For many of those suffering from rosacea, flare-ups are not a rare occurrence. In a recent National Rosacea Society (NRS) survey, about one third (32.2%) of respondents reported experiencing a flare-up of signs and symptoms every few days, and a further 15.5% said they had a flare-up at least once a week.

In the survey of 562 people with rosacea, 14.9% reported that their flare-ups last less than a day, while 32.0% said theirs lasted more than a day, and 24.7% experienced flare-ups that lasted more than a week. Nearly 17% reported experiencing flare-ups that lasted for a month or more. The majority of respondents (55.6%) said their flare-ups were moderate, while 23.7% said they were mild and 20.6% said they were severe.

Fortunately, treating rosacea medically and avoiding personal triggers seemed to make a significant difference in patients’ lives. More than two thirds of respondents (68.9%) reported that medical therapy had been effective in controlling their flare-ups, and three quarters (74.9%) felt that trigger avoidance was helpful.

“It’s important for patients to remember that they do not have to avoid every potential trigger,” said Dr. Estee Williams, assistant clinical professor in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. “What may cause a flare-up in one person may not affect another, to the key is to identify and avoid the specific factors that affect your individual case.”