Red Skin and Gut Health: Does Gut Health Affect Rosacea?

What is the redness on the skin called?

If you’ve noticed that sometimes your skin tends to be red, sensitive and inflamed around the area of your nose, cheeks, chin or forehead, it might be a sign of a skin condition called rosacea. Rosacea is a very common skin condition, which mainly affects different areas of the face, however, may also occur around the chest, back and neck area. It can also affect the skin around the eyes, which causes the eyes to feel irritated and appear red or watery.

What causes redness in the face?

One theory that explains the onset and development of rosacea suggests that rosacea may come as a result of a separate condition of the neurovascular system – a system in our bodies that controls and maintains the proper functioning of the veins, nerves and arteries in your body. It is hypothesized, that a microscopic skin mite called Dermodex, which populates your skin has been seen to be more abundant in those skin area that exhibits rosacea symptoms and thus, may be contributing to the condition.

Moreover, research has indicated that another reason for developing rosacea could be hidden in your genes, precisely, it is theorized that there is a genetic connection between rosacea and other, more serious general health conditions, such as cardiovascular and intestinal diseases, that trigger higher skin sensitivity and make your blood vessels more dilated. Moreover, the researchers have been able to identify the risk factors, knowing which will help you learn whether you are at risk for developing rosacea. If you have fair skin and have a history of rapid flushing, blushing and sudden skin flare-ups it might be an indication they are at a higher risk for the condition. If you are a woman, unfortunately, your chances of developing rosacea are higher than in men, however, in men affected by rosacea, the symptoms tend to be more severe than in women.

However, you should not be scared of this. Rosacea is a very common skin condition that most of the people diagnosed, report being diagnosed with around their 30s and which affects about 1 in 10 people in the UK and around 14 million people in the US, and most are not even aware of having it. While there is no definitive cure for rosacea yet, medical therapy is available to offer a number of solutions that would be in controlling or reversing the signs and the associated symptoms of rosacea.

Does gut health affect rosacea? What foods to avoid if you have rosacea?

The short answer is yes, gut health and gastrointestinal disorders have been linked to developing rosacea. While this is an unexpected assumption to follow, this blog will help you better understand and address the connection between your skin’s and your gut’s condition to achieve the desired results for both your skin and body’s overall health. According to experts, your microbiome has connections to your skin’s complexion and is thus the first thing to treat when struggling with rosacea.

They suggest reforming your diet and focusing on fibre-rich prebiotic foods and probiotic foods while excluding all processed sugars, refined flours, fizzy drinks, vegetable oils, as well as processed foods such as meats, and hydrogenated fats. That's because these products have high pro-inflammatory properties that are able to disturb your gut’s health and result in skin’s inflammation. Moreover, experts suggest cutting out alcohol, tobacco as well as heavy metals and pesticides, which are toxic to your microbiome and disturb its natural balance. All these factors play an important role in the development of rosacea and in the level of severity that rosacea persists with.

Nevertheless, ensuring your gut’s health will not necessarily get rid of all of the symptoms of the condition, as it is a complex disorder affected by other factors, such as your lifestyle and genes. This is why experts suggest you take a multidimensional approach to your skin’s health and combine a healthy diet and lifestyle with appropriate topical treatments for rosacea symptoms. Experts urge you to opt for gentle cleansers and moisturisers, that target your skin’s hydration levels and act by rebuilding your skin’s moisture barrier.

Is rosacea caused by leaky gut?

Leaky gut is a gastrointestinal disorder that is characterized by disturbance in the mechanism of the intestinal lining, which allows for large undigested particles, such as fats, proteins, bacteria, parasites and toxins to get into the bloodstream. Herein, the disturbance required to take place to set this condition may take on different forms, from chronic stress, poor sleeping patterns or infections to having an adverse reaction to a medication, such as aspirin, birth control medications, acidity reducing drugs, steroids and anti-depressants. This chain of events can lead to acute inflammation all over the body and severe autoimmune reactions as a result of the immune system being compromised by the presence of all the described toxic particles. Such disturbance affects the skin’s complexion and may be reflected in the development of such skin conditions as acne, psoriasis and rosacea.

What deficiencies cause rosacea?

As we have mentioned above, currently, there is no one definite answer to what causes individuals to develop rosacea, however, research shows that it is possible to identify certain deficiencies that are associated with the development of rosacea.

Vitamin B6 is an important compound for enzymatic reactions that are responsible for metabolizing lipids, glucose and certain amino acids. It has been shown that Vitamin B6 deficiency is associated with widening of the capillaries, signifying that supplementing Vitamin B6 in your diet to ensure you are getting enough of it would be instrumental in reducing rosacea symptoms. It should be taken with caution, however, as excessive intake of Vitamin B6 can lead to accumulation of the vitamin and result in neurotoxicity, which manifests itself in the numbness of hands and feet.

Moreover, if you tend to have mainly processed foods in your diet, that might mean that the microelements that produce enzymatic reactions and are essential for the proper functioning of your body could be removed from the foods. Lack of these microelements can result in enzyme activity deficiencies, which leads to inflammation of the organism and could be reflected in the state of your skin.

Hereby, if you are struggling with the condition you should check if you have enough selenium in your diet as selenium deficiency has been shown to affect blood vessel dilation, which results in the skin appearing red, inflamed or irritated and which is one of the symptoms of rosacea. What you can do is opt for selenium supplements, which would allow reducing some of the rosacea symptoms, precisely, visibly dilated blood vessel.

Another deficiency that might be one of the reasons you are struggling with rosacea is magnesium deficiency. Lack of magnesium has been shown to cause capillaries dilation, which brings on visible symptoms of rosacea and often could be an indication of other health condition. However, it is no reason to be worried, magnesium deficiency is a very common condition, found in around 15% of the world’s general population.

What is the best supplement for rosacea?

While there is a number of steps to take in the treatment of rosacea, including lifestyle and diet changes, you can help your body to accumulate the necessary vitamins and microelements by taking supplements. One supplement to try out when struggling with rosacea is Vitamin C, which is a potent antioxidant that has been shown to reduce skin’s inflammation and protect the skin from free radicals, which tend to be produced in excess when the skin is in persisting state of irritation. Typically, Vitamin C serums are suitable for all skin types and are safe to use even in presence of mild irritation.

Another supplement that has been shown to provide positive effects in the treatment of rosacea is zinc, which is a supplement that is generally used to boost one’s immune system, however, it has also been shown to be effective for rosacea patients. Findings from a double-blind study show that taking zinc supplements 3 times per day for the period of 3 months resulted in significantly reduced severity of rosacea. Precisely, subjects who have been taking zinc supplements reported a 75% decrease in rosacea severity, compared to the placebo group of people with rosacea, who have not been taking the supplement.

Likewise, the lack of magnesium, as we’ve mentioned above, has been linked to the development of rosacea. The number of magnesium supplies in our body reflects the state of your general health and bodily systems functioning, as it plays a major in a number of various processes in our body, such as regulation of muscle and nerve functioning, blood sugar levels as well as implemented in the formulation of proteins, bone marrow and DNA. In order to ensure that the supply of magnesium in your body is sufficient, it is recommended to increase the intake of such foods like leafy greens, beans and potatoes. Of course, you would have to eat a lot of those foods to increase your magnesium levels, which is why magnesium supplements are another option. Magnesium supplements help avoid further excess dilation of the blood vessels, which is one of the main symptoms in rosacea, as well as allow to support the proper functioning of your body.

As we have outlined before, microbial imbalance in the gut (also known as dysbiosis) often is the reason for poor skin quality, inflammation and other general health conditions. Unfortunately, dysbiosis is a more common condition than you might think, which can occur as a result of poor diet practices, disturbed sleep patterns, antibiotic medication or alcohol consumption.

The best tips for calming redness skin

Throughout our life, we might experience red skin at some point or another. Experts suggest to avoid harsh scrubs or peels and focus on choosing gentle and soothing products, such as products containing niacinamide, sulfur, aloe, allantoin, chamomile and cucumber, which can calm the skin and reduce redness. It is also suggested to check your skincare routine to make sure there aren’t any active ingredients in the products of your choice that might trigger allergic reactions and excluding all non-essential products, such as make-up, to see whether the redness on your skin is a result of using a specific product.

It is also important to always consult with a professional if you’re noticing unfamiliar skin symptoms, as professional dermatologists would be able to identify the cause of the symptoms you’re experiencing and provide you with a correct diagnosis that would require appropriate treatment. Some of the options for treatment of rosacea may come in the form of over-the-counter topical treatments, while other treatments, such as oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory creams may require a prescription from your physician.

All in all, red skin can often come and go without a specific reason and is not necessarily a warning sign of more serious underlying conditions. However, if you notice that redness skin appears to be persistent and is accompanied by other symptoms or painful sensations, it is best to avoid self-medicine and consult with a dermatologist.