Stress:But of course, stress would be a trigger. Dealing with rosacea can feel a bit like walking on eggshells, which can be stressful. Plus, stress is an unfortunately common component of our lives. Stress and anxiety can be a tripwire for the condition.
Exercise:To add insult to injury, one of the best ways to reduce the aforementioned stress—exercise—can also trigger a reaction. Exercise, while it helps with stress and anxiety, raises your heart rate, making your face flushed from the increased blood flow. This increase in blood flow and increased body temperature can trigger a reaction.
Spicy Foods:Hot drinks and spicy foods are considered thermogenic—meaning they produce heat in the body. And, you guessed it, that can cause your rosacea to flare up. Anything that causes the body to heat up—and the blood vessels in the skin to dilate more easily—can be seen as a trigger. This explains why hot temperatures, alcohol, hot beverages, and spicy foods can make rosacea worse.
Witch Hazel:The most common skincare ingredients to avoid for people with rosacea symptoms are alcohol and witch hazel, which are very common in astringents, toners, and exfoliating products.
Extreme Temperatures:If you have rosacea, the experts recommend avoiding pretty much any form of inclement weather, be it very hot or very cold. Heat is especially known for its rosacea-inducing abilities. Any environmental factors that make your blood vessels dilate can cause a flare-up of rosacea.
Incorrect Skincare:In terms of products, it’s extremely important to always check the ingredients. Specifically for cosmetics, here are all the ones you should avoid: alcohol, synthetic fragrance, witch hazel, tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, hydroquinone, menthol, eucalyptus oil, peppermint, harsh detergents, and anything that will dehydrate the skin because it will increase flare-ups.
Alcohol:My least favorite to report is that your favorite wine may be causing flare-ups. Alas, It’s a red wine that typically is the most reactive, according to the National Rosacea Society. If you do drink, the least reactive alcohol was vodka, in case you were wondering.
