How to help control rosacea outbreaks with diet

If you suffer from rosacea, a chronic, vascular skin condition, it's important to seek medical treatment to avoid further complications. You can also follow these methods to help control outbreaks through diet.

• Rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory, vascular skin condition that affects approximately five percent of adults in Canada
• The disorder is typified by prolonged redness and the occurrence of acne-like bumps on the cheeks, forehead, nose, chin or eyes
• Rosacea is most common among fair-skinned women between the ages of 30 and 60
• In the early stages of rosacea, sporadic occurrences of blushing, flushing and redness of the face take place, and are often mistaken for simple blushing
• If left untreated, tiny blood vessels swell and become larger, and facial redness can become permanent
• If untreated, men with rosacea often develop rhinophyma, which causes the nose to become enlarged, red and bulbous
• Because of the redness (as well as the rhinophyma), rosacea is sometimes unfairly attributed to alcoholism
• If you suspect that you may have rosacea, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible, because proper treatment can reduce symptoms and help to prevent the disorder from getting worse

• Though a single cause has not yet been identified, certain people may have a hereditary tendency to develop rosacea
• Some scientists suspect that rosacea may result from an abundance of microscopic mites that live in human skin. These tiny organisms may block the sebaceous gland openings, thus promoting inflammation
• Other potential causes include immune system abnormalities
• Also, anecdotal reports show a connection between stress and the exacerbation of rosacea
• Hormonal changes caused by menopause may also be a factor in its onset
• Histamines, chemicals released by the body as a natural response to allergens, cause inflammation and may also trigger rosacea
• A common rosacea trigger, facial flushing may be brought on by blushing, stress, heat, sun, wind, cold, spicy foods or certain medications
• More research is required to identify the causes of this skin disorder

• Foods rich in beta-carotene and vitamin E may be helpful for general skin health because they act as antioxidants by neutralizing harmful elements that could damage skin
• To offset stress that may trigger or aggravate rosacea, it may be helpful to eat foods that are rich in vitamin B6, which assists in the production of certain brain chemicals that help to regulate mood
• Rosacea is believed to be a disorder linked to swollen blood vessels, so it may be useful to eat foods high in essential fatty acids, which are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties
• Eating foods high in antioxidant-rich, immune-building vitamin C may help to protect the skin from free-radical damage as well as inflammation caused by histamines. Foods containing vitamin C are also useful for protecting veins
• Foods rich in zinc help to promote healing and enhance the functioning of the immune system

Although the exact cause of rosacea is currently unknown, we do know that certain foods may cause the characteristic flushing and redness. For example, people with rosacea should try to avoid:

• spicy foods
• hot drinks
• alcoholic beverages

You may not have to give up hot coffee or tea altogether — just allow them to cool a little bit before drinking them. There is no common ingredient at the root of these triggers.It might be helpful to keep a diary of foods and episodes of flushing and redness to try to determine which foods may be triggers for the condition.

• Fatty fish
• Flaxseed
• Pumpkin seeds
• Berries
• Broccoli
• Citrus fruits
• Kiwi

While a proper diet is no substitute for medical treatment, following these guidelines can complement your management of rosacea and help to calm outbreaks.