Can Stress Cause Rosacea To Flare Up? 3 Common Triggers & What To Do
Many factors can cause a rosacea flareup, but managing key triggers such as stress, can drastically improve symptoms.
How Do I Manage My Rosacea?
An estimated 14 million people in the US have rosacea, impacting either the face or neck. A common chronic skin condition, rosacea, often begins around age 60. Characterized by redness, pimples, and broken blood vessels, rosacea is most common in fair-skinned people and women experiencing menopause. While rosacea may be caused by an overactive immune system, heredity, or environmental factors, patients can manage discomfort by keeping track of things that trigger flareups. To effectively manage symptoms, many physicians recommend keeping an eye on critical activators such as stress, weather and certain food and drinks.
Practicing mindfulness
While the 4 types of rosacea are not uncommon, patient stress levels can majorly impact the severity of symptoms. Numerous physicians recommend using stress management techniques such as breathing exercises, journaling and meditation to alleviate flareups. Maintaining appropriate stress levels is especially important with rosacea, which can cause thickening of the skin and frequent breakouts if left untreated. Doctors highlight the importance of early intervention to avoid nearly constant skin redness.
Preventing damage
As common with many skin conditions, extreme weather frequently worsens rosacea. Temperature extremes of all varieties cause dilation of blood vessels, leading to increasingly visible red veins on the face. While controlling weather is impossible, patients can use topical products to minimize potential skin damage. Heavier balms and moisturizers should be applied before going out in the wind or heat, serving as a shield to sensitive or irritated skin.
Limiting allergens and irritants
Spicy food, alcohol and dairy: all commonplace allergens are foods most people avoid as this condition may worsen with consumption. Foods containing histamine sometimes slip through the radar. Tomatoes, citrus fruit, legumes, chocolate, and nuts all contain histamine, making red blood vessels dilate. To avoid activating a rosacea outbreak, dieticians recommend eliminating foods from the diet until symptoms calm down.
Keeping rosacea in check
A recent study reveals that approximately 70% of people with rosacea report that the condition lowered overall self-confidence and self-esteem. Activators such as stress, weather and specific food and drink can drastically impact the severity of rosacea, both positively and negatively. By mapping out triggers, patients can calm the reddening of the skin while minimizing the dilation of the blood vessels. While rosacea is very common, severe symptoms can cause a notably negative impact on a person’s life. By staying cognizant of triggers and prioritizing management, many with rosacea can return to regular activities quickly.