Since being diagnosed almost 10 years ago, I've tried everything to ease the redness. Prescription meds, OTC creams, cleansers, gels. You name it. I've tried it.
I've kept detailed food and beauty journals, chronicling everything from what I ate and drank to what products I applied to my face. I've eliminated common triggers such as spicy foods, red wine, tomato sauce, and caffeine.
I've followed all the advice of my dermatologist, but to no avail. Ten years later, and my redness is still prevalent. It's incredibly frustrating still having to deal with this after 10 years of putting so much effort into trying to control it.
Finally, I decided to take matters into my own hands and do some research on my own. I scoured the Internet for everything I could find about a possible link between gluten and rosacea. I discovered that gluten is often a culprit for aggravating rosacea and causing flareups. While there isn't much scientific proof to back this up, there have been plenty of people who have eliminated gluten from their diets and have had success with calming and controlling their rosacea.
It has never been easier to eliminate gluten from our diets. Many restaurants cater to the gluten-free population, and there's a wide variety of gluten-free products available that are suitable substitutes for their gluten counterparts.
I decided to do a gluten-free eating experiment. I am going gluten-free for 2-3 weeks to see if it makes any difference in my face. I have read that protein in gluten can linger in your body for months after you've gone gluten-free. I'm not sure how much of a difference 2-3 weeks will make, but I'm willing to give it a try.
I've been gluten-free for 5 days now. And I must say that apart from my face, I am feeling better in other ways that I hadn't expected. My stomach is flatter, and I don't feel bloated after every meal. I don't get that "stuffed" feeling after I eat. And since I haven't invested any money in gluten-free foods such as cookies or pretzels, I haven't been snacking as much. I've been eating veggies, fruits, meats, and nuts at every meal. I feel lighter. I know that sounds ridiculous, but to those who are gluten-free, it makes complete sense.
We went out to dinner on Friday night, and I felt great when I got up from the table to leave. Meanwhile, everyone else in the family was complaining about how stuffed they were. Hmm. Could it have been all the pre-dinner bread that they ate and the pizza that followed it? Quite possibly.
I don't know if I will find this diet to be helpful to my rosacea, but I do know that I like the way that I am feeling and am anxious to see how I feel and how my face looks at the end of the 3 weeks.
Stay tuned for progress reports.
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