Common Rosacea Triggers and How to Track Them

You’ve probably noticed that certain foods, temperatures, activities, emotions — or something else entirely — will trigger your rosacea to flare up. 

What Are Some Common Rosacea Triggers?

Foods and drinks that cause rosacea:

• Alcohol, especially red wine
• Spicy foods
• Hot drinks
• Hot foods (in temperature)

Activities that cause rosacea:

• Exercise or heavy exertion
• Hot baths or saunas

Weather conditions that cause rosacea:

• Hot weather
• Cold weather
• Humid weather
• Wind
• Sunlight

Emotions that cause rosacea:

• Stress or anxiety
• Sudden change in emotion, like feeling embarrassed or bursting out laughing

Medical conditions that cause rosacea:

• Menopause
• Chronic cough
• Caffeine withdrawal syndrome

Other rosacea triggers:

• Skin products
• Medications, such as topical steroids, some blood pressure drugs, and some opiate painkillers

Keep in mind that not all of these things will trigger your rosacea. Everybody is different. The important thing is to learn what causes your own rosacea symptoms. You can use a diary — like the one at the end of this article —  to keep track.

Why Do Triggers Make Rosacea Worse?

Doctors still aren’t sure what causes rosacea, but in a lot of people, things that make your face flush also make rosacea worse.

When you flush, blood rushes to your face, making it red and warmer. So avoiding activities, products, or emotions that cause flushing can reduce your rosacea symptoms.

Avoiding Rosacea Triggers

Once you’ve figured out what your rosacea triggers are, find ways to avoid them.

Food and drinks. Don’t eat foods that cause rosacea symptoms. You could also try some simple substitutions. For instance, in the morning, replace that steaming mug of coffee with iced coffee.

Exercise. Unfortunately, working out can worsen your rosacea. But you still need to be physically active. So change your routine. Instead of one long workout, try splitting it into several shorter segments. Try longer, low-intensity workouts instead of more demanding ones. And stay cool. Don’t exercise outside when it’s too hot. If you’re inside, use a fan or air conditioner. During your workout, drink plenty of water. Afterward, cover your face with a cool cloth.

Weather. You should always wear a hat and use sunscreen to protect your skin while outside. Also, do the obvious: dress warmly on cold days and lightly on hot ones.