December 11, 2023
2 min read
What Makes Rosacea Worse?
Rosacea is a relatively common skin concern, affecting 16 million people in the US only. Though not much is known about the cause of rosacea, if you surf the net, you’ll find plenty of articles giving you advice what to do and what not to in order to keep rosacea at bay. Today, we’ve decided to summarize all that info in one post where you'll learn more about 3 of the most common external factors that are known to worsen rosacea.
Spicy & Hot
Spicy foods, as well as hot beverages/foods, cause your blood vessels to dilate and increase blood flow to the skin surface which leads to more redness and in some cases – unpleasant burning sensation. When you are already red, because rosacea is messing up with your skin tone, the last thing you need is something that will make you redder.
Does that mean you have to eat bland meals only? Not at all! There are many herbs you can incorporate into your diet, to make your favourite meals taste better. Try rosemary, basil, turmeric, sweet curry, oregano, etc. You’d be surprised how good they taste!
Alcohol & Coffee
In my previous article, I’ve already mentioned that increase alcohol and
coffee intake are NOT what causes rosacea in the first place. If someone is trying to sell you that claim, please don’t buy it – it’s not true. Nevertheless, both alcohol and caffeine can worsen rosacea if consumed excessively. The reason both substances provoke flare-ups is that they alter your blood pressure, affecting the blood flow to your skin – the more blood riches the surface of your skin, the redder it would appear. Apart from that, both caffeine and alcohol decrease the absorption of vitamin C. When your body lacks vitamin C the walls of the blood vessel become more fragile which leads to more broken capillaries, hence more redness.
Does that mean you'll have to stop enjoying your morning latte or a glass of wine every once in a while? Luckily, no. Just make sure to consume alcohol and caffeine-containing beverages in moderation.
If you want to have a glass of wine, but you are afraid your face will turn red immediately after, there is a quick fix - spray some rose mist all over your face (preferably one that you store in your fridge, for an additional cooling effect) and you'll notice that the redness and the burning sensation will go be reduced immediately.
What to Try: Lamav Rose Hydrating Mist
Sun Exposure
I know you love the sun but sadly it’s one of the worst enemies of healthy skin (right after not-removing-your-makeup-before-bed). Not only that excess sun exposure causes premature aging and hyperpigmentation, but it burns the outer layer of your skin, making it more susceptible to external damage and irritations. According to several studies, sun exposure is actually one of the most common rosacea triggers. For some individuals it can even cause acne-like breakouts.
How to avoid sun-induced flare-up? Always (always!) apply sunscreen when you go out (even if it’s cloudy) and make sure the product you are using has Broad Spectrum SPF (i.e. protects from both UVA and UVB rays)
What to Try: Lamav Mineral Foundation with SPF15
