Rosacea is a fairly common skin problem that affects almost 5% of the total population. It can affect people from 20 to 40 years of age. Typically, it starts in your early teens and then you have to deal with it for the rest of your life, unless you make a drastic change in your lifestyle or undergo professional rosacea treatment. There are many over-the-counter medications that claim to treat rosacea, but many doctors suggest that these medications don’t work.

A holistic approach

You should find a doctor who takes a holistic approach when it comes to treating rosacea rather than pushing you towards a specific treatment. This is what you will be asked to do:

• Make certain changes in your lifestyle; avoid certain foods and incorporate some others.

• Ask your doctor for certain medications to control the signs and symptoms.

• Treat your allergies; are the most important steps when treating rosacea.

• Ask your dermatologist to recommend certain lotions and creams.

Signs and symptoms

A tomato red face is considered the most common symptom of rosacea, but there are many other symptoms that people often overlook. Here are all the symptoms to look out for:

• Redness in the center of the face; mainly nose and cheeks

• Visibility of broken blood vessels, also known as spider veins.

• Swelling of the skin and a slight tingling sensation on the skin.

• Extremely sensitive skin; Observe how your skin reacts to the sun, skin care products, and sweat.

• Extremely dry and itchy skin

• Oily skin and breakouts

• Uneven skin texture and enlarged pores.

• Dishes; also known as raised patches of skin

• Crying eyes; itchy, red and slight pain in the eyes

Keep in mind that not all symptoms need to be present at once. Some people only experience skin redness combined with one or two other symptoms. It’s important to watch out for them and treat the condition before it gets worse.

Foods to Avoid

Diet plays an important role when it comes to having great skin. It is also important to eat healthy as rosacea can come back if you eat certain foods. A nutritionist can better guide you in this regard, but here is a list of foods that you should avoid at all costs;

Foods that trigger allergies

If you have any type of food allergy or any particular allergy, avoid the foods that cause or trigger it, as they can also make your rosacea symptoms worse. The most common foods that trigger allergies are gluten, shellfish, dairy, and some nuts in particular. Get tested, and then avoid allergy-causing foods at all costs. Fortunately, nowadays, we have alternatives for everything. The markets are flooded with vegan meat and cheesecakes. Keep an eye out for those and you’ll never miss the old foods.

Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages

Alcohol is bad for health and skin. If you want smooth, itch-free skin, avoid alcohol. The same goes for coffee and tea. I know they are addictive and you cannot imagine your life without drinking a hot cup of coffee or tea in the morning. But if you really want to get rid of red, bumpy and itchy skin, you have to get rid of your bad habits little by little.

Processed foods are a big no no!

Processed foods contain tons of chemicals and preservatives. Sugar and condoms are the worst things you can put in your body if you’re fighting rosacea. Limit sugary foods, stick to natural sugars like fruits and fruit juices. There are many natural sugar alternatives. Try to cook your food at home and avoid instant noodles and packaged sandwiches.

Fried food

Fried foods are not healthy. Easy peasy! There’s a reason nutritionists forbid you from eating fried chicken and French fries. It is extremely unhealthy for your immune system; it makes you gain weight, slows down your metabolic rate, and causes rosacea.

Avoid these foods and you will definitely see a significant improvement in your skin. However, it is important to visit a dermatologist as soon as you start to see rosacea symptoms.