A recent NRS survey found that many of those suffering from rosacea take at least one dietary supplement daily for their condition. In the survey of 733 rosacea patients, the top three dietary supplements used were vitamin D (67% of respondents), omega-3 (42%), and vitamin C (34%). Other supplements used included zinc (24%), vitamin B3 (22%), vitamin K (16%), melatonin (9%), selenium (7%), methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) (3%), and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) (1%), with many patients writing in that they took a variety of other supplements as well, including probiotics, magnesium, and multivitamins.

Eighty-nine percent of respondents said they take dietary supplements daily, and 71% also use medication for rosacea at least some of the time.

Respondents reported mixed results from their supplement usage, with 19.6% noticing improvement in their signs and symptoms after starting supplements, and 27% saying their rosacea had improved somewhat. The majority (53.4%) reported they did not notice any improvement in their rosacea after taking dietary supplements. However, as one respondent noted, “It is hard to tell how much supplements help because I’ve tried so many things, and some things take a long time to work.”

The scientific support for supplement usage in managing rosacea is both limited and mixed. “Patients should use caution when using dietary supplements to treat their condition,” said Dr. Rajani Katta, clinical assistant professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. “Too much of a good thing may cause undesirable side effects. As with anything consumed or put on the skin, it’s best to test and monitor your reaction to make sure it doesn’t lead to a flare-up.”