Winter winds and cold weather are common triggers. If you find that your rosacea flares in winter, here are tips that can help diminish flare-ups:

• Protect your face. Covering your face with a scarf or ski mask helps protect it from the wind and cold. Just make sure that if it touches your face, it is not made of wool or a fabric that feels rough to the touch. Wool and rough-feeling fabrics can irritate the skin.
• Protect your eyes. Wear sunglasses that shield your eyes from both the UVA and UVB rays
• Apply sunscreen. The sun’s reflective powers are great year round — 17% on the sand and 80% on the snow. Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more on exposed skin helps protect your skin.
• Use a barrier-repair product. Protective creams and other topicals that create a barrier on your skin help to shield it. Your dermatologist can help you find a product that does not irritate your skin.
• Wear loose, layered clothing. This allows you to stay warm and remove layers as needed to prevent overheating.
• Reduce indoor heating. Indoor heat can cause a flare-up. When possible set the thermostat to a temperature that does not trigger your rosacea.
• Avoid sitting near a lit fireplace or stove. Becoming overheated often triggers rosacea.
• Prevent heat from blowing on your face. When in a car, set the heat so that it does not blow directly on your face.
• Limit consumption of heated beverages and alcohol. If these are triggers, limiting consumption or avoiding them can help.
• Avoid hot showers, hot baths, saunas, and steam. All of these open blood vessels, which can cause rosacea to flare. Hot water also can irritate rosacea-prone skin. When possible, wash rosacea-prone skin with lukewarm water.

If you have any questions about how to handle your rosacea-prone skin, Parkway Skin Centre’s staff is always available for consultation.