Clear up rosacea with diet - Ask the experts: answers to your questions from the leaders in natural medicine

Natural Health, May-June, 2003

Rosacea showed up on my cheeks recently and I'd like to treat it naturally. What should I do?

JOSEPH E. PIZZORNO JR., N.D., REPLIES: Rosacea, a type of inflammation, causes the skin on your nose and cheeks to appear red and flushed. Try the following four supplement and diet suggestions. You should notice a significant improvement in two or three months, and occasional flare-ups should heal much more quickly if you continue the dietary changes I recommend.

1. Aid Your Stomach. Take 10 grains (600 mg) of hydrochloric acid with each meal, because many people with rosacea don't produce enough of this acid in their stomachs. A lack of hydrochloric acid kicks off a chain reaction that can result in redness and flushing. You can buy hydrochloric acid at natural food stores. Reduce your dose by half if your skin clears or if you have stomach discomfort. Since supplementing helps your body produce more of its own hydrochloric acid, after three or four months you should no longer need to take hydrochloric acid supplements.

2. Eat Beneficial Fats. Consume foods rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which can calm rosacea-related inflammation. Aim for four servings per week of cold-water fish like halibut, herring, mackerel, salmon, and sardines. For more information about choosing the best fish, see "How to Shop for Heart-Healthy Fish," page 68. Or, if you are vegetarian, take 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily by the spoonful or drizzled on salads. If you don't see improvement in two to three months, take pancreatic enzyme supplements. Many people with rosacea have a deficiency in a pancreatic enzyme that helps digest omega-3 and other fats. Begin by taking 350 mg of a non-enteric-coated pancreatic enzyme product with a potency of 10X USP three times per day immediately before meals. If you don't notice any improvement within several days, you can increase your dosage by 100 mg every four days until your skin starts to clear or you reach 1,000 mg. You can stop taking the en zymes when your skin clears, but continue consuming the fish or flaxseed oil. If your skin begins to flare up again, start taking the enzymes.

3. Go Easy on Meat. Limit your consumption of meat and poultry to one serving a week, and when you eat dairy, choose only fat-free products. All animal products contain an acid that your body converts to inflammation-promoting substances. Fat-free dairy contains less of this acid.

4. Avoid Troublesome Foods. Reduce your consumption of alcohol, hot beverages, and spicy foods because they may cause flushing. Completely avoid red wine and aged cheese (which can also trigger flushing) until your skin clears. Once your skin improves, you may be able to consume small amounts of red wine and aged cheese without causing a flare-up.

Try This

Drink at least eight 8-ounces glasses of filtered water daily to help your body get rid of chemicals from the foods that may trigger rosacea flare-ups.