If you have rosacea, you may have noticed a frustrating pattern: your skin settles down for a while, only to suddenly become red, flushed, irritated or bumpy again.
So, why does rosacea keep flaring up?
The answer isn’t always obvious. Rosacea triggers vary from person to person, and sometimes it’s not one major trigger but a combination of small changes that causes your skin to react.
Understanding your personal triggers can help you reduce flare-ups and get better results from your rosacea treatment. Here are 10 common — and sometimes overlooked – rosacea triggers worth considering.
1. Sun exposure
Sun exposure is one of the most common rosacea triggers. Even relatively short periods outdoors can cause facial flushing and make redness more noticeable.
For people living in Melbourne, UV exposure isn’t limited to hot summer days – your skin can still be exposed to UV radiation throughout the year.
If you have rosacea, daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, shade and protective clothing can all form part of a good prevention strategy.
Don’t just think about sunscreen at the beach. Everyday exposure while walking, gardening, exercising or sitting outdoors can add up.
2. Heat, including hot showers
You probably already know that hot weather can make your face flush. But you may not realise that other sources of heat can have a similar effect.
Common examples include:
- Hot showers or baths
- Saunas and steam rooms
- Heated indoor environments
- Sitting close to a heater
- Cooking over a hot stove
- Spending time in very warm environments
You don’t necessarily need to avoid heat altogether. Instead, try to notice whether particular situations consistently trigger your redness and adjust where practical.
3. Exercise
Exercise is important for your overall health, but vigorous exercise can trigger flushing because your body naturally increases blood flow and temperature during physical activity.
That doesn’t mean you need to stop exercising if you have rosacea.
Instead, consider whether intensity, heat or the environment is contributing to your flare-ups. Exercising in a cooler environment, taking breaks and keeping your body temperature comfortable may help some people manage exercise-related flushing.
The important thing is to identify your response, rather than assuming exercise itself is something you need to avoid.
4. Stress and strong emotions
Stress is a commonly reported rosacea trigger, and it can be one of the hardest to identify because it isn’t always something you can simply eliminate.
You may notice your face becoming noticeably red before an important meeting, during an argument, when you’re embarrassed or when you’re feeling particularly anxious.
This doesn’t mean stress causes rosacea. Rather, emotional stress can trigger flushing in people who already have rosacea.
If you notice a connection, simple strategies such as regular exercise, adequate sleep, relaxation techniques and taking breaks may help reduce the frequency or intensity of some flare-ups.
5. Alcohol, particularly red wine
Alcohol is another well-known rosacea trigger. For some people, even a small amount can cause noticeable flushing.
Red wine is often associated with rosacea, but other alcoholic drinks can also trigger symptoms.
If you suspect alcohol is contributing to your flare-ups, consider keeping a record of what you drink and what happens to your skin afterwards.
There’s no need to assume that every person with rosacea needs to completely avoid alcohol — your individual triggers matter.
6. Spicy foods and hot drinks
That extra-hot curry might be delicious, but capsaicin, the compound responsible for the heat in chilli peppers, can trigger flushing in some people with rosacea.
And it isn’t only spicy food that can be relevant. Very hot drinks can also cause facial flushing.
If you regularly notice redness after eating spicy food or drinking very hot coffee or tea, try allowing your drink to cool slightly or reducing particularly spicy foods and see whether your skin responds differently.
7. Your skincare routine
Sometimes the thing you think is helping your skin may actually be contributing to irritation.
Rosacea-prone skin can be particularly sensitive, and some skincare products or ingredients may cause stinging, burning or redness.
Potentially irritating products can include:
- Strong exfoliants
- Fragranced products
- Alcohol-based products
- Harsh cleansers
- Some acids
- Aggressive scrubs
- Certain active ingredients
This doesn’t mean you need to abandon your entire skincare routine.
Instead, keep things simple. A gentle cleanser, suitable moisturiser and daily sun protection can provide a good foundation. If you’re introducing a new active ingredient, consider introducing it gradually and monitoring how your skin responds.
If almost everything you put on your skin seems to sting or burn, it’s worth discussing your routine with a skin professional rather than continually changing products.
8. Wind and sudden temperature changes
It’s easy to think about heat when considering rosacea triggers, but cold and windy conditions can also cause problems.
Moving between very different temperatures — for example, from a cold winter morning into a heated building — may trigger flushing for some people.
Wind can also leave already-sensitive skin feeling irritated and uncomfortable.
You can’t control the weather, but protecting your face from harsh wind and extreme temperature changes where possible may help.
9. Hair and makeup products
This is one of the less obvious triggers.
You might carefully choose skincare designed for sensitive skin but overlook the products that come into contact with your face from elsewhere.
For example:
- Hairspray
- Hair styling products
- Fragranced hair products
- Makeup
- Makeup removers
- Cleansers or products that aren’t designed for sensitive skin
If your rosacea seems to flare after getting ready, applying makeup or styling your hair, consider whether one of these products could be contributing.
It can be helpful to introduce products one at a time so you can identify potential culprits.
10. You’re treating the symptoms, but not the underlying pattern
Sometimes the most frustrating part of rosacea isn’t knowing that you have triggers – it’s feeling like you’re constantly reacting to them.
You may be changing your skincare, avoiding certain foods and using products designed for sensitive skin, but still experiencing persistent redness or frequent flare-ups.
That’s when it’s worth looking beyond individual triggers.
Rosacea can involve different symptoms, including flushing, persistent facial redness, visible blood vessels and acne-like breakouts. Different symptoms may require different approaches to treatment. The right approach depends on what’s actually causing your symptoms and how your skin responds.
How can you work out what’s triggering your rosacea?
You don’t necessarily need to eliminate everything from your lifestyle to manage rosacea.
Instead, try keeping a simple rosacea trigger diary for a few weeks.
Record:
- What you eat and drink
- Alcohol consumption
- Exercise
- Stressful events
- Time spent outdoors
- Weather and temperature
- New skincare or makeup products
- When flushing or irritation occurs
- How long the flare lasts
You may start to notice patterns that weren’t obvious before.
Importantly, not every commonly reported trigger will affect everyone with rosacea. Your goal isn’t to create a huge list of things you can never do — it’s to identify the triggers that actually affect your skin.
When should you see a skin specialist about rosacea?
Occasional flushing doesn’t necessarily mean you have rosacea. Facial redness can have several different causes, and rosacea can look different from person to person.
It’s worth seeking professional advice if:
- Your facial redness is becoming more persistent
- Your flare-ups are becoming more frequent
- You have visible broken or enlarged blood vessels
- Your skin regularly burns, stings or feels irritated
- You develop persistent acne-like bumps or pustules
- Your symptoms aren’t improving with your current routine
- You’re unsure whether you’re dealing with rosacea or another skin condition
Early assessment can also help you understand what type of rosacea symptoms you’re experiencing and what treatment options may be appropriate.
Can rosacea be permanently cured?
Currently, there isn’t a cure for rosacea, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with uncontrolled redness and frequent flare-ups.
The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms, reduce flare-ups and prevent the condition from becoming more difficult to control. A treatment plan may involve trigger management, gentle skincare, prescription treatments and, for some people, laser or light-based treatments.
The key is finding an approach that suits your skin, your symptoms and your triggers.
Managing rosacea starts with understanding your skin
If your rosacea seems unpredictable, start by looking for patterns rather than trying to eliminate everything at once.
Sun exposure, heat, exercise, stress, alcohol, spicy foods, skincare products, wind and temperature changes can all contribute to flare-ups but your individual triggers may be different.
And if you’ve been managing your rosacea on your own without seeing the improvement you’d like, a professional skin assessment can help determine whether there’s more that can be done.
Thinking about your treatment options? DermaCare can assess your skin and discuss appropriate options for managing rosacea, including treatments for persistent redness and visible blood vessels. Book a complimentary consultation.
