When it comes to rosacea it’s best to think of this as a skin condition that results in dilation of the blood vessels and is related to an increased sensitivity of the skin overall. Foods contribute to rosacea based on their ability to dilate these blood vessels. Read more...
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Why should some people with rosacea avoid high-histamine foods and dairy?
When it comes to rosacea it’s best to think of this as a skin condition that results in dilation of the blood vessels and is related to an increased sensitivity of the skin overall.
Anything that makes the skin sensitive will reflexively lead to blood vessels dilating which results in flushing or blushing followed by breakouts. High histamine foods such as alcohol, smoked meats, shellfish, canned foods, and legumes can also cause vasodilation or a relaxation of the blood vessels. This can only exacerbate or make rosacea flare. Since rosacea is a chronic condition, although we have many treatments meant to control the symptoms, ultimately it is best managed by avoiding triggers. Since high histamine foods can trigger rosacea it is best to try to find other options!
Which foods can someone with rosacea eat to fight inflammation and reduce flares?
There are so many dietary fads and trends focused on inflammatory foods and anti-inflammatory diets! A day does not go by where I am not asked what role inflammatory foods play in various skin conditions. When it comes to rosacea, the key is avoidance of foods that result in flushing as a result of dilating our blood vessels. There are some studies that have linked a higher prevalence of GI disorders and bacterial overgrowth in our gut to flaring rosacea. Along these lines, a diet high in fiber may actually help reduce flares and reduce inflammation. This is referred to as a “prebiotic” diet. A prebiotic diet is rich in fiber that is not processed until it gets to the colon. Probiotics are the “good” bacteria for your colon. Prebiotic foods feed or support probiotics! Prebiotic fibers include onions, raw garlic, bananas, endives, asparagus, and whole grains.
What can help a person identify foods that worsen their rosacea?
Identifying triggers for rosacea can be difficult. Sometimes the initial flushing is missed as people are more often bothered by breakouts that can follow a few days later. There can be a delay in seeing the breakouts that make it tougher to tie back to specific foods. When trying to identify triggers, it helps to get out a traditional month-at-a-glance calendar and track the worst days for rosacea flares. Focusing on routine aspects of your diet is far more helpful than the random menu item you happen to choose while on vacation! Many of my patients note early in the week flares. Sometimes this is triggered more by the red wine with a weekend dinner. If your rosacea is flaring early in the week but settles down through the week, focus on your weekend habits. If you start the week out great but feel like your skin spirals out of control during the week, take a good look at your routine habits during the week- such as excess coffee or caffeine, and lunch at work. Sometimes the issue is less diet and more stress related to incidents. This is worth keeping in mind if your flares are isolated to just a few days a month on your calendar but show no other signs of consistency.
Who is most likely to be affected by rosacea?
Although traditionally many people think of rosacea as primarily affecting people of Northern European ancestry, I would argue that it is under-diagnosed and flat-out missed in almost every other ethnicity. I routinely have patients of color that have seen numerous other doctors and had their diagnoses missed simply because their skin type did not show the classic “rosy cheeks” because it's not as apparent. As a dermatologist of color, I always worry that our resident physicians are not taught to look for other signs and symptoms of rosacea outside of rosy cheeks to accurately make a diagnosis. Most of my patients of color are only diagnosed with rosacea once it has become severe and potentially scarring. The key is to ask good questions and not just go by the visual appearance of the skin. Does your skin sting, burn, or feel warm to touch when you drink alcohol, eat spicy foods or are in stressful situations? Do you have breakouts that kind of look like acne but do not behave like acne- i.e., when you try to pop a pimple nothing comes out of it- just clear fluid AND it looks worse after?! Clinically the skin on the cheeks will start to have an “orange peel” look with the pores looking widened and somewhat thickened.
What is ocular rosacea?
Ocular rosacea is a form of rosacea that affects the eyes. It can affect about 50-70% of patients with rosacea. It may or may not be associated with rosacea of the skin. There is no specific diagnostic test for ocular rosacea. It is characterized by bloodshot eyes, excess dryness, gritty or foreign body sensation, itching, photophobia or fear of lights. Untreated ocular rosacea can result in eyelid and eye surface inflammation that can involve the cornea and even affect vision over time. The treatment of choice is oral doxycycline.
Why is it important to get early treatment for rosacea?
Rosacea can vary in its progression and appearance but for many its a chronic progressive disease. It can start with flushing or blushing that comes and goes, then this starts to stick around. As it fluctuates people struggle with their skin feeling oily but also flaky or dry. Classically they will say they put on moisturizer and an hour later their skin is flaky again. They can’t figure out if they should moisturize or dry out their skin! This turns into breakouts that look like acne but do not behave like acne (you go to pop a “pimple” but they don’t really come to a head- they just get angrier at you). This is followed by the skin starting to swell or thicken and taking on a p’eau d’orange or orange-peel skin appearance with widened patulous pores. If it continues then the skin can become even thicker and result in “phymatous” changes. This is the class “WC Fields” nose but can also occur on the chin, cheeks or forehead.
Early diagnosis and treatment are key to control the progression of this chronic disease! Ultimately the potential for scarring or at the very least permanent changes to the overall appearance of the skin can occur.
