The Link Between Eating Spicy Foods and Rosacea

When choosing between food that’s mild or spicy, many choose the latter. Studies show that nearly 75% of Americans report adding hot sauce to the majority of their meals. Plus, more and more restaurants are adding increasingly spicy foods to their menus.

Unfortunately, when you’re living with rosacea, spicy foods can often cause this skin condition to rear its ugly head. Almost 50% of people living with rosacea report that flaming hot foods trigger symptom flare-ups.

Because spicy foods so often bring on symptoms for people living with rosacea, our team of dermatologists at Integrated Dermatology of 19th Street in Washington, DC, wants you to understand why spicy foods so commonly trigger this skin condition and what to do about it.

Why does spicy food make rosacea flare up?

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes symptoms such as flushing, skin irritation, and pimples. The most likely cause of these symptoms is continual inflammation of your blood vessels, leading them to become dilated and more visible. 

Different things can trigger blood vessel inflammation and lead to more aggressive flushing and skin irritation. The more often this happens, the worse your rosacea can become.

Spicy food contains an ingredient called capsaicin. The hotter the food, the more capsaicin it contains. Capsaicin triggers blood vessel dilation and allows blood and heat to rush to your face. This heat-giving ingredient in spicy food also stimulates nerves around your blood vessels which can be triggering when you have rosacea.  

What is the solution?

The simplest solution to avoid rosacea flare-ups due to spicy foods is to give them up altogether. But if you’re a spicy food lover, and that would be hard for you to do, start by trying out milder options first. It may be enough to keep rosacea symptoms at bay, but if it’s not, dietary adjustments might be inevitable. 

Other common triggers for rosacea include:

• Alcohol, especially red wine
• Hot beverages such as tea or coffee
• Overexposure to the sun
• Exercise 
• Extreme temperatures
• Stress

Avoiding these other rosacea triggers can help reduce flare-ups, especially if spicy foods are too tempting for you. You can also try out some skin creams, oral antibiotics, or even laser treatment if your rosacea is still severe.

See us for next-level rosacea care

If avoiding spicy food or other common triggers isn’t enough to manage your rosacea, our team can help you identify your specific triggers and also recommend some of the treatments we offer to more effectively treat your rosacea flare-ups.

Schedule an appointment with our team by calling our office or using our online booking feature today.