Know Your Rosacea Triggers
In addition to medical therapy, rosacea patients can improve their chances of maintaining remission by identifying and avoiding lifestyle and environmental factors that may trigger flare-ups or aggravate their individual conditions. Identifying these factors is an individual process, however, because what causes a flare-up for one person may have no effect on another.
Below are lists of common rosacea trigger factors that may affect various individuals. The first was compiled from patient histories, and the second lists results of a patient survey by the National Rosacea Society. Neither list necessarily includes everything that may cause a flare-up, but they may be helpful in determining one’s own trigger factors. Patients are encouraged to keep a diary of daily activities or events and relate them to any flare-ups they may experience.
While the list of potential rosacea triggers in various individuals may be endless, a survey of 1,066 rosacea patients found that the most common factors included the following:
| Factors | Percent Affected |
| Sun exposure | 81% |
| Emotional stress | 79% |
| Hot weather | 75% |
| Wind | 57% |
| Heavy exercise | 56% |
| Alcohol consumption | 52% |
| Hot baths | 51% |
| Cold weather | 46% |
| Spicy foods | 45% |
| Humidity | 44% |
| Indoor heat | 41% |
| Certain skin-care products | 41% |
| Heated beverages | 36% |
| Certain cosmetics | 27% |
| Medications | 15% |
| Medical conditions | 15% |
| Certain fruits | 13% |
| Marinated meats | 10% |
| Certain vegetables | 9% |
| Dairy products | 8% |
