RosaceaNet.
Vasodilation
Herbs, foods, beverages or environmental conditions that stimulate blood circulation to the skin may trigger rosacea flare-ups. In an article published in the June 2008 issue of the "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology," T. M. Campbell and co-authors report that a 68-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes had a severe episode of rosacea-related flushing after taking cinnamon oil supplements as an herbal remedy to lower her blood sugar levels. The woman had begun taking the supplements without medical supervision. Campbell and co-authors note that although cinnamon may irritate skin and cause vasodilation, clinical researchers have not reported previous cases of cinnamon triggering a severe rosacea flare-up.
Seasoning
Cinnamon oil may have a more pronounced effect on your skin than the ground version of this spice, especially when cinnamon is added to foods as a sweet, fragrant flavoring. The National Rosacea Society recommends using a blend of cinnamon and other mild, dried seasonings as an alternative to curry, a hot spice that often triggers rosacea flare-ups. The National Rosacea Society advises that you record your reactions to specific foods, beverages, seasonings or supplements and limit or avoid anything that worsens your facial flushing or increases the sensitivity of your skin.
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