Summertime is filled with warm weather and loads of fun activities, but it can also bring the risk of flares for those people managing rosacea. Why? “The sun is one of the most common triggers of rosacea, period,” says Kenneth Mark, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist with offices in the New York City area and Aspen, Colorado.
Unfortunately, that’s not all. Ayelet Mizrachi-Jonisch, MD, a dermatologist based in Katonah, New York, says heat and humidity, which are so common during the summer months, can also cause problems. A survey published in Rosacea Review, the newsletter of the National Rosacea Society, found that virtually all of the 739 respondents took measures to manage potential rosacea flares from sun and heat, and 88 percent reported that these mitigation tactics were helpful.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a flare could result in skin being flushed for hours after you’re out of the sun. Dr. Mark says that may be accompanied by pimples and pustules, or it could be more severe and lead to full-blown red, tender, painful cystic lesions.
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It’s important to try to limit flares because they tend to make rosacea flushing worse and more permanent each time. “Treatments which have worked in the past may become ineffective, and rosacea may progress and involve other areas of the skin,” Dr. Mizrachi-Jonisch says. “Repeated flushing events may lead to permanent reddening of the skin.”
Hence it’s a good idea to try to avoid flares from occurring. That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun this summer — just make sure you have these items on hand before heading out for a day in the sun.
Bring Along a Hat to Shade Your Face From the Sun
To minimize your risk of a flare, you’ll want to protect your face from the sun as much as possible. A wide-brimmed hat should do the trick, Mizrachi-Jonisch says. Don’t only wear hats when you’re heading to the beach, though. The AAD says it’s a good idea to wear one any time you go outside. A good way to tell if your hat provides enough coverage is to hold it up to the sun. If you can’t see any direct light through the fabric, it has enough SPF protection to keep you safe.
Pack an Umbrella for Full-Body Coverage on the Beach
Here’s the golden rule of managing your rosacea on the beach: Seek shade wherever possible. Mizrachi-Jonisch says if the beach you’re going to doesn’t provide umbrellas, bring your own and stay under it as much as you can, especially midday when the sun is strongest.
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Slather on Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen With at Least SPF 30
The AAD says it’s important that rosacea patients apply sunscreen every day, not just in the summer months. Make it a broad-spectrum sunscreen that contains an SPF of at least 30. Mineral sunscreens, such as those with only titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or both, are safe bets for patients with rosacea and sensitive skin. The National Rosacea Society recommends applying sunscreen 30 minutes before leaving the house to give it time to fully absorb. Then reapply every two hours, or more often if you’re sweaty or head into the water for a swim.
Grab a Water Bottle to Ward Off Dehydration, Which Can Worsen Rosacea Symptoms
Mizrachi-Jonisch says staying hydrated is important to managing flares and recommends bringing a large water bottle with you to the beach. The reason becoming dehydrated is risky is because “when we are dehydrated, both our mucous membranes and skin are also dehydrated, and dry skin has a decreased barrier function, which can set off an inflammatory cascade and thus trigger rosacea flares,” Mark says.
Opt to Eat Fresh, Anti-Inflammatory Foods Over Triggering Ones
Research has shown that there’s a gut-skin connection with rosacea, with hot and spicy foods acting as prominent triggers. Some people with the skin condition have found eating anti-inflammatory foods helps them keep rosacea under control, Mizrachi-Jonisch says. Her general advice is what’s good for your health — fruits, vegetables, and whole grains — is healthy for your skin as well. Bring fruits or vegetables to snack on during your beach day. Berries and veggies like broccoli are good choices, Mark says.
Fill a Spray Bottle With Cold Water to Stay Cool in the Sunshine
The Cleveland Clinic says hot outdoor temperatures can make your skin flush, so even if you’re planted in the shade, you want to stay cool to protect your skin. One way to do it is by bringing a spray bottle with you. Fill it with cold water before you leave home and mist your face whenever you feel heated.
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Remember Your Medication to Keep Your Symptoms of Rosacea Controlled
Mizrachi-Jonisch says it’s a good idea to keep your medication for rosacea on you at all times — especially in warmer weather when you’re spending time outdoors. When a flare does occur, time is of the essence. “The sooner a flare is treated and prevented from exacerbating, the easier it is to treat,” Mark says. The National Rosacea Society advises keeping up with your medicine, as your long-term therapy is likely the best way to prevent issues.
Ross Radusky, MD
Medical Reviewer
Ross Radusky, MD, is a practicing board-certified dermatologist at the Dermatology Treatment and Research Center in Dallas. Originally from New York City, he graduated summa cum laude from the City University of New York and then received his MD from the New York University School of Medicine. There, he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and served as chapter president for two years. He completed his residency in dermatology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center, and at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Dr. Radusky practices general and cosmetic dermatology with a focus on the early detection of skin cancer, and provides patients with a personalized approach to looking their best at any age. He has authored articles and textbook chapters on the clues that our finger- and toenails may provide us about internal disease, as well as on comprehensive therapies for cosmetic dermatology and reversing the signs of skin aging.
Complementing his medical practice, Radusky has a strong passion for the cultural arts, particularly in expanding access to youths and seniors. He previously served as an artist instructor for the Rockaway Artists Alliance, a New York City nonprofit arts and education organization, and then served as both a board director and treasurer of the organization throughout his medical school training.
Radusky enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Robyn, son Oliver, and poodle Lucy, where he can usually be found preventing photoaging and reducing the risk of skin cancer beneath an umbrella in a wide-brimmed hat. He is also the proud inventor of Sunshotz, the world’s only sunscreen measuring cup, designed to help patients of all ages apply the proper amount of sunscreen needed to enjoy all the sun without the burn.
