Fighting Rosacea Flare-ups: 5 Lifestyle Tips That Work

Rosacea is a chronic skin illness that affects as much as 5% of the global population.

Anyone can experience this inflammatory condition, but it’s more common in fair-skinned women ages 30-50. Rosacea presents in the form of periodic flare-ups, with symptoms including facial redness.

Rosacea has several types, and there isn’t yet a known cure, but symptoms are manageable. If you’re struggling with uncomfortable, unsightly symptoms when rosacea flares up, Dr. Javier Zelaya and his team at Skinworks Dermatology, with three New York City locations, can help.

Causes and triggers of rosacea

The cause of rosacea isn’t entirely understood but studies indicate a faulty protein that should protect the skin from infection may play a role. Other possibilities include skin mites, bacterial infections, and conditions affecting the blood vessels or immune or nervous systems.

Triggers vary depending on the type of rosacea but include:

Sun exposure
Alcohol consumption
Spicy foods
Hormonal changes
Temperature changes
Stress

Certain lotions, skin care, or hair care products might also be rosacea triggers.

Signs of a flare-up

Your symptoms vary by the type of rosacea, but can include:

Redness or skin discoloration
Swelling
Pus-filled pimples
Raised solid spots
Thickened, bumpy nose (rhinophyma)
Thickened skin
Tingling or burning in the affected areas

Rosacea flare-ups can affect the nose, cheeks, forehead, and, rarely, eyes.

Lifestyle tips to fight rosacea symptoms

Ways to reduce rosacea symptoms during a flare-up include:

Choose the right moisturizing creams

Use gentle cleansers and skin products that are oil-free and water-based when possible.

Avoid specific products

Don’t put products with alcohol, menthol, witch hazel, or exfoliating agents on your face. They can irritate the skin during a flare-up.

Avoid direct sunlight

If you have fair skin, you should avoid direct sunlight in any case. If you also have rosacea, it’s especially important to wear sunscreen and steer clear of the sun’s rays.

Limit alcohol

In addition to avoiding rubbing alcohol in skin products, you also should reduce your alcohol consumption. Studies show an increased risk of rosacea depending on how much you drink.

Follow your treatment plan

If you’re diagnosed with rosacea, stick to the regimen of ointments, creams, and other instructions we provide to reduce the risk of symptoms during a flare-up. Rosacea doesn’t go away, but you can keep it from affecting how you look and feel by reducing the effects.

For help managing rosacea and other skin conditions, contact Dr. Zelaya and the team at Skinworks Dermatology. Call the office in Maspeth, Chelsea, or Park Slope, or request your appointment online today.