What are triggers for rosacea and how can food and stress cause it?

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is considered an adult skin condition that can be similar to acne.  The condition can affect the blood vessels and many times pimples are also in this area.  Rosacea creates a red area on the skin surface because the tiny pimples are infected, causing a spread of redness over the cheek areas on the face. This condition is below the skin surface. It can also affect the neck and chest area as well. 

People who are more susceptible to flushing or blush easily, are more prone to having the condition—not necessarily someone who has more pimple outbreaks than others. Just because you had acne as a young adult, doesn’t mean you’re going to deal with rosacea later on. 

Vascular issues, hormonal changes, fair skin and other health conditions leading to rosacea

There are different issues that can cause it to develop and they are categorized into four conditions.  Flushing, vascular issues, inflammatory, and nose related.  There can also be eye issues caused by rosacea on the face and can affect the eyeball.  This condition needs to be properly diagnosed because it stems from below the skin surface.  Inflammation that is severe can cause swelling in the face.

The condition cannot be cured, but there are remedies and treatment options for it. The condition can be life-long and be more problematic at certain times such as hormonal changes, certain chronic health conditions like gut or autoimmune problems can cause it to start.  Also, people who have fair skin, and women who are middle aged are prone to the condition.

Rosacea is broken down into four types:

• Prerosacea (could happen due to severe flushing or blushing on the face)
• Vascular rosacea (this is the swelling of blood vessels under the facial skin, leading to swollen, warm skin; quite common in women)
• Inflammatory rosacea (this kind can form pimples and enlarged blood vessels on the face)
• Rhinophyma (glands that become large in the cheeks and nose—this usually affects men, but can affect women too; bulbous red nose)

Diet is very important for immune system and skin health.  It is essential for rosacea to improve along with any other treatment plan.  For many who suffer from rosacea, reducing stress levels can reduce flushing—one of the main kinds of the condition.  Also, by trying our PurClarity Revitalizing Mist spray to help reduce bacteria on your face, rid of pimples and improve your overall skin health.  The mist is an outstanding, non-toxic way, you can help improve your skin care at home without causing more damage from dryness, infections, wounds that won’t heal and anything causing your skin to be unhealthy. 

When people are stressed, sometimes they stress consume food or, stress eat.  You might just be consuming foods that don’t agree with you.  These could be a trigger for your skin to start flushing and outbreaks on the face that can lead to develop rosacea.

Kinds of food categories that can cause rosacea

According to NIH, there are a variety of foods which can attribute to a rosacea outbreak on someone’s face.

• Alcohol (too much of it, not occasional wine or beer)
• Spicy foods (chili, some salsas, hot sauces)
• Foods containing: Cinnamaldehyde like: tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate, hot drinks
• Histamine foods like: aged cheese, wine, processed meats

Alcohol raises your blood pressure and this can make your face flushed.  If you are an alcohol abuser and drink frequently—this could lead to rosacea outbreaks.  Too much alcohol consumption can also lead to poor GI health.  This is another attack on the immune system, which can cause skin issues to erupt.

Spice foods can help GI health in certain amounts—it’s an overload of them you want to worry about.  Anytime you consume spicy foods you can become hot, flushed and this can contribute to rosacea appearing on your face. Too many spicy foods can also cause gastritis or other kinds of gut damage and can lead to skin problems of any kind.  While spicy foods can be a tool for weight loss it can also contribute to your immune function pushing out toxins which can create rash areas and other skin conditions that could lead to a rosacea, but might not be a chronic condition.

Foods that contain cinnamaldehyde and histamines are also contributors to skin problems such as rosacea because they make inflammation levels in the body rise.  Too many of these kinds of foods can cause someone to develop heart issues, diabetes type II, autoimmune issues, among other kinds of conditions that can be lifelong.  Eating proper amounts of foods that don’t create a high level of inflammation is the key to improving skin health and GI health.   

Talking to dietitian about a good food plan for your body, is where you should start.  Then you’ll be able to freely consume a variety of foods and limit your chances of developing rosacea.

Your doctor should be checking C-reactive protein and other inflammatory markers to better understand the inflammation rate in your body.  Other symptoms and signs of GI issues and skin issues should be reported to better understand what other blood work you might need to understand rosacea or any skin health issue, for that matter.

While taking a Benadryl might help calm down a histamine response (initially, this isn’t for a long-term use), or (getting a shot of epinephrine) consuming foods like grapes or blueberries can lower inflammation.  These fruits are higher in quercetin which is great for allergies and lowering inflammatory responses in the body and the level it is presently.

How does stress trigger rosacea?

When someone is stressed, they have increased blood pressure.  This can make your face flushed and cause rosacea.  Of course, a small amount of stress that is positive can attribute good things to the body.  It only becomes an issue if it is chronic stress from fear, a medical issue or something causing negative stress and impact on the body. 

Stress can trigger rosacea because of the sympathetic nervous system being activated when something stressful happens to an individual.  Through studies, it is apparent that those who have rosacea could have a parasympathetic nervous system related issue.  This makes the individual more prone to development of rosacea.  These folks get more nervous than others.  Mental health counseling might help these people improve their blood pressure and anxiety, but this should never be the only form of treatment, as it is affecting their physical body as well; the skin.

Different ways you can reduce stress to improve skin health

There are many ways to help reduce stress.  By walking, jogging, breathing techniques, watching a sit-com, playing with children or pets, reading a book, eating a healthy food you love (not over-eating), talking to a significant other or your best friend—all kinds of positive ways to reduce stress and induce relaxation. 

An extremely healthy way to reduce stress however is to exercise—walk or jog or do some other exercise routine to help relieve stress in your life and doing it as a group can be highly beneficial as well.  A good cardio plan is essential.  When you briskly walk, you can immediately help reduce stress levels by improving blood pressure, improving circulation, and over some time if you keep up with walking a few miles each week, you can improve your weight.  All of this leads to better immune function and skin health.

Improving weight means lessening your chances of developing type II diabetes.  Diabetes of any kind can cause multiple skin issues like eczema, pimples, psoriasis, and even contribute to rosacea conditions.

Even if you know, connect with a dermatologist and get diagnosed

With any medical condition, you of course want a proper diagnosis from a licensed medical professional.  Talking to your dermatologist and your primary care physician is essential.  Sometimes people get simple rashes on their face, or have an outbreak due to something fleeting—but also they could mistake a butterfly rash with rosacea. A true butterfly rash can indicate an issue with your thyroid and has nothing to do with rosacea.  You would need a further examine and blood work done at an endocrinologist visit.