Know Your Rosacea Triggers and How to Handle Them

If your skin flushes easily, you might find that your flushing eventually turns into rosacea, a fairly common skin issue. Signs of rosacea vary based on the type and severity of the condition. Some people have red skin with visible blood vessels while others notice a thickening of the skin or bumps that look like pimples or acne. Rosacea can also affect the eyes.

Although the exact cause of rosacea isn’t known, we do know that some people seem to have rosacea triggers. Exposure to certain foods, weather conditions, medications, or even emotions can lead to a flare-up of symptoms in some people.

If you’re dealing with rosacea, knowing your triggers can help you reduce the chances of a flare-up and can help you get the most from any rosacea treatments you are using.

Here are just a few common rosacea triggers and some ideas for what you can do to avoid them.

Food and Drink Triggers

Certain foods can trigger a rosacea flare-up. High on the list of triggering foods are spicy eats. If you notice flushing after enjoying a plate of hot wings or after tucking into a Thai curry, then spicy food might be one of your rosacea triggers.

The best way to cope with a spicy food trigger is simply to switch to milder options. Choose tamer foods, such as a mild salsa or a Pad Thai instead of an intense curry. You might need to cut out hot, spicy foods entirely, depending on your body’s response to them.

In some cases, food and drink that is hot in temperature can also be a rosacea trigger. If hot tea or coffee seems to lead to flare-ups, try switching to iced drinks. It might also be the caffeine in your drink that is triggering flare-ups, not the temperature, so you might want to try decaf options too.

Finally, alcohol is another common rosacea trigger. If you notice flushing after drinking, try to minimize the amount you drink and drink a big glass of water between drinks. Changing what you drink, such as switching from red to white wine, might also help.

Weather-Related Triggers

Weather-related rosacea triggers include high temperatures, cold days, wind exposure, and sun exposure.

If you think that sun exposure triggers your flare-ups, then you need to protect yourself from the sun’s rays. Get in the habit of wearing a mineral-based, fragrance-free sunscreen daily. Wearing a hat with a wide brim can also help to keep the sun off of your face.

If hot temperatures leave you flushed, find ways to keep cool. That can mean avoiding spending too much time outdoors on hot days. In the winter, it can mean staying away from heat sources, such as fireplaces or very hot showers.

To protect your skin from cold temperatures or from wind exposure, make sure to bundle up before going outside on chilly days. Wrap your face up in a scarf made of a soft, natural fabric, such as silk, to protect it from the wind.

Emotional Triggers

Stress can trigger a lot of things, including rosacea. If you’re under a lot of stress and notice that your skin seems to be flaring up, it’s important to find a way to lower your stress levels. You can do that by changing high-stress aspects of your life, talking to a therapist, trying meditation, or finding an activity that calms you down and participating in it as much as possible.

Skincare Triggers

If you have rosacea, you need to be particularly careful about the products you use on your skin. Some types of skincare products are too harsh to use on sensitive skin. If you notice that your skin feels itchy, tight or looks red after using a particular product, it’s a good idea to discontinue it.

It might also be worthwhile to try medical-grade skincare products if you have rosacea. Medical-grade products are usually free from fragrances and other irritants that can trigger a flare-up.

Medical Triggers

Some medications, such as high blood pressure medicine and anti-anxiety medications, can be rosacea triggers. Since you are most likely taking a medication for a specific reason, it’s important to keep taking it even if you think it is to blame for your flare-ups.

At your next doctor’s appointment, you can talk to the prescribing doctor about your symptoms, ask if the medicine is known to trigger rosacea and learn more about any other options available to you.

Recognizing your rosacea triggers is just the first step to getting the condition under control. Treatments are also available to help reduce the redness and skin changes associated with rosacea. Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique in Houston, Texas offers laser treatments and other options to help control rosacea. To learn more, call 281-810-9083 today!