Tips for Preventing Flare-ups

Tips for Preventing Flare-ups

• Keep a daily diary to identify lifestyle factors that worsen your rosacea. Make a note of all flushing episodes or other flare-ups of symptoms. Also, write down the foods you eat, any new skin-care products you try, your activities (including the weather/temperature at the time), your medications, and other possible factors. Use your notes to determine which factors affect you.
• Always protect your skin from the sun. Wear protective clothing and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
• Avoid extreme temperatures—both heat and cold.
• Exercise regularly, but do so in a cool environment.
• Avoid cosmetics and other skin-care products that contain alcohol, fragrances, and other potential irritants.
• Avoid foods that dilate blood vessels, such as hot drinks, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, and spicy foods.
• Cleanse your skin twice daily. Do so gently—without rubbing the skin with a washcloth or towel.
• Take steps to better manage the stress in your life.
• Seek care from a physician who is a skin specialist. With the right medications, lifestyle changes, and laser and/or other light therapies, you can successfully reduce your symptoms and keep your rosacea under control.