Rosacea can't be cured permanently, but daily habits can help keep flares down. The core routine: learn your personal triggers, wear a gentle broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, wash with a mild cleanser, skip irritating ingredients, and shield your face from heat, cold and wind. These steps work best alongside a treatment plan from a dermatologist, because rosacea is controlled rather than cured.
Use the checklist below as a starting point, then adjust it to your own skin.
Keep a trigger diary
Rosacea triggers differ from person to person. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) lists these common ones:
- Sun, heat, cold and wind
- Hot baths, hot showers and hot drinks
- Spicy foods
- Alcohol, especially red wine
- Strenuous exercise
- Emotional stress
- Some skin care, hair care and makeup products
- Certain medicines
The AAD suggests keeping a diary for at least two weeks to find yours. Each day, write down:
- What you ate and drank, including hot drinks and alcohol
- Every product you put on your face and hair
- The weather and how long you were outdoors
- Exercise, stress and anything unusual
- When your face flushed, and how bad it was on a 1 to 5 scale
If you can't always tell when you're flushing, notice when your cheeks feel warm, or ask someone close to you to point it out. After a few weeks, look for items that keep showing up before a flare. Those are your likely triggers.
A note on medicines: the AAD says some medicines for blood pressure, heart conditions, anxiety, migraines and glaucoma, as well as vitamin B3 (niacin), may worsen rosacea. Don't stop a medicine on your own. Ask the doctor who prescribed it whether it could play a role.
Daily sun protection and gentle cleansing
Sun is one of the most common triggers, so sunscreen is an everyday step, not just a beach-day step.
Sun checklist
- Broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, every day, including cloudy days
- Fragrance-free. The AAD says mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or both are the least likely to irritate.
- Tinted or micronized mineral formulas can reduce a white cast, especially on darker skin
- A wide-brimmed hat, shade, and less time outside at midday
Cleansing checklist
- Wash twice a day with a mild cleanser rather than bar soap
- Use your fingertips and lukewarm water; skip washcloths, sponges and scrubbing
- Pat dry with a soft, clean towel, then let your face dry for a few minutes
- Apply any prescribed rosacea medicine first, then a gentle moisturizer
- If lotions or gels sting, try a cream
Label checks: fragrance, harsh exfoliants and other irritants
Before you buy a new product, read the ingredient list. The AAD advises people with rosacea to avoid products containing:
- Alcohol
- Camphor
- Fragrance
- Glycolic acid or lactic acid
- Menthol
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (common in shampoos and toothpastes)
- Urea
More label tips:
- Choose "fragrance-free" over "unscented." Unscented products can still contain fragrance used to mask other smells.
- Look for products labeled for sensitive skin and "non-comedogenic" (won't clog pores).
- Skip astringents, toners, scrubs and exfoliating products.
- Try a new product on a small area for a few days before using it on your whole face.
- For makeup, water-based or powder formulas tend to be gentler. A green-tinted concealer can help tone down redness. Avoid waterproof makeup and heavy foundation.
Seasonal shifts: cold wind outdoors, dry heat indoors
Brooklyn winters bring two triggers at once: cold, windy air outside and hot, dry radiator heat inside.
Outdoors in cold weather
- Cover your face up to just below the eyes with a soft scarf. The AAD suggests silk or acrylic rather than wool.
- Keep using sunscreen and moisturizer, even in winter
- Limit long stretches in the wind when you can
Indoors with the heat on
- Sit away from radiators, space heaters and fireplaces
- Take warm, not hot, showers and baths
- Dress in layers so you can cool down quickly
- If you start to overheat, try a cool, damp cloth on your neck, a cold drink, or a fan
In summer
- Exercise during cooler parts of the day, in air conditioning, or in the water
- Keep cold water and a cool towel nearby
- Let hot coffee or tea cool to lukewarm, or switch to iced
Food, drink and stress, all year
- If spicy foods are a trigger, try milder versions first
- If alcohol is a trigger, the AAD suggests limiting drinks, alternating with cold water, or skipping alcohol
- Regular stress relief, such as walking, meditation or slow, deep breathing, may help with stress-related flares
What self-care can't replace: medical rosacea care
A daily routine can reduce flares, but it doesn't treat the inflammation behind rosacea. Depending on your symptoms, a dermatologist may recommend prescription creams or gels, oral medicine for more stubborn bumps or eye symptoms, or treatment for visible blood vessels. There is still no permanent fix. Even the lasers and light treatments some dermatologists use for visible blood vessels don't stop new ones from forming, according to the AAD. And patience matters: the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases says it can take 3 months or longer to see results from rosacea treatment.
Bay Ridge Dermatology treats rosacea as part of its medical dermatology care. A clinician can confirm the diagnosis, since rosacea can be mistaken for acne, eczema or seborrheic dermatitis, and build a plan that fits your skin and your triggers. Individual results vary.
Bay Ridge's IPL (intense pulsed light) service is offered for hair reduction. If you're hoping for a laser or light treatment aimed at redness, ask the office about options before you book.
When to see a dermatologist
See a dermatologist if:
- Redness doesn't fade between flares, or you notice small visible blood vessels
- You have pimple-like bumps, burning or stinging
- You aren't sure whether it's rosacea
- Flares keep coming even though you're avoiding your triggers
- The skin on your nose or cheeks is getting thicker or bumpier
- Rosacea is affecting your confidence or daily life
Eye symptoms need prompt attention. Dry, gritty, burning or red eyes, or swollen eyelids, can be a sign of rosacea affecting the eyes. See a doctor promptly, and get care right away for eye pain or changes in your vision.
If you'd like help putting a plan together, you can book online or call (347) 497-4984. Our new patient page explains forms and what to bring.
This article is general information, not medical advice. For advice about your own skin, see a dermatologist.