Select a treatment to
get started

The Rosacea Diet: 4 Food Categories You May Want To Avoid

Read on

Studies show that there may be a closer link to diet and gastrointestinal health and rosacea than was previously thought.

In one Danish cohort study, almost 50,000 people with rosacea were compared with the general population, and it was discovered that rosacea patients had a significantly higher prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders than those without Rosacea.

The National Rosacea Society surveyed over 400 people to see how many have changed their diet to help manage their rosacea symptoms. Of those surveyed, 78% altered their diets for their rosacea, and 95% percent of those that adjusted diets reported a reduction in rosacea flares.

In this article, we will cover which foods and food categories have been found to be rosacea triggers for some rosacea patients.

1. Heat-Related Rosacea Triggers

Hot beverages can commonly be reported Rosacea triggers, and include the following:

  • Hot Coffee
  • Hot Tea

One study examining the link between rosacea and diet found about 30% of rosacea patients report these beverages to be triggers for them.

If you find that these tend to have a negative effect on your rosacea, but don’t want to give up your morning caffeine buzz, you can try switching to an iced or cold brew coffee or tea to see if that lessens any rosacea flares.

2. Alcohol-Related Rosacea Triggers

For many, alcohol can be a strong rosacea trigger including:

  • Wine
  • Liquor
  • Other alcoholic beverages

This is likely due to alcohol’s effect of dilating the vessels under the skin.

Stronger alcoholic beverages may be more triggering for rosacea than weaker options.

One study reports 52% of surveyed rosacea sufferers react to wine, and about 42% react to liquor-containing beverages.

3. Capsaicin-Related Rosacea Triggers

Capsaicin is an active chemical compound found mainly in peppers.

And while for some capsaicin delivers a pleasing sensation of heat, those with rosacea may experience flare-ups when they consume capsaicin-containing foods.

You can often find capsaicin in the following items:

  • Chili peppers (almost all kinds)
  • Hot sauce
  • Salsa
  • Chili powder
  • Paprika

Some other “spicy” foods that may cause rosacea flare-ups but do not necessarily contain capsaicin include:

  • Black pepper
  • Red pepper
  • White pepper
  • Ginger

4. Cinnamaldehyde-Related Rosacea Triggers

Cinnamaldehyde is the chemical responsible for that classic cinnamon smell.

While this scent is pleasing to most, it can cause unpleasant rosacea flare-ups in some.

Surprisingly, the foods which contain cinnamaldehyde are not normally thought of as being related or similar at all.

Cinnamaldehyde containing foods include:

  • Cinnamon
  • Chocolate
  • Tomatoes
  • Citrus

Bonus Tip: Rosacea Journal

Keep in mind that not all rosacea patients react the same way to all of these categories, some may react to all, some, or none of the items mentioned above.

However, it may be beneficial to know that these items may be rosacea triggering for some and start a rosacea journal.

When you have a rosacea flare-up, you can notate which foods and beverages you recently consumed to see if you notice any patterns.

This may help you identify foods that are problematic for your rosacea and help you avoid these triggering items in the future.

Our Strut Rosacea Formula

Once you know which foods and beverages may be problematic for you, you can pair your rosacea trigger-avoiding diet with our physician and pharmacist formulated Strut Rosacea Formula.

Our Rosacea Formula pairs multiple evidence-based prescription-only medications into one easy cream to help you with your rosacea flares on a daily basis.

Schedule an Online Visit with our doctors today to see if Strut Rosacea Formula is a good fit for you (in addition to your new rosacea diet).

If you are a good candidate for Rosacea Formula, we can ship your prescription cream directly to your front door.

Free shipping
Free follow-up care
Cancel anytime, no fees
Free online MD visit

Related posts