Topic Overview

Factors (called triggers) that may cause a flare-up of rosacea include:

• Alcohol, spicy foods, and hot drinks. Limit how much of these you drink and eat.
• Dry skin. Use a moisturizer to protect your face from dryness. Use skin care products for sensitive skin. And avoid any products that are abrasive or that irritate your skin.
• Exercise. Stay as cool as possible when you exercise. Try to exercise for shorter, more frequent intervals, and do low-intensity workouts. In the summer, exercise during the cool morning hours.
• Hot baths. Avoid excessive hot water, hot tubs, and saunas.
• Hot weather. Stay cool on hot, humid days.
• Stress. Minimize stress in your life. Take care of yourself, eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly.
• Sun. Avoid the midday sun, and wear a wide-brimmed hat. Use sunscreen on your face every day.
• Weather conditions.Avoid or limit your exposure to wind and hot or cold temperatures.
• Wind exposure. Protect your face from the wind in any temperature. Wear a scarf over your cheeks and nose to help protect your skin from the cold and wind.

These triggers cause the blood vessels in the face to relax and open wider (dilate), producing a sudden increase in blood flow and causing the face to flush. Triggers for flushing affect people differently—a trigger that affects one person may not affect another in the same way.