“Rosacea Foods” is an interesting term because it has been coined to describe both foods to avoid as well as those foods you should consume as an essential part of an effective rosacea skin care regime.
Rosacea is a chronic and persistent condition that affects a person’s skin, primarily the facial area. The condition is often characterized by the inflammation and redness of the face. Some of the symptoms include the development and growth of small red bumps or pustules on the person’s cheeks, chin, forehead and nose. Most of the time, these red bumps are mistaken as pimples by many people. There are also instances wherein small, spider-like blood vessels develop on the face while the nose becomes red and bulbous. People who have rosacea feel a burning or stinging sensation in the face.
The culprit behind the development of rosacea among people is still unknown, but the skin condition seems to run in families. Rosacea is more commonly seen among people with Celtic family background or descendants of families from Northern Europe, especially those with fair complexions.
If you have rosacea, know that there are numerous factors that appear to contribute to the dilating of the blood vessels in your skin, and worsen rosacea’s symptoms. One of the most important factor you need to consider is the person’s diet.
Rosacea Foods and Drinks to Avoid
While not all people suffering from rosacea are the same, there are still common rosacea triggers you need to take note of. It is recommended you avoid these potential triggers in order to alleviate symptoms and flare-ups. Some of the things you need to avoid are hot drinks, spicy foods, and alcohol. It is also important you avoid exposing yourself to sunlight and extreme cold temperatures.
Here are some of the foods that you should consider avoiding if you are suffering from rosacea. Bear in mind that different people have different sensitivities to these substances, so the trick is to be observant and test to see what your own rosacea triggers might be – and avoid the ones that cause breakouts. The following list has been compiled from patient histories and is therefore typical of a broad range of rosacea experiences.
- Alcoholic drinks such as red wine, beer, bourbon, champagne, gin and vodka
- Caffeinated beverages such as coffee or tea
- Avocados, eggplants and spinach
- Yeast extracts and other related products
- Some beans and pods such as Lima and peas
- Citrus fruits like bananas, figs, raisins, red plums or tomatoes
- Spicy foods and seasonings such black or white pepper, cayenne, paprika and red pepper
Spicy foods are known to trigger rosacea. Therefore, you need to avoid food that contains black, red or white pepper, cayenne or paprika. There are other types of spices you can use as substitutes such as basil, cumin, cinnamon, coriander, marjoram, oregano or thyme. There is no need for you to sacrifice the flavor of the food, but you just need to avoid these trigger spices which are known to cause flushing.
You also need to avoid drinking alcohol as it worsens rosacea. Alcohol beverages such as beer and red wine contain histamines which trigger rosacea symptoms. As much as possible, try to limit your intake of alcohol to reduce the frequency of your rosacea flare-ups or you can quit drinking alcohol altogether.
Hot foods and beverages can also aggravate rosacea. However, that does not mean that you need to change your diet altogether by shifting to a cold temperate food diet. You can institute a few changes such as waiting for your food or drink to cool down before eating or drinking.
There are also a few fruits and vegetables high in histamines. Some of these you need to avoid include but not limited to avocados, eggplant, spinach and tomatoes. According to the National Rosacea Foundation, people suffering from rosacea also need to avoid citrus fruits such as bananas and red plums to avoid flare-ups. Chocolate and vanilla are also known to be rosacea triggers. Other dairy products that trigger the said skin condition include sour cream and yoghurt. In the event that you find any of these foods cause a rosacea flare-up, it is recommended to eliminate them from your daily diet.
Balanced Rosacea Foods and Diet Plan
According to medical experts, having a balanced diet can help alleviate rosacea flare-ups. The best diet for rosacea sufferers is an alkaline diet. Here are some of the things you need to remember when going on alkaline diet:
- Eat more non-citrus fruits and green vegetables. The quantity of fruits and vegetables you need to intake need to outweigh all other foods in your diet plan.
- Drink plenty of clean water every day.
- Make sure you get enough nutrients.
- Don’t eat too many fatty foods.
Final Thoughts
It is important to remember that there is no one exhaustive diet intended for those with rosacea. There are those saying their rosacea flare-ups intensified when they consumed foods like beans, spinach and vinegar. On the other hand, there are those who ate citrus fruits, chocolates and cheese which triggered their rosacea. This means that you need to tailor your diet based on your own condition.
The best way to go about your rosacea diet is to stick to a healthy and balanced diet regimen. You need to keep a detailed journal of your meals for you to effectively keep track of the food and ingredients that cause flare-ups. Also, you need to keep in mind that there are other elements outside of the food you take that can trigger rosacea symptoms and provide you the misconception of blaming the food for the flare-up. Too much exposure to UV rays from the sunlight, humidity, stress and skin products are just some of the contributing factors to rosacea. If you want to know more about your condition and what dietary regimen to follow, you need to speak to your doctor before doing anything. Your doctor knows best about your medical history and they know what to recommend to you.
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