﻿ Rosacea Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What are rosacea triggers? Is there a rosacea diet? What foods are good for rosacea? - MedicineNet

Rosacea (cont.)

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While not all rosacea people are exactly the same, there are some common rosacea triggers. Avoiding these potential triggers may also help relieve symptoms and disease flares. It may be helpful to keep a personal diary of foods and other triggers that flare rosacea symptoms.

Smoking, spicy foods, hot drinks, and alcohol may cause flushing and should be avoided. Exposure to sunlight and to extreme hot and cold temperatures should be limited as much as possible. Red wine and chocolate are two well-known rosacea triggers. Some listed foods may have no effect on one patient's rosacea but severely affect someone else. Individual reaction patterns vary greatly in rosacea. Therefore, a food diary may help to elucidate one's special triggers.

Possible rosacea dietary triggers include

  • dairy, including yogurt, sour cream, cheese (except cottage cheese);
  • alcohol, including red wine, beer, vodka, gin, bourbon, and champagne;
  • chocolate;
  • soy sauce;
  • yeast extract;
  • eggplants, avocados, spinach;
  • some beans and pods, including lima, navy or peas;
  • citrus fruits, including tomatoes, bananas, red plums, raisins, or figs;
  • spicy and temperature hot foods.

Potent cortisone or steroid medications on the face should be avoided because they can promote widening of the tiny blood vessels of the face (telangiectasis). Some patients experience severe rosacea flares after prolonged use of topical steroids.

Vasodilator pills can also flare rosacea. Vasodilators include certain blood pressure medications like nitrates, calcium channel blockers (such as nifedipine [Procardia]), and thiazide diuretics (such as Dyazide).

These potential triggers are found in many skin cleansers and should be avoided in rosacea.

  • Alcohol
  • Witch hazel
  • Peppermint
  • Eucalyptus oil
  • Clove oil
  • Fragrance
  • Menthol
  • Salicylic acid

Foods that decrease rosacea flares include less spicy meals, nonalcoholic cool beverages, caffeine-free drinks, nondairy cheese, and thermally cooler meals.

Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 2/18/2015

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