How to Avoid Rosacea Triggers

One of the best ways to manage your rosacea is to avoid your known rosacea triggers. But first you must identify those triggers so you can take precautions to prevent flare-ups.

Rosacea is a skin disorder that causes a constant flush or a red face, often accompanied by inflamed pimples. If you notice that your rosacea seems worse at certain times than others, you're probably susceptible to specific triggers that aggravate your skin. Rosacea triggers cause rosacea to flare, but you can help keep symptoms at bay if you identify your personal triggers and do your best to avoid them.

Common Rosacea Triggers

Rosacea triggers are different for everyone — certain foods, activities, the weather, and other factors may cause redness in one person and not another. "Triggers vary by the individual," says Clare A. Pipkin, MD, a dermatologist and assistant professor of medicine at Duke University Medical Center. Grab a notebook and a pen and note everything for a week or two that leads to a flare-up of your rosacea symptoms. The most common rosacea triggers include:

• Very hot, cold, or windy weather
• Scrubbing the face
• Alcohol-based skin cleansers or toners
• Skin care products and cosmetics
• Emotional stress
• Very hot water in the bath or shower
• Eating spicy foods
• Drinking hot beverages or eating hot soup
• Caffeine
• Alcoholic beverages
• Getting overheated
• Exercising vigorously

Limit Your Exposure to Outdoor Rosacea Triggers

When it comes to the great outdoors, limiting your exposure to the elements can be tricky. Here are some tips:

• Always wear sunscreen anytime you're outdoors.
• Stay out of the direct sun; sit in the shade instead.
• Wear protective clothing and a hat with a wide brim to cover your skin.
• Limit the time you spend outside in very hot or cold weather.
• Protect your skin from wind and cold with a face mask, scarf, and hat, but make sure the material doesn’t irritate your skin.
• Exercise outdoors only in cool weather.

These precautions are very important when it comes to avoiding rosacea triggers. "Sun protection is always recommended for patients with rosacea," says Dr. Pipkin.

Minimize Other Rosacea Triggers

Try these tips to further reduce your exposure to rosacea triggers:

• Steer clear of spicy foods. If you're unsure of the ingredients in a restaurant dish, ask.
• Avoid drinking beverages that are hot and steamy, like tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. Substitute iced tea or coffee, or let the drink cool off a bit before you take that first sip.
• Limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine. Make that iced coffee decaffeinated as well.
• Choose cosmetics and skin care products that don't contain fragrances, alcohol, or any other ingredient that your dermatologist suspects could make your skin burn.
• In general, try to use as few products as possible on your skin.
• Keep stress levels under control with meditation and other relaxation methods.

If you enjoy exercise, indoors or out, treat yourself — and your face — to a cooldown at the end of your session. "If patients undergo strenuous workout, they may consider covering their face with a cool cloth afterwards," says Pipkin.

Maintaining a journal or diary of rosacea symptoms can help you determine what makes your rosacea worse. Then you can better focus on avoiding triggers and minimizing the rosacea itch and redness they cause.

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