The term “rosacea triggers” describes anything that leads to the emergence of or to an increase of the symptoms of rosacea. This open definition takes in the wide variety of unique conditions that people experience that cause their rosacea symptoms to flare up.
While there is a large variety of rosacea triggers, it’s clear to see there is a common theme in many of the triggers: heat. This comes in many different forms, such as:
Sun Exposure. Heat from the sun is a huge trigger for many people, and obviously something that is hard to manage when you live in the real world. For this reason, it’s often suggested to wear sunscreen lotion (SP30+) along with a hat when outdoors.
Spicy Foods. This is a tough one, as the taste for spicy food does not concede to the logic that it acts as a rosacea trigger!
Hot Drinks. Hot drinks such as coffee or hot tea are common triggers.
Hot Water. Taking a shower with water that’s too hot is another common trigger. Additionally, and in the same aspect, heated pools and hot tubs are also included in this category.
Intense Exercise. This trigger is an interesting one. At first glance it’s puzzling but it makes sense. Performing intense cardiovascular exercise or lifting weights can heat up the body. This heat in turn then acts as a trigger.
Stress. Stress is an underrated rosacea trigger. It’s one of the most common triggers yet the hardest to treat, as it’s not simply a case of avoiding this or that, but rather, changing how a person interacts with their emotions and their environment. Second to sun exposure, this is the most common rosacea trigger.
Wind and Cold Weather. At the other side of sun exposure, being exposed to windy conditions or, separate from this or in combination to it, cold weather, functions as a trigger.
Alcoholic Beverages. Along with spicy foods, this is another tough one, as alcohol is another common trigger.
Misc Triggers: Many more than what’s above, including diverse things such as vegetables, dairy products, marinated meats, cosmetics, skin care products, medication, and even sex, which perhaps acts as a trigger in the same was exercise can act as a trigger.
Unmasking ones own triggers is a crucial part of taking responsibility over ones skin condition and overall health if you have rosacea. Many dermatologists recommend a simple method of having a notepad or journal handy for jotting down some basic details of when you have a rosacea flareup, noting what you were doing, describing the symptoms experience, a description of their intensity, and any relevant environmental conditions or situation details that may act to bring on your symptoms. Over time, and in combination with what is already known about rosacea triggers in general, this information can help detect simple patterns that reveal an individuals own rosacea triggers.
