Dealing With Rosacea in the Summertime

As a rosacea sufferer, you find ways to avoid triggers and manage flare-ups all year long. But during the summer months, especially when it’s hot and sticky in New York City, you’re faced with additional environmental and lifestyle factors that can aggravate your condition. For many people, rosacea is at its worst in the summertime. 

Here at Manhattan Dermatology, with convenient locations in Murray Hill and Midtown East, our highly skilled dermatologists can help you manage your rosacea symptoms all year long. If you’re dealing with rosacea flare-ups this summer, follow these tips to keep it under control while the temperatures are still in the “hot and muggy” zone. 

Summertime triggers are a triple threat for rosacea

According to a recent National Rosacea Society survey,, 61% of rosacea sufferers rank sun exposure as their biggest trigger. Another 53% blame hot weather for their summertime flare-ups, and 39% report vigorous exercise as their biggest instigator. So, basically, if you’re outside on your way to work, or spending a weekend at the shore, and you exercise to stay fit, summertime in NYC is a triple threat for triggering rosacea symptoms. 

Think about all the outdoor activities you participate in during the summer when beautiful weather beckons you outside — golf, tennis, swimming, or simply attending more outdoor events, barbecues, and celebrations. Maybe you spend even more time outside during your lunch hour or you enjoy sitting outside on the ferry during your daily commute. Unfortunately, if you’re a rosacea sufferer, all these factors can make it harder to control flare-ups and manage symptoms. 

You can minimize flare-ups

Just because you have rosacea doesn’t mean you should sit home and miss all the summertime fun. Instead, find ways to minimize flare-ups when you exercise, at social events, and anytime you’re outside. 

During workouts

Medically speaking, when it’s hotter outside, blood flow to your skin increases. When you exercise or sweat, your glands work harder to keep you cool, which, inadvertently makes your rosacea symptoms worse. 

• Exercise early in the morning or later in the day when temperatures are cooler and the sun isn’t as hot and shining directly on your face.
• Exercise indoors where it’s air-conditioned to keep your skin temperature regulated.
• Spritz your face with cool water during your weekend yoga class or tennis match.
• Suck on ice chips to keep the blood supply to your face cool.

At social events

A busy social calendar can lead to extra stress and indulging in foods and drinks that can trigger rosacea flare-ups. 

• Minimize stress through meditation or deep breathing to calm your nerves before or after stressful social occasions.
• Avoid alcohol if it’s one of your rosacea triggers, or opt for alternating between lighter drinks, like white wine spritzers, and cold water.
• Limit your intake of spicy foods that can trigger the redness of rosacea.

In the sun

Since you’re probably spending more time outside this summer, remember to protect your sensitive skin to minimize the risk of flare-ups. 

• Wear plenty of sunscreen anytime you’re outside.
• Wear a hat to protect your face.
• Avoid getting a sunburn when you’re at the beach or an outdoor event.

If you take medication to help manage rosacea symptoms, don’t forget to take it regularly, and certainly pack it to take with you when you go out of town on vacation. And if medication and lifestyle modifications aren’t enough to keep your rosacea under control this summer, consider nonablative laser treatments to reduce the appearance of spider veins and blood vessels that appear more prominently on the surface of your facial skin. 

At Manhattan Dermatology, we’re here to help you enjoy summer and reduce the outward and inward stresses of having rosacea. If you need some extra help dealing with rosacea this summer, our expert dermatologists can customize a treatment plan that works best for your particular condition. 

Give us a call today at the office closest to you, or book an appointment online.