When Jane Smith became pregnant with her second child, she began experiencing painful red bumps across her nose, mouth and cheeks.<\/p>\n
Within months, the flushing escalated into angry, burning redness that left her feeling like a self-conscious teenager all over again.<\/p>\n
The condition that blighted Jane\u2018s life was rosacea\u00a0\u2013 a chronic, long-term inflammatory skin condition that affects as many as one in ten people in the UK.<\/p>\n
It causes persistent redness, flushing, visible blood vessels and acne-like bumps on the face, usually accompanied by a burning or stinging sensation.<\/p>\n
Crucially, experts say there is no cure for rosacea, and symptoms can persist for years despite treatment.<\/p>\n
For Jane, a\u00a0receptionist from Folkestone in Kent, the impact on her self-confidence was so severe that she would refuse to leave the house without make-up on.<\/p>\n
Jane, now 61, says: \u2018Even if people came to stay at the house, I would get up extra early to put make-up on before they came down for breakfast. I wouldn\u2018t be seen even having a morning coffee without make-up.\u2018<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2018t until Jane radically changed her diet that she began to notice improvements to her skin.<\/p>\n
But Jane says that it took decades for her to realise this. In fact, for years, she made the problem worse: the more make-up she applied to cover her skin, the more inflamed it became.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her self-esteem was so badly affected that even now, looking at old photos is painful.<\/p>\n
![\"Jane](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/13\/16\/108570179-15807669-Jane_Smith_61_from_Folkestone_has_now_been_medication_free_for_m-m-2_1778684946258.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nJane Smith, 61, has now been medication-free for more than 10 years and manages her rosacea through diet and skincare<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Jane's](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/12\/12\/108546101-15807669-1-m-58_1778585334561.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Jane](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/12\/12\/108546085-15807669-2-a-59_1778585341777.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\nRosacea causes sore and inflamed skin, accompanied by acne-like bumps and visible redness. For two decades, Jane managed this condition with an antibiotic called oxytetracycline<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u2018The photo of my son and me in the hospital after giving birth is particularly tough to look at,\u2018 she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018All I can see is my bright red face\u00a0\u2013 it completely distracts from this tiny little baby in my arms.\u2018<\/p>\n
Over the years, she tried countless natural remedies and skincare products, including tea tree oil.<\/p>\n
Jane was also prescribed a low-dose oral antibiotic, which helped keep her symptoms largely under control for nearly two decades.<\/p>\n
But over time, she became concerned after noticing the medication\u00a0\u2013 oxytetracycline\u00a0\u2013 had caused her teeth to yellow, and after reading about possible effects of long-term antibiotics on gut bacteria and general health.<\/p>\n
In 2015, on the advice of her GP, Jane stopped taking the antibiotic. However, the sudden change triggered the most severe flare-up she had ever experienced.<\/p>\n
Her face became so inflamed that even splashing it with water \u2018felt like pouring vinegar on an open cut\u2018 and the fragile skin would crack and bleed if she smiled.<\/p>\n
\u2018It was like wearing a painful mask that I couldn\u2018t take off,\u2018 she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018You can\u2018t just cover it with a bit of concealer\u00a0\u2013 it would split and bleed, and there was nowhere to hide.\u2018<\/p>\n
![\"For](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/13\/08\/108546083-15807669-image-m-20_1778656010383.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nFor Jane, the impact on her self-confidence was so severe that she would refuse to leave the house without make-up on<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Studies show that stopping long-term oral antibiotics for rosacea can cause severe rebound flares, as the skin\u2018s inflammatory pathways, previously suppressed by the medication, become hyperactive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the time, Jane was working as a retail manager, \u2018so there was nowhere to hide\u2018, she says. Her skin was often so raw that it would crack and bleed during shifts.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2018It knocked my confidence flying,\u2018 she says. \u2018I was seeing people all day, every day, and I felt very, very self\u2011conscious.\u2018<\/p>\n But after years of suffering, Jane believes dietary changes played a major role in improving her symptoms.<\/p>\n \u2018I read that cheese can make\u00a0inflammation worse, so I decided to cut it out of my diet around 2023,\u2018 she says.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2018d never thought about how my diet was impacting my skin before. Back in the 80s, we didn\u2018t really think about what we were eating – we went to the pub, had crisps and didn\u2018t give it much attention.<\/p>\n \u2018Now I\u2018m much more aware of what I\u2018m doing and what could affect my skin. In the last few years I’ve really focused on what I\u2018m eating\u00a0\u2013 sticking to fairly “clean” lunches like celery, tomatoes, cucumber and tuna.\u2018<\/p>\n She also incorporated a daily probiotic yoghurt from Activia \u2013 a fermented dairy product containing active, \u2018friendly\u2018 bacteria cultures\u00a0\u2013 which she believes has helped with the inflammation.\u00a0<\/p>\n Now, some 30 years since her symptoms first began and more than 10 years medication-free, she estimates her skin is about 85-90 per cent better.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2018ve spent around half my life dealing with this awful condition in one way or another,\u2018 she says.<\/p>\n \u2018Now, my skin is as close to crystal clear that it can be without taking an antibiotic.<\/p>\n \u2018I still have the odd flare-up but at a push I\u2018ll even go out without make-up, which I would have never done before.\u00a0I no longer feel like people stop and stare at me or my skin when I go out.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2018s how I feel about myself that\u2019s the most important\u00a0\u2013 and I\u2019m happy with where my skin is at now.’<\/p>\n Those around her have also noticed a big difference.<\/p>\n \u2018My son, who I was pregnant with all those years ago when the rosacea started, is just happy that I\u2018m happy\u00a0\u2013 he\u2018s finally seeing me go out without make-up,\u2018 Jane says.<\/p>\n \u2018Even my partner says he\u2018s noticed I\u2018m not quite as obsessed with foundation as I used to be, which means I take less time to get ready in the morning.\u2018<\/p>\n Research into the relationship between gut health and rosacea is ongoing, with some studies suggesting probiotics may help reduce inflammation and support the skin barrier in certain patients.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, experts say that responses to dietary changes vary widely between individuals.<\/p>\n Dr Dev Patel, GP with a special interest in dermatology, says: \u2018There is growing interest in the relationship between gut health and skin health\u00a0\u2013 often referred to as the gut skin axis\u00a0\u2013 which may explain why some patients notice an improvement in symptoms when incorporating probiotic-rich foods such as live yoghurt into their diet.<\/p>\n \u2018While there is no universal “rosacea diet”, we do know that certain foods can act as triggers for some patients by increasing inflammation or flushing responses in the skin.\u00a0Common culprits can include alcohol, spicy foods, and, in some individuals, dairy products.\u2018<\/p>\n Dr Patel advises his patients to avoid inflammatory foods, such as sugar and anything highly processed, such as fast food or sugary treats, as well as eating a diet that supports a healthier gut microbiome\u00a0\u2013 the natural bacterial population that lives in the gut.<\/p>\n \u2018I always focus on getting inflammation down, whatever skin issue I am dealing with,\u2018 he said. \u2018If you succeed with that, the condition tends to stay quiet, be it rosacea, acne or other.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Gut health is linked to whole body inflammation, which is also linked to skin, so the connection makes sense.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018That said, rosacea is highly individual, so dietary adjustments should be viewed as part of a broader long-term management approach alongside appropriate skincare including UV protection, trigger avoidance and, where needed, medical treatment.\u2018<\/p>\n Jane visited the Skinlab clinic, where her skin was assessed using imaging technology to capture high-quality images of her face such as this one<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Now, some 30 years since her symptoms first began and more than 10 years medication-free, Jane estimates her skin is about 85-90 per cent better<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Alongside these dietary changes, Jane visited the Skinlab clinic in Deal, Kent in April 2023, at the recommendation of a colleague.<\/p>\n At the clinic, her skin was assessed using\u00a0imaging technology to capture high-quality images of her face to identify different skin characteristics, such as redness, dehydration and oil production.<\/span><\/p>\n While at the clinic, she was recommended a medical-grade moisturising cream and face wash from the brand AlumierMD.<\/p>\n Though she was advised to use medical-grade products, dermatologists say many affordable over-the-counter formulations can also help manage rosacea effectively.<\/p>\n She says she felt instant relief from the products within the first use\u00a0\u2013 even though her skin didn\u2018t look any different immediately.<\/p>\n \u2018The face wash was very soothing and I noticed\u00a0less burning and soreness within the first couple of weeks,\u2018 she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018At first, my skin felt better but didn\u2018t necessarily look very different but within a few weeks it started to look clearer and calmer.<\/p>\n \u2018By about three to four weeks, I noticed my skin had really calmed down and looked less angry. By around the six-week mark, there were no pustules, cracking or bleeding and it felt much less hot.\u2018<\/p>\n Experts say effective rosacea skincare focuses on repairing the skin barrier, using gentle, hydrating ingredients that help reduce sensitivity and redness.<\/p>\n They recommend looking for products containing ingredients such as azelaic acid, niacinamide and ceramides, as well as soothing botanical agents, which may help ease symptoms.<\/p>\n Jane\u2018s advice to others is simple: \u2018Don\u2019t try to live with rosacea and suffer alone without getting help.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Try to tackle it as soon as you can because the difference will be incredible.<\/p>\n \u2018You might not get absolutely perfect skin but if you use the right products and watch your diet you can find a happy medium\u00a0\u2013 you\u2018re looking after your skin and your insides at the same time,\u2018 she says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Jane Smith became pregnant with her second child, she began experiencing painful red bumps across her nose, mouth and cheeks. Within months, the flushing escalated into angry, burning redness that left her feeling like a self-conscious teenager all over again. The condition that blighted Jane\u2018s life was rosacea\u00a0\u2013 a chronic, long-term inflammatory skin condition<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[520],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-9321","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hot"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9321\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthoptibody.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Jane](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/12\/12\/108546109-15807669-Jane_was_diagnosed_with_papulopustular_rosacea_which_causes_chro-a-50_1778584865124.jpg\")
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