Dear Doctor
Almost a year ago my skin started to get really bad. At first my pharmacist thought it was acne so she gave me acid to use for at least 2 months.
It obviously didn’t help at all so I decided to take an intolerance test. I am now aware of all my food intolerances and I’m avoiding all the foods I’m intolerant to.
The problem is that my skin isn’t getting any better. My cheeks are covered in red spots. They’re not pimples or blemishes, just small dots all over them. I don’t know what to do to get rid of them, it’s been a year and my face just got worse.
Dear Patient
This is Papulopustular Rosacea.
Foods that Trigger Rosacea
In addition to avoiding the foods you are intolerant to, watch skin’s reaction to the following foods that trigger rosacea and avoid them if you find that they worsen it:
Alcoholic drinks like red wine, beer, bourbon, gin, vodka and champagne
Spicy hot foods
Thermally hot beverages like hot coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate, hot cider and hot soups
Fruits like citrus fruits, bananas, red plums, raisins and figs
Marinated meats
Vegetables
Dairy products like yogurt and sour cream
Legumes like broad-leaf beans and their pods, lima beans, navy beans and peas
Histamine rich foods like cheese (except cottage cheese), eggplant, spinach, vinegar and soy sauce
Organ meats like liver
Chocolate
Vanilla
Yeast extract
Tomatoes
Treatment of Mild Rosacea
The treatment of rosacea includes:
Avoiding triggers
Therefore identify your triggers and avoid them.
Use mild cleansers
Use mild, non-irritating cleansers to clean the face with lukewarm water. Examples include Eucerin Redness Relief Soothing Facial Cleanser for rosacea.
Apply medications
After cleansing, the face should be patted dry with a soft towel. Rosacea treatment medications should then be applied. These include:
- Metronidazole gel (Metrogel)
- Clindamycin solution (Cleocin T)
- Topical immunomodulators like Tacrolimus (Protopic)
Apply SPF 30 sunscreen
Broad spectrum sunscreens (which offer protection from UVA and UVB rays) and which should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 should be applied every day at least 5 minutes after the rosacea medication.
Wide brimmed sun hats and sunglasses should also be worn when out in the sun. In addition, sun avoidance should also be encouraged to minimize sun exposure when it is brightest which is usually from around 10 am to 4 pm.
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