The Best and Worst Foods for Rosacea

What foods can help calm skin, plus what to skip to avoid a rosacea flare-up.

People who struggle with rosacea know that not all triggers are the same.

In fact, not all rosacea looks the same.

While there is no rosacea diet, certain foods can help quell symptoms, while others can exacerbate them.

What Is Rosacea?

There is a variety of oral and topical medications that can help alleviate symptoms.

Gentle, consistent skin care can play a vital role in helping manage rosacea.

Additionally, identifying and managing lifestyle and environmental factors that may trigger a flare-up is important.

These foods can help cut down on inflammation and may aid in keeping flare-ups at bay.

Inflammation is a key contributor to how rosacea presents itself.

Whether it’s feeling flushed, redness or bumps and pimples, you might have inflammation to thank.

Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, is anti-inflammatory.

Cruciferous vegetablesare plants in the Brassica genus.

This includes lots ofEatingWellfavorites like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale and more.

Think pretty much any deep green, leafy veg.

Their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds may help you keep flare-ups in check.

Omega-3 fats are crucial for heart health, brain health and overall health.

Unfortunately,most Americans don’t get enoughomega-3 fats on a regular basis.

Omega-3s, particularly those found in seafood, are helpful for the skin because of their anti-inflammatory effects.

You need a mix of both probiotic and prebiotic nutrients to support gut function.

A 2021 study inFrontiers in Microbiologysuggests that rosacea is associated with disturbances of the gut.

Probiotic-rich fermented foods like kimchi, kefir and miso are important to include for ahealthy gutas well.

Triggers for a flare-up can often include food.

Here are some foods to avoid to cut down on your risk of a flare-up.

That said, not all alcohol can affect your skin in the same way.

Some people have found that beer does not cause flare-ups like other types of alcohol might.

This could be due to theanti-inflammatory compounds found in hopsthat are used to brew beer.

This leaves the skin looking flushed and can even cause inflammatory bumps and pimples.

Unfortunately, cinnamaldehyde can be a trigger for people with rosacea.

Additionally, the added sugar in chocolate can lead to inflammation throughout the body, including in the skin.

In fact, dark chocolate boasts some impressive health benefits likeimproving heart health and boosting mental sharpness.

But it is worth paying attention to see if it is a trigger for you.

However, there are some inflammation-fighting foods that can help you keep flare-ups and symptoms in check.

If you have questions about the right management approach for you, talk to your doctor or dermatologist.