What Triggers Rosacea?

What causes rosacea flare ups?

Whilst it is not known what causes rosacea, there are a number of triggers that could make symptoms worse.

These triggers include:

• Alcohol
• Hot drinks, especially those including caffeine
• Emotional influences such as stress and anxiety
• Harsh weather conditions
• Aerobic type exercise
• Certain foods, especially spicy food and foods high in histamine
• Skin care products that include harsh chemicals and ingredients, such as alcohol, witch hazel and fragrances

In addition to medical treatment, understanding and avoiding lifestyle and environmental factors that may trigger flare-ups can help maintain the condition and reduce symptoms.

What foods trigger Rosacea?

Triggers vary from person to person, therefore it can be difficult to categorically state what foods trigger rosacea. However, there are common foods / food groups that individuals suffering from rosacea have reported to have triggered flare-ups. These include:

• Spicy foods
• Foods high in histamine or “histamine liberators” such as fermented foods, spices and certain fruits such as bananas and citrus fruits
• Foods high in cinnamaldehyde such as cinnamon, tomatoes, chocolate and citrus fruits

It's important to determine which foods affect your symptoms as some foods and drinks may cause flare-ups in some people with rosacea, but not others.

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