Q: You listed the benefits of black pepper but neglected a caveat: Some people, like me, have found relief by avoiding all peppers, including black.

A: Rosacea is a skin condition that leads to redness, flushing and eventually bumps on the face.  There are a number of triggers that may make rosacea worse, including alcohol, dairy products, caffeine and sugar substitutes.  Some people find that spices like red or black pepper also can spark a flare-up.

One  study found that people with rosacea frequently had small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, July 2008).

Treating the bacterial imbalance resulted in substantial improvement of skin symptoms.  Dr. Robynne Chutkan suggests eating green leafy veggies, legumes and other high-fiber foods, and avoiding sugar and highly processed carbs.

• article by Joe and Teresa Graedon
• copyright The Seattle Times