Skincare & make up for Rosacea ??

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Particularly look at how much omega-3 (more especially EPA and DHA) and omega-6 (less of most except GLA) is in your diet, the vast majority of westerners have totally the wrong balance in their diet. Not only can these be incorporated into cell membranes and so affect the skin's barrier function, they also affect inflammation. Omega-3s are anti and most omega-6s being pro inflammatory: GLA in borage oil is the exception it is an omega-6 with anti inflammatory properties.

Oily fish are the best source of long chain omega-3s (DHA and EPA) also supplying vitamin D which many of us are low on in winter (normally made with sunlight exposure). Bioavailable vitamin D is important in skin health, infective conditions and possibly in rosacea. Secondary sources of long chain omega-3s are omega-enriched eggs, fish oils or marine algae extracts as a supplement but you may miss out on vitamin D with these. Omega-6s that you want to limit or balance are in certain nuts and seeds, many vegetable oils used in home or commercial cooking/ food products, wholegrains. So omega-6s are in far more everyday foods than long chain omega-3s.

Also plenty of women just don't eat enough healthy whole fats (avocado, olives, nuts, seeds, cocoa, block creamed coconut) full stop, or not a consistent intake of protein, aim for both little and often through the day starting at breakfast. These are the building blocks of cells and of hormones and cells of the immune system that play a role in skin health and inflammation.

Numerous vitamins and minerals are involved in healthy skin cell production and immune function, so look at your intake of low sugar fruits, non starchy vegetables (AT LEAST five a day in the full rainbow of colours) and mineral rich foods (beans, lentils, cocoa powder, nuts, seeds). Possible benefits from foods rich in certain antioxidant phytonutrients, particularly the polyphenols. Some find probiotics beneficial some have a negative response, although a lot of these seem to be mega dosing which is not the best idea unless you are medically supervised.

Last thing is to avoid or limit foods known or believed to encourage inflammation: omega-6s as before, sugar, higher glycaemic index carbs (wheat/ rice/ corn/ white potatoes), alcohol, caffeine, larger servings of meat, excess saturated fats, rosacea trigger foods generally (see charity sites). Official guidelines are for no more than 10% of daily calories as sugary/ fatty/ junk anyway.

Really much is the same balanced diet as for health of any tissue and for preventing other health complaints. It might seem like I have contradicted myself a little on the nuts and seeds it's about finding balance and picking the right nuts and seeds for your needs not eating omega-6 rich sunflower seeds regularly unless you do eat a lot of oily fish.

If you think you do have food triggers it's worth keeping a food diary because everyone is different. For example although I have mentioned cocoa it may be a problem for some - difficult to say as many will be eating it in the form of chocolate which is high in sugar and added fats. Ditto some fruit and veggies.

If you choose to take any supplements please run them past your doctor or dietician first.