While the list of potential lifestyle and environmental factors that may aggravate rosacea is long – ranging from sun and wind to spicy foods, heavy exercise and heated beverages – not everyone is affected by them all. With a little detective work, you can identify and avoid only those things that affect your individual case.

• Use the Rosacea Diary. This booklet, available from the National Rosacea Society (NRS), lists common rosacea triggers in an easy-to-use diary format. It’s a simple way to track your activities and diet, as well as the weather, in order to pinpoint what may affect your rosacea.
• Evaluate your rosacea at the end of each day. Each night, indicate in the Rosacea Diary which potential rosacea triggers you came in contact with that day, then note the condition of your rosacea.
• Follow your condition for several weeks. You may begin to see patterns of flare-ups that coincide with specific conditions, foods or activities. Eliminate these factors whenever possible and continue to monitor your rosacea to verify that avoiding these items reduces your flare-ups.

The NRS offers an additional booklet, Managing Rosacea, that offers information on how medical therapy and a gentle skin-care routine can work with trigger avoidance to minimize the effects of rosacea. Simply write the NRS, 196 James Street, Barrington, IL 60010.