The second in our series about Rosacea explores and triggers that may cause an attack
There still appears to be much discussion as to the actual causes of rosacea, however there is general consenus that the symptoms are triggered by certain internal and/or external influences.
It is important to realize that rosacea is not ‘infectious,’ and cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
Rosacea Diagnosis
There is no specific test for rosacea. It is usually diagnosed by a health professional simply looking at your skin and asking a few simple questions regarding
Ancestry—people of Celtic or Northern European descent are more likely to have rosacea
Family history—you’re more likely to have rosacea if someone in your family has it as well
Medications—reactions to certain medications can cause symptoms similar to rosacea
| Family History |
30% of patients with rosacea have a family history of the disease. This means that if rosacea runs in your family, you’re more likely to have it Yourself. Powell 2005 |
| Light Complexion |
People with fair or light skin, especially those of Celtic or Northern European ancestry, are at greater risk. Powell 2005 |
| Age | People between the ages of 30 and 60 are more likely to develop rosacea, especially women of this age going through menopause. Mayo Clinic |
| Flushing |
People that experience frequent flushing or blushing are more likely to be diagnosed with rosacea. Mayo Clinic |
Rosacea Causes, Triggers, and Risk Factors
Although the exact cause of rosacea is not known, researchers think that both genetic and environmental factors play a role.
Almost one third of people with rosacea have a family history of the disease, which suggests that genetics are important in this disease. People with rosacea also find that there are several environmental factors that “trigger” their rosacea.
You may notice that some of these factors in your daily life trigger your rosacea symptoms such as facial flushing. Triggers can be very different from one person to the next and some people may have more than one trigger!
| Trigger |
Patients Affected, % |
| Sun exposure | 81 |
| Emotional stress | 79 |
| Hot weather | 75 |
| Wind | 57 |
| Heavy exercise | 56 |
| Alcohol consumption | 52 |
| Hot baths | 51 |
| Cold weather | 46 |
| Spicy foods | 45 |
| Humidity | 44 |
| Indoor heat | 41 |
| Certain skin care products | 41 |
| Heated beverages | 36 |
| Certain cosmetics | 27 |
| Medications | 15 |
| Medical conditions | 15 |
| Certain fruits | 13 |
| Marinated meats | 10 |
| Certain vegetables | 9 |
| Dairy products | 8 |
* Data based on an unscientific survey by the National Rosacea Society of 1066 patients with rosacea.
Observing what triggers reactions and minimizing them will obviously also minimize reactions.
Our next blog in the series will discuss the benefits of laser treatment for Rosacea, how it works and more specifically how we treat it at Lyte.
