8 Things That Trigger Rosacea Flare-Ups, According to Pros

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When I was a teenager, I remember seeing my mom special-order a certain cleanser (the name of which I forget) because it was the only thing she'd found she could wash her face with. She had rosacea, which was a skin condition I didn't really understand because, let's face it, I was a self-absorbed teen. Way to be dramatic mom, I thought, before I entered the beauty industry and a) became the kind of person who sets alarms for Fenty product launches and b) it became my job to understand skin conditions like rosacea. (Sidenote: Sorry, Mom, for being such a brat!)

According to the National Rosacea Society, an estimated 415 million people worldwide have rosacea. "Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness and appearance of fine blood vessels commonly in the center of the face and other areas as well," Deepika Vyas, co-founder and CEO of AVYA Skincare, explains. "It can appear as blotchiness and also pus filled bumps which look like acne." It's most common in fair-skinned women over 30 and can be passed down through genetics. Oh, and it's not just the facial redness—Vyas says that dryness, swelling, and irritation around the eyes is common before symptoms in other areas.

While there is no cure for rosacea, there are ways you can prevent flare-ups. Here, the experts share eight things that exacerbate rosacea.

Meet the Expert

Joshua Zeichner, MD is a board certified dermatologist, as well as the Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Marko Lens, MD is a plastic surgeon, an expert in the field of skin melanoma, and founder of skincare brand Zelens.
Deepika Vyas, co-founder and CEO of AVYA Skincare.

01 of 07

Stress

Because of course stress would be a trigger. Dealing with rosacea can feel a bit like walking on eggshells, which can be stressful. Plus, stress is an unfortunately common component of our lives. "Stress and anxiety can be a tripwire for the condition," Lens says.

02 of 07

Exercise

To add insult to injury, one of the best ways to reduce the aforementioned stress—exercise—can also trigger a reaction. "Exercise, while it helps with stress and anxiety, raises your heart rate, making your face flushed from the increased blood flow," he explains. This increase blood flow and increased body temperature can trigger a reaction.

03 of 07

Spicy Foods

Hot drinks and spicy foods are considered thermogenic—meaning they produce heat in the body, says Vyas. And, you guessed it, that can cause your rosacea to flare up. Zeichner says that anything that causes the body to heat up—and the blood vessels in the skin to dilate more easily—can be seen as a trigger. "This explains why hot temperatures, alcohol, hot beverages, and spicy foods can make rosacea worse." (More on these later.)

04 of 07

Witch Hazel

"The most common skincare ingredients to avoid for people with rosacea symptoms are alcohol and witch hazel, which are very common in astringents, toners, and exfoliating products," Vyas says.

"In terms of products, it's extremely important to always check the ingredients," Susie Wang, expert skincare chemist and founder of 100% PURE, adds. "Specifically for cosmetics, here all the ones you should avoid: alcohol, synthetic fragrance, witch hazel, harsh chemicals like acetone, formaldehyde, detergents, and anything that will dehydrate skin because it will increase flare-ups."

05 of 07

Chemical Sunscreens

"Sunscreen is important in rosacea because it protects the skin from UV light exposure, which has been shown to be associated with worsening of rosacea over time," says Zeichner, explaining that the type of sunscreen you choose is key. "Since rosacea patients generally tend to have more sensitive skin, are usually recommend mineral Sunscreens. While both chemical and mineral sunscreens are effective, chemical sunscreens are more likely to be to skin irritation."

06 of 07

Extreme Temperatures

If you have rosacea, the experts recommend avoiding pretty much any form of inclement weather, be it very hot or very cold. Heat is especially known for its rosacea-inducing abilities. As Zeichner said: Any environmental factors that make your blood vessels dilate can cause a flare-up of rosacea.

07 of 07

Alcohol

Ah, here's the big one. "My least favorite to report is that your favorite wine may be causing flare-ups," Lens says. Alas, it's red wine that typically is the most reactive, according to the National Rosacea Society. If you do drink, the least reactive alcohol was vodka, in case you were wondering.

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