If you have rosacea, you already know that your skin is very sensitive. Because of that, there’s a lot that can bring on symptoms like facial redness, flushing, or burning. Anything that causes your symptoms to flare up is called a trigger.
“Many environmental factors can trigger rosacea,” says Geeta Yadav, MD, a dermatologist and the founder of FACET Dermatology in Toronto. These triggers activate inflammation in your body, which is what causes flares to happen, Dr. Yadav adds.
“Triggers are different for everyone, so you'll want to pay attention to potential triggers for yourself,” says the dermatologist Steven Daveluy, MD, an associate professor and the program director of the department of dermatology at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit.
If you can pinpoint and avoid your triggers, you’ll boost your odds of keeping rosacea flares at bay or stopping your symptoms from getting worse. Plus, this can help your treatment work better.
Here are 10 common rosacea triggers and how to keep each one in check.
1. Spicy Foods
If you love spicy foods, you may want to think twice before ordering buffalo wings on game day or reaching for your favorite hot sauce, because they could trigger your symptoms.
That’s because certain ingredients in spicy foods — like capsaicin — are known to widen the blood vessels, letting blood and heat rush to the skin and face. It’s a process that experts call vasodilation.Spicy dishes may also stimulate nerves around your blood vessels, which add to their triggering effect, says Dr. Daveluy.
What to Do
You might not have to swear off your favorite dishes entirely. It could help to try a milder version of the foods you love first and see if that helps. But if your face still reddens even with milder options, then it’s probably best to part ways with spicy foods altogether.
2. Hot Beverages
A fresh cup of joe is a morning staple for many, but if you have rosacea, it could be the source of your symptoms. Piping hot drinks like coffee or tea can put you on the path to vasodilation and rosacea flares, says Yadav.
What to Do
The good news is, if you don’t want to give up coffee or tea, you don’t have to. While it may take some getting used to, letting a beverage cool down to a warm or lukewarm temperature before you take a sip can go a long way.Swapping hot drinks with cold alternatives like iced coffee or iced tea could also help.
3. Stress
Feeling stressed out by, say, a big project at work or an argument with a loved one? That could set off your rosacea symptoms. “One of the greatest triggers on this list, which can be an enormous challenge to manage, is stress,” says Yadav.
What to Do
Curbing stress might be easier said than done, and realistically, most people won’t be able to cut all stress from their lives entirely. But not taking steps to manage life’s stresses can make a rosacea flare-up last longer. To help with this, Yadav often recommends that her patients try science-backed stress-busters like:
- Mindfulness
- Gratitude
- Yoga
- Breathing exercises
- Meditation
Rosacea support groups — either online or in person, where available — are another tool that can relieve stress. They allow you to connect with others who know what it feels like to live with rosacea and get support for day-to-day challenges.
If tamping down stress proves difficult for you, consider reaching out to a licensed therapist for help. Going to therapy can help anyone learn helpful stress-management strategies.
4. Hot Showers, Hot Baths, or Saunas
If you like to indulge in long, hot showers or a post-workout sauna session, know that these habits do more harm than good for rosacea. Anything that spikes your body temperature — like a hot bath or shower, a sauna, or being in a room without AC — can cause a flare-up, says Yadav.
What to Do
To keep yourself from overheating:
- Stick to warm baths and showers instead of hot ones.
- Steer clear of saunas altogether.
- In any scenario where you’re overheating, try wetting a cloth or towel (if you have one on hand) with cold water and draping it around your neck or on your face, or sitting in front of a fan or air conditioner.
- Try to keep an ice cold beverage or a portable fan with you.
5. Strenuous Exercise
While some people love an intense workout and all the good it can do for their health, know that this can ramp up body temperature and trigger a rosacea flare, says Daveluy.
What to Do
If you find that flares typically follow vigorous workouts, try dialing down the intensity and see if that helps. “Swap strenuous workouts for low impact options, like yoga and barre,” says Yadav. Other tips:
- Exercise in a cool area, such as an air-conditioned gym or a swimming pool.
- Come armed with items that help cool you down, such as a cold water bottle, ice cubes, or a towel that you can dip in water and drape around the back of your neck.
6. Alcohol
Alcohol belongs to the vasodilation club and can trigger flares, says Yadav. Some types may be worse for rosacea than others, with red wine in particular being the toughest on symptoms.
What to Do
Ultimately, the less alcohol you drink, the better you’ll fare. But if you still want to indulge sometimes, it helps to:
- Limit yourself to one or two drinks.
- Add soda or lemonade to a drink to dilute it.
- Have a full glass of cold water after each drink.
- Opt for white wine instead of red wine.
7. Extreme Hot and Cold Weather
Just as a hot shower or bath can trigger your symptoms, so can a scorching weather day, says Daveluy. Extreme heat isn’t the only offender — when you have rosacea, you’re more vulnerable to the effects of cold weather and windburn, too.
What to Do
If you’re spending the day in the hot sun, bring cold beverages and other things you know can help keep you cool, and try to stay in the shade whenever possible. If you’re headed down the shore, for example, pack a beach umbrella that you can sit under.
To prevent flares on bitter cold days, cover your face just underneath your eyes with a scarf (silk or acrylic, not wool or other rough fabrics) and limit how much time you spend outdoors.
8. Too Much Sun Exposure
“Exposure to the sun is a common trigger for rosacea,” says Daveluy. “We recommend everyone with rosacea practice sun protection every day, even if you don't think you'll go outside.” That’s because ultraviolet rays from the sun can damage your skin and lead to a flare. Even just a few minutes of sunlight on unprotected skin can cause flushing and redness, Daveluy says.
What to Do
The best ways to protect yourself from the sun include:
- Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day.
- Sport a wide-brimmed hat to keep your face covered.
- Stay in the shade whenever possible.
- Avoid sun at midday, when it feels hottest and brightest.
9. Skin Care, Hair Care, and Makeup Products
Rosacea increases the skin’s sensitivity to certain irritants, like detergents or fragrances. That means certain skin, hair, or makeup products that come in contact with the skin on your face or scalp can irritate it, says Daveluy. “This irritation leads to flares of the rosacea and explains why some makeup or skin-care products can trigger flares.”
What to Do
Try to:
- Use gentle, hypoallergenic, and unscented cleansing products and moisturizers, says Yadav. (Traditional soap-based or fragrance-containing products can irritate rosacea.)
- Avoid toners and astringents, which can be irritating.
- Stay away from hair products containing menthol, camphor, or sodium lauryl sulfate — three common ingredients that exacerbate rosacea.
- If you plan to wear makeup, use a mild, fragrance-free moisturizer beforehand.
- For makeup-wearers, stick to a light liquid-based foundation and set it with powder.
- Avoid waterproof makeup or heavy foundations that need to be taken off with makeup remover.
10. Certain Medicines
“Some medications and supplements, such as beta-blockers and niacin, can dilate the blood vessels as well,” says Yadav. Medications for anxiety, migraines, glaucoma, and heart problems can also trigger rosacea.
What to Do
If you start a new medicine and notice more rosacea flares, keep taking it but let your healthcare provider know. They can help you figure out if any of your medicines are causing flares and offer alternatives if possible.
The Takeaway
A trigger is anything that worsens your rosacea symptoms. Spicy foods, extreme heat or cold, alcohol, and some skin-care and hair-care products are among the most common culprits. Fortunately, there are strategies — such as avoiding certain foods and drinks, using gentle and fragrance-free products, and protecting your skin from the elements — that can help keep your symptoms at bay.
