Managing rosacea can seem like a daunting task sometimes. Between finding a skin care routine that works, using prescriptions and avoiding triggers it can feel like a lot. Luckily, there are tools available to make building a rosacea management routine easier. One is James Clear’s bestselling book, Atomic Habits, which breaks down the science behind building good habits and breaking bad ones.

Chili peppers are famously spicy, which is a draw for many people but a reason to avoid them if you have rosacea. In an NRS survey on spicy foods, 62% of respondents said hot peppers caused flare-ups. Capsaicin, the chemical that gives such peppers their heat, is the culprit, but it’s unclear why it causes a stronger reaction in people with rosacea. Fortunately, new research out of the Chonnam National University Medical School in South Korea helps shed light on the mechanism by which capsaicin causes a flare-up.¹

Dermatologists discussed advanced medical therapies for rosacea and presented data on their tolerability and rapid effectiveness at the 2023 American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting in New Orleans.

A recent National Rosacea Society survey on regimen consistency found that most rosacea sufferers are good at maintaining a consistent skin care and treatment program. Among the 220 respondents, over 75% practiced gentle skin care in the morning or evening five or more days out of the last seven. Over 65% reported using their topical medications regularly as well. The percentage of respondents reporting consistent use of oral medications was split, with 60% taking their prescriptions one or fewer times in the past week and 40% taking it five or more times. 

Don’t forget these essentials when preparing for your next trip to the dermatologist. The more organized you are, the more productive the visit can be.

Timeline and description of symptoms. Bring a list of any signs or symptoms you’re experiencing and/or how your skin has changed since your last visit. Make note of when symptoms or changes started and what, if anything, makes them better or worse.

Hot beverages are a commonly reported rosacea trigger. But the impact of drinking coffee — which is often served hot — on the condition has been unclear. Now a recent study out of West Virginia University suggests that caffeinated coffee consumption is inversely associated with rosacea.¹ The findings support the hypothesis that the blood vessel-constricting effect of the caffeine in coffee counteracts the blood vessel-dilating effect associated with heated beverages, thereby protecting against rosacea.