Top 9 Common Rosacea Triggers: Avoid Flare-ups!

Discover the Rosacea triggers causing your recurring flare-ups and how to clear your skin naturally.

Have you ever found yourself canceling plans because you’re concerned about a Rosacea flare-up? You’re not the only one!

In fact, 90% of individuals with rosacea reported experiencing diminished self‐esteem and self‐confidence, and 41% reported avoiding social activities because of the effect of rosacea on their appearance. ¹

Maybe it’s a day at the beach, a bike ride, or an Indian restaurant. Whatever it is, it’s something you know will cause your skin to turn red. 

Those of us with rosacea understand all too well the planning, preparation, and anxiety that goes into every single outing. 

“Do I have sunblock?” 

“Will there be shade?”

“When can I apply more makeup?”

“Will I be drinking alcohol?” 

“Will I be meeting new people?”

Avoidance will always be an inconvenient option. But it’s important to understand that triggers don’t cause rosacea; they provoke the immediate flare-up. 

Luckily, we’ve identified 9 of the most common triggers setting off your rosacea flare-ups and how to deal with them on a daily basis without losing your cool!

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness and sensitivity to the face.

Symptoms of rosacea flareups may include:

• Heat and redness in cheeks, nose, and/or face
•  Acne-like bumps on your cheeks
•  Red/flared-up nose 
•  Dry, red, and/or irritated eyes
•  Sensitivity to sunlight, spicy foods, and/or topical products
•  Thickening of the skin, cheeks, and/or nose

How common is rosacea? Who does rosacea affect?

• Rosacea affects 10% of the population in the UK and the USA
•  Worldwide, it affects over 400 million people
•  Typically, it targets women between the ages of 30 and 50
•  It is more common in people with fair skin and light eyes

The Cause of Rosacea is Unknown

There is no apparent cause of rosacea yet. However, research points to many biological similarities in Rosacea patients that must be researched more thoroughly. Some of these include: 

• Immune System Defects
•  Gut Dysbiosis (SIBO, H.pylori, etc.)
•  Genetics
•  Dysregulation of Neurovascular system
•  Demodex Overgrowth
•  Chronic inflammation due to other comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disease, neurological and autoimmune diseases, and certain cancers

When to Seek Medical Care for Diagnosis and Treatment

Only a dermatologist can accurately diagnose rosacea. If you suspect you have rosacea, visit a dermatologist to rule out other similar skin conditions. 

If you feel something may be a rosacea trigger or may cause a rosacea flare-up, inform a dermatologist of these factors.

Why Do So Many People Go Undiagnosed?

Rosacea is a condition that creeps in slowly. In fact, it may have been building internally for many years before you actually see it on the surface of your skin. It may start with a persistent red flush after a hot shower, tiny pimples on your cheeks, or a terrible sunburn after just a half hour in the afternoon sun. 

By the time you see a dermatologist, these events are happening more frequently, and friends may have even commented, 

“Wow, your face is really red!”

For some, the symptoms are subtle enough to ignore until one day, BAM, a rosacea flare-up strikes, and your skin is never quite the same.

9 Common Rosacea Triggers That Can Cause a Flare-Up and Make Rosacea Worse

While knowing and understanding the common rosacea triggers is essential, many doctors feel that avoiding these triggers is not a long-term solution.

Dr. Tara O’Desky, a functional medicine doctor and rosacea specialist, describes her own experience with rosacea:

“For years, I avoided sunlight, colorful foods, social outings, exercise, and so much more at the advice of my dermatologists. And while my rosacea seemed to be ‘managed,’ my diet was extremely limited, I was developing other health conditions, and my mental health was at an all-time low.”

Source: National Library of Medicine²

Many practitioners are now focusing on internal healing rather than rosacea trigger avoidance, with promising results. Below are some of the most common rosacea triggers that cause flare-ups.

1. Sunlight

Why this a Rosacea trigger: Sun exposure, particularly ultraviolet radiation, activates specific molecules in the skin called ROS (reactive oxygen species). 

These molecules trigger inflammation that will initiate an immune response. Your face is hyper-sensitive to ultraviolet sunlight and responds the same way it would during an allergic reaction.

How to avoid a flare-up: Use a sun hat or baseball hat in direct sunlight. If using sunblock, make sure it’s a mineral sunblock, not a chemical sunblock, which can often cause allergic reactions.

  2. Emotional Stress

Why this is a Rosacea trigger: It turns out that nerve cells play a big role in regulating skin cells. 

According to research by Dr. Richard Granstein, the Department of Dermatology’s chairperson at Weill Cornell Medical College, this can lead to inflammation and dilated blood vessels in the skin and possibly immune processes.

How to avoid a flare-up: At the first sign of stress or anxiety, remove yourself from the situation if possible, and begin deep breathing exercises.

3. Hot Weather

Why this a Rosacea trigger: Heat causes blood vessels to dilate, and when this occurs in the face, the result is a rush of blood and a visible rosy flush.

How to avoid a flare-up:

• Use a cooling towel around your neck.
•  Immerse your feet or hands in cold water for a quick cool-down.
•  Take frequent breaks in air conditioning to prevent overheating.

4. Physical Activity

Why this is a Rosacea trigger: Your body uses vasodilation (or widening your blood vessels) to carry the additional oxygen and nutrients that muscle cells need during exercise. 

Unfortunately, this increased blood flow can also rapidly trigger rosacea symptoms. 

How to avoid a flare-up: use a chilled or damp towel on your neck and drink plenty of water. Take frequent breaks and stay in a cold, air-conditioned room or outside when the temperature is mild so as not to overheat. 

5. Cinnamaldehyde Containing Foods

Why this is a rosacea trigger: Cinnamaldehyde is another chemical found in foods such as cinnamon, tomatoes, and citrus, which can cause a similar flare-up response.

How to avoid a flare-up: It’s important to adjust your lifestyle by carefully reading food labels to avoid cinnamaldehyde; additionally, be mindful of these ingredients in restaurants and when cooking at home.

6. Spicy Foods

Why this is a Rosacea trigger: Capsaicin is a chemical found in spicy food. When eaten, capsaicin can cause a specific receptor (TRPV1) to be activated, which can dilate blood vessels, thus inducing a flare-up.

How to avoid a flare-up: Many restaurants can make dishes “not spicy” by avoiding chili peppers, jalapeños, and other hots, which are known to cause a visible flare-up.

7. Alcohol

Why this a Rosacea trigger: Alcohol triggers an immediate internal response in the form of dilated blood vessels to allow your body to quickly process the alcohol. Dilated blood vessels = rosacea flare-up.

How to avoid a flare-up: Wine is known to cause flare-ups more than other types of alcohol. Try different variations, such as beer or mixed drinks, to see if the flare-ups still happen. Or better yet, choose a fun, non-alcoholic beverage recipe! 

8. Medications

Why this a Rosacea trigger: Many common prescriptions can be rosacea triggers, such as:

• Steroids
•  Blood Pressure Medications
•  Opiates

While these do not cause rosacea, they can cause an internal reaction, which results in the classic rosacea flare-up.

How to avoid a flare-up: if you’re using a new topical medication, discuss possible reactions with your doctor and follow the skincare guidelines above. 

9. Skincare Products

Why this a Rosacea trigger: Today’s skincare products have many unnecessary chemical ingredients, including:

• Artificial Colors
• Artificial Fragrances
• Alcohol
• Heavy Metals
• Irritants

Some other common skincare ingredients many people react to include:

• Witch Hazel
•  Acetone
•  Formaldehyde
•  Glycolic acid
•  Talcum

How to Avoid a Flare-up:

1. Try a new skincare item on your inner wrist first and watch for a reaction for several days
2. If that goes well, try a patch test on your jawline or upper forehead for at least 2 days
3. Use a small amount on your face and again watch for a reaction
4. Purchase clean brands with minimal ingredients and third-party testing for contaminants

Your Body and Rosacea Triggers

How the Dilatation of Blood Vessels (Which Decreases Blood Pressure) Can Cause a Rosacea Flare-Up

Vasodilation is an everyday bodily occurrence whereby your blood vessels widen for one of the following reasons:

• To distribute enough oxygen and nutrients throughout your body (exercise)
•  To help regulate body temperature (stepping into a hot shower)
•  To heal an infection in a specific area of the body (local swelling of an injury)
•  In response to certain medications, foods, or drinks (alcohol)

Although vasodilation is a normal human response, a person with rosacea can deal with the resulting redness of increased blood flow several times throughout the day or even chronically. 

Knowing what causes vasodilation naturally can help you navigate a minefield of potential Rosacea triggers and flare-ups.

How to Find & Confirm Your Rosacea Triggers

Keep a rosacea journal and make a note of each time you flared up and what happened to cause the flare-up. 

If you know a situation that always frustrates you, such as standing in line at the store, make adjustments so you no longer have to experience this. 

Preventing Rosacea Flare-Ups Naturally with Nutrition

In a 2018 survey, 73% of patients reported that changing their diet did reduce rosacea exacerbation frequency. ³

Doctors typically advise patients to avoid:

• Spicy Foods
•  High Histamine Foods
•  Nightshades

But this can leave a person struggling to find nutritious meals. 

Conversely, many rosacea patients have seen success by broadening their diets to include foods that focus on gut healing and liver support instead of concentrating on avoiding rosacea triggers.

In an NRS survey of 400 patients, 78 percent had changed their diet as a measure to control rosacea. Seventy-five percent of patients in this group subsequently had a reduction of rosacea flares.⁴

The Bottom Line: 

Uncover Your Rosacea Triggers & Prevent Unexpected Flare-ups

Uncovering your own rosacea triggers is easier said than done. But by making modifications to your daily activities, you may be able to prevent these triggers from causing a stubborn rosacea flare-up.

However, it is also crucial that you don’t stop living your life. 

To do that, you should make small changes to your diet and lifestyle to uncover what specific situations, environments, and foods will potentially bring on your own rosacea flare-ups.

And by focusing on healing internally, you can take control of your symptoms so that these flare-ups will no longer interfere with life events.

FAQs About Rosacea Triggers and Flare-Ups

References

1. https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?journal=J+Clin+Aesthet+Dermatol&title=Quality+of+life+in+individuals+with+erythematotelangiectatic+and+papulopustular+rosacea:+findings+from+a+web%E2%80%90based+survey&volume=11&publication_year=2018&pages=47-52&pmid=29552276& ↩︎
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8794493/ ↩︎
3. https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?journal=J+Investig+Dermatol+Symp+Proc.&title=Neurovascular+aspects+of+skin+neurogenic+inflammation.&author=AA+Aubdool&author=SD+Brain&volume=15&issue=1&publication_year=2011&pages=33-39& ↩︎
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8794493/ ↩︎

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Tara O’Desky nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.