5 Expert Tips For Avoiding Rosacea Flare-Ups During Summer

Enjoying the sunshine is what summer’s all about – but sun exposure, plus hot and humid weather can sometimes be troublesome for rosacea flare ups. Remember, if you’re struggling with rosacea symptoms, we offer a range of rosacea treatments that can help – get in touch to find out more. Meanwhile, here are 5 tips for managing summer rosacea triggers – so you can embrace the joys of the season feeling confident and in control:

1: Nail your suncare

Protecting skin in the sun is important for everyone – and it’s also a vital part of rosacea skincare. However, since certain ingredients can sometimes further irritate problematic skin, look for gentle suncare products specially formulated for the face and sensitive, rash-prone skin, with a high SPF. It’s a good idea to make this part of your daily skincare regime all summer long – not just something you apply when you’re sunbathing or on the beach, for instance – even if it’s cloudy. Spending hours outdoors? A sunhat will also help keep some shade on your face.

2: Keep well hydrated

Hydration plays a big role in skin health, and this applies to managing rosacea flare-ups too. Remember, it’s a good idea to increase your water intake when it’s hot, especially if you’re spending time outdoors in the sun, so invest in a good reusable water bottle you can carry with you and take regular sips throughout the day. This will help you stay cool in hot weather too, which will further reduce those pesky heat-induced flare-ups.

3: Avoid strenuous exercise in the heat

Being active is great for physical and mental wellbeing all round, but strenuous exercise can sometimes feature among rosacea triggers. This doesn’t mean you have to ditch those HIIT sessions – it’s just a question of making adjustments to help manage rosacea symptoms. During summer, avoid working out during the hottest part of the day, which is generally around lunch time, and opt for a morning or evening workout instead. You might find indoor exercise (preferably somewhere with air-con!) is helpful too, and wearing breathable, sweat-wicking fabrics and drinking plenty of water will help regulate your body temperature.

4: Be mindful of your alcohol intake

Summer’s a great time for getting social – and rosacea shouldn’t stop you from joining in with those after-work beer garden drinks and weekend barbecues. Alcohol is a common rosacea trigger however, so if you are planning to enjoy a few drinks, a bit of forethought could help minimise flare-ups. Alternating alcoholic drinks with soft drinks or, even better, a glass of water is a good tactic. If you enjoy a glass of wine, but know it tends to trigger a bout of facial flushes, how about making it a spritzer by adding some soda water, or a few ice-cubes? It’s all about finding the balance that works for you.

5: Keep stress in check

We tend to think of summer as a relaxed time, but there can be stressful elements too (rushing around to get things done before a holiday, getting hot and flustered on a stuffy commute, a jam-packed social calendar that suddenly seems a little overwhelming?!). Stress is a common trigger for any skin conditions, including rosacea, so taking steps to manage stress is really important. This might mean carving out space for ‘me time’ and activities that help you switch off and rebalance. And if there are any particular summer-stresses troubling you, are there adjustments you could make to help? It might be something as simple as carrying a pocket fan and cold bottle of water on public transport, to minimise overheating.