5 Main Triggers of Rosacea
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin disease that often shows itself as a tendency to blush or get flushed more easily than others. The redness can spread beyond the nose & cheeks to forehead and chin and other parts of the body such as the back!
There is more than one type of Rosacea:
• erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea ➡️ redness, flushing, visible blood vessels
• papulopustular rosacea ➡️ redness, swelling, & acne-like breakouts
• phymatous rosacea ➡️ skin thickens & has bumpy texture
• ocular rosacea ➡️ eyes appear red & irritated, eyelids can be swollen the person may what looks like a sty
It is super crucial to understand & identify what triggers your rosacea so that you reduce flare ups, get better results from treatments, & prevent it from worsening. With repeated flushing, treatment can become more difficult & repeated flushing can also lead to the skin staying red permanently.
Common rosacea triggers:
☀️/❄️/🔥: sun, heat, excessive cold all trigger rosacea and cause flare ups. Bundle up in the winter & in the summer — excessive sun exposure should be avoided. Wearing sun hats & reapplying SPF if you will be in the sun
🌶: spicy foods should be avoided as they cause an increase in heat & flushing response in the body
😖: stress and anxiety trigger rosacea symptoms to worsen. Practice deep breathing & ensure that you’re getting enough rest
🍷alcohol, particularly red wine. Alcohol is a vasodilator meaning it makes blood vessels open up & more blood runs through them, making the skin look redder!
🧴Certain skincare products & even cosmetics exacerbate rosacea flare ups. Ingredients such as witch hazel, fragrance, menthol, peppermint & certain exfoliating agents as well as astringents can cause more harm than good. Opt for fragrance-free, mild ingredients, & use SPF daily — specifically physical SPFs that contain zinc oxide & titanium oxide.
