The Rosacea Diet: What to Eat (and Avoid) for Calm, Happy Skin

PHOTO: 

Love and Lemons

It's thought that one in 10 people suffer with rosacea in the UK, but the crazy thing is many of them don't know it. What's even more troubling is that like acne, rosacea often gives way to lack of self-confidence, according to 90% of patients in a survey. Some 51% of respondents had even said that they missed work because of the condition. While rosacea can be emotionally debilitating and currently has no cure, there are steps you can take to diminish its appearance, starting with (most importantly) your diet.

Many foods and drinks trigger the inflammatory response brought on by the condition, like flare-ups, redness, dilated blood vessels, and thickening of the skin. Thus, we tapped the brains of Ayurvedic expert Shrankhla Holecek of UMA Oils; Elizabeth Tanzi, founder and director of Capital Laser & Skin Care (who also happens to have rosacea); and Michele J. Farber of Schweiger Dermatology Group to figure out which foods are best for individuals with rosacea (and which to avoid). Keep reading for their tips.

ROSACEA TRIGGERS: FOODS TO AVOID

• Pungent or sour vegetables like tomatoes, hot peppers, carrots, beets, eggplant, onions, radishes, and spinach
• Drinks such as alcohol and hot coffee or tea, which can dilate blood vessels and contribute to facial redness
• Foods that release histamine, such as citrus fruits
• Sugars and starches, which, Tanzi says, cause her bumps and redness
• Warming spices like ginger, cumin, black pepper, fenugreek, and cloves (each causes an anti-inflammatory response)
• Beef
• Seafood

FOODS TO EAT IF YOU SUFFER FROM ROSACEA

• Bland vegetables like asparagus, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, pumpkins, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, okra, lettuce, green beans, and zucchini
• Soothing spices like coriander, cardamom, saffron and fennel
• Salmon: Omega-3s are a superfood for anti-inflammation and are incredible for decreasing redness
• Goat cheese: A good source of protein but easy to digest and acts as an anti-inflammatory
• Turkey or chicken, in moderation
• Fish
• Non-citrus fruits like grapes, melons, and mango
• Turmeric
• Ghee, an Indian clarified butter that aids in proper immune system function

As a whole, Holecek recommends eating a diet made up of 25% to 35% fresh vegetables, 25% to 35% protein (like tofu, tempeh, cottage cheese, egg whites and white meat), and the remaining percentage of the following grains: oats, sprouted wheat bread, barley, granola, amaranth, cooked oats, white rice and tapioca. Farber adds that low-sugar foods as well as complex carbohydrates are helpful to the skin while high-glycemic foods, refined sugars and foods high in saturated fats can be triggers for the inflammation of acne and rosacea.

Tanzi's favourite meal for her rosacea is what she calls a salmon asparagus roll-up: "For skin purposes, it's amazing because the salmon is anti-inflammatory, the goat cheese is easy to digest, and the whole thing is low-carb, which is helpful for anyone with acne or rosacea. It's an all-around winner." To make it, sauté 2 tablespoons of shallots and 1/4 cup of chopped asparagus in olive oil. Mix with 4 ounces of fresh chèvre (goat cheese) with salt and pepper to taste. Take the filling and place equal dollops in thin, sushi-grade salmon slices, and roll. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.