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Rosacea

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Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin disorder in which the cheeks, chin, forehead or nose are abnormally red and may be covered with bumps or pimples. Other signs include small visible blood vessels on the face and watery or irritated eyes. As bumps and pimples are common, rosacea can look similar to acne. However, unlike acne the inflammation with rosacea is vascular in nature - blood vessels in the face tend to dilate too easily, which makes the skin appear red and flushed.

Causes

The exact cause of rosacea is poorly understood. Possible factors include :

• An abnormal immune or inflammatory response
• Food allergies
• Vitamin B deficiencies
• Zinc deficiency - zinc is essential for the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Alcoholism
• Microscopic skin mites called Demodex folliculoum
• Sun damage of the connective tissue under the skin
• Menopausal flushing
• Psychological factors

Nutritional factors to consider

• Avoidance of stimuli that exasperate it e.g. hot liquids, alcohol, spicy food
• Assessment for hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid). Gastric analysis shows many patients with rosacea sufferer from hypochlorhydria and benefit from digestive support^{1 2}
• Possible pancreatic enzyme supplementation³
• Avoidance of intolerant foods

Possible laboratory tests

• Comprehensive digestive stool analysis for indications of pancreatic function
• Food intolerance including gluten
• Assessment for Helicobacter pylori which can be an underlying cause of low stomach acid⁴
• Sodium bicarbonate test for hypochlorhydria