As the holiday season approaches, rosacea sufferers may be concerned about rosacea triggers.
Holiday stress, rich foods, and cold weather can all combine to increase rosacea breakouts, making it difficult to avoid redness and irritation.
We’ve got some simple strategies you can use to keep your skin calm and glowing all season long.
11 common causes of holiday rosacea and how to avoid them
Knowing your triggers is vital to keeping your skin clear of rosacea breakouts.
It’s also important to use quality fragrance-free skin care that won’t make your symptoms worse. CV Skinlabs products were specifically designed to help with skin conditions such as rosacea. All our formulations are clinically proven to reduce redness, irritation, inflammation and itching.
Try applying the Rescue & Relief Spray, followed by the Calming Moisture to soothe the skin and reduce the redness, irritation and small bumps that are indicative of rosacea. You will see a noticeable transformation in your skin!
1. Holiday stress
The excitement and stress of planning holiday gatherings, shopping, traveling, gatherings with family, and more can trigger rosacea symptoms. Stress is one of the biggest triggers for rosacea, leading to more redness and breakouts.
Tips to help:
Incorporate some type of stress-relieving activity into your daily routine. Try a few minutes of deep breathing, 5-10 minutes of meditation, exercise and daily walking, music and art therapy, or anything that helps you relax. (I’ve been taking good baths to reduce stress!)
Take “me time” sometime during the week to keep stress levels in check. The more you can smooth out your stress, the better your skin will be.
2. Rich, spicy foods
Holiday foods are often rich and spicy. Unfortunately, spicy foods commonly trigger rosacea flare-ups, as they can cause blood vessels to dilate and worsen the redness.
Tips to help:
Identify and try to avoid foods that you know affect you. Spicy foods, tomatoes, and chocolate are some common triggers for rosacea sufferers. If you’re at a party, try smaller portions if you’re not sure. Pair spicy dishes with refreshing cucumbers and salads to minimize their effects.
3. Alcohol
Alcohol, especially red wine, is a known rosacea trigger. It can dilate blood vessels and lead to flare-ups, worsening redness.
Tips to help:
Prefer non-alcoholic drinks most of the time. Opt for sparkling water or mocktails instead. If you do, choose a lighter alcohol option, such as white wine or a light cocktail, and drink water in between to stay hydrated.
4. Hot Drinks
Hot tea, coffee, hot chocolate and other hot beverages are all comforting in cold weather. Unfortunately, this heat can cause a flare-up. The heat from the drink warms your face and can cause redness.
Tips to help:
Allow your drink to cool slightly before drinking.
5. Cold Weather and Wind
Cold air, especially when it comes with wind, irritates sensitive, rosacea-prone skin. Cold temperatures also strip moisture from the skin, while air leads to further irritation and redness.
Tips to help:
Protect your skin from the elements by wearing a scarf and hat when outside, covering as much of your face as possible. Apply our Calming Moisture before heading out as it will act as a healthy, protective barrier and help keep skin calm.
6. Overheated Indoor Spaces
Going from the cold outside to a heated indoor room can cause blood vessels to dilate, leading to facial flushing.
Tips to help:
Try to keep your indoor environment at a moderate temperature. If you are visiting someone else’s home or a public building and you feel you are overheating, go outside for a few minutes of fresh air. Staying hydrated and avoiding hot drinks can also help.
7. Heavy Holiday Makeup
It’s fun to get all dolled up for a party, but heavy foundations and blushes can irritate sensitive skin. Some makeup products may also contain fragrances and harsh chemicals that can make rosacea worse.
Tips to help:
Choose makeup products that are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and designed for sensitive skin. Mineral-based makeup can be a good choice as it tends to be milder. Use Rescue & Relief Spray as a toner, then apply Calming Moisture before makeup. It can serve as a barrier between your skin and your makeup, protecting the skin and keeping it hydrated.
Then, make sure you always cleanse your face before bed, removing all makeup with a mild cleanser and perhaps a soft cleansing brush.
8. Festive desserts and sweet treats
Diets high in sugar have been linked to inflammation, which worsens rosacea symptoms. Even if you don’t normally eat a lot of sugar, it’s hard to avoid it during the holidays when there are so many tempting treats.
Tips to help:
Enjoy sweets in moderation. Whenever possible, choose desserts with less sugar. Best choices include fruit, dark chocolate, gingerbread, figs, bread pudding, baked apples, and any low-sugar treats.
9. Lack of sleep
It’s often harder to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night during the holiday season. Lack of sleep can weaken the skin barrier, increase inflammation, and worsen rosacea symptoms.
Tips to help:
Try to go to bed and get up at the same time, even on weekends. Create a relaxing bedtime routine that helps you wind down after a stressful day. Dim the lights at least an hour before bed and avoid bringing any technology—including your phone, tablet, and TV—into your bedroom. Light can affect your sleep hormones. Make sure your bedroom is cool and dark, and if noise is interfering with your sleep, try a white noise machine or fan.
10. Travel and Climate Change
If you are traveling to another area where the climate is different, this may shock your sensitive skin. Maybe you’re going from a typically wet area to a dry one. Without some extra care, your skin can break out with redness and inflammation.
Tips to help:
Do everything you can to prepare your skin for the change. Start by hydrating with our Calming Moisture before you leave. Carry a travel size of Rescue + Relief Spray with you and mist on your skin whenever it starts to feel dry. Then, do your best to stick to your regular skin care routine in your new destination.
11. Scented holiday candles and air fresheners
Scented products can help create a holiday atmosphere in a room, but many contain chemicals that can irritate rosacea-prone skin, especially if you get too close to the source.
Tips to help:
If you’re hosting, choose unscented or lightly scented candles, or use essential oil diffusers with soothing oils like chamomile and lavender. If you’re visiting others, try sitting further away from candles or strong-smelling sprays to reduce potential irritation.
Struggling with rosacea triggers?
Featured image from Kaboompics.com via Pexels.
