What triggers flare-ups of rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting the face, characterised by periods of remission and flare-ups. Patients often notice that redness, rashes and a burning sensation worsen following certain events: exposure to the sun, alcohol consumption or stress. However, it is important to understand the difference between the causes of the condition and the factors that trigger its flare-ups.

Causes and triggers: what’s the difference?

Rosacea is a multifactorial condition. It is underpinned by a combination of vascular abnormalities, immune system dysfunction, genetic predisposition and impaired skin barrier function. It is these factors that determine whether the condition will develop in a particular individual.

Triggers are external and internal factors which do not cause rosacea on their own, but are capable of causing the condition to progress from remission to a flare-up. In other words, a person without a predisposition to rosacea may be exposed to the same triggers without any effect on their skin.

The main triggers of rosacea

The most common factors that provoke flare-ups include:

• Stress and emotional strain — these affect vascular tone and intensify the skin’s inflammatory response.
• Prolonged exposure to the sun — ultraviolet radiation is one of the most potent triggers, as it damages blood vessels and exacerbates inflammation.
• Sudden changes in temperature — in particular, moving from the cold into a warm room, which causes blood vessels to dilate sharply.
• Spicy food and alcohol — particularly red wine, hot drinks and spices, which stimulate a vascular response.
• Taking certain medicines — certain groups of medicines can increase the skin’s vascular reactivity.
• Harsh cosmetics — alcohol-based products, scrubs, acid peels and other products that disrupt the skin’s barrier function.

Why avoiding triggers does not solve the problem

Many patients with rosacea are well aware of their individual triggers and try to avoid them. This does indeed help to reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups. However, avoiding triggers is not a treatment and does not address the underlying cause of the condition.

Rosacea develops as a result of a combination of several factors acting simultaneously — vascular, immune and genetic. Without targeted treatment, blood vessels that have lost their tone do not recover on their own, and the inflammatory process in the skin continues to progress even during periods without visible flare-ups.

A comprehensive approach to treatment

Effective rosacea therapy involves addressing several aspects of the condition simultaneously: strengthening the vascular wall, reducing inflammatory activity, restoring the skin’s barrier functions, and correcting vascular manifestations using non-invasive techniques.

The “Pravilna Kosmetologiya” clinic has been providing comprehensive treatment for rosacea for around 20 years. An individualised approach to each patient allows us to select the optimal combination of treatment methods depending on the stage of the condition, skin type and the vascular symptoms present.