Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that currently cannot be cured. Rosacea patients have to keep their skin condition under control by the daily application of topical skin treatments. However, rosacea symptoms go up and down on a daily basis due to so-called trigger factors. Rosacea skin can be enhanced considerably by keeping a close eye on these rosacea triggers. Here are three factors that can have a major impact on the appearance of rosacea skin.

Stress
Stress can have a major (negative) impact on our skin. It’s often hard to avoid stress and most people have a fair amount of stress in their lives. However, if stress is not kept under control and is allowed to rise continuously, our health will suffer due to the physiological changes in our body brought on by stress. Research in mice has shown that in response to prolonged stress, the increased levels of stress hormones (glucocorticoids) in the blood were able to cause a deterioration of the protective barrier function of the skin. The skin’s function is to regulate our water retention, temperature and to protect us from external microorganisms. When the barrier function of the skin gets compromised, skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and eczema can develop. When stress levels are elevated continuously, a further deterioration of the skin can result.

Ocular Rosacea
It is estimated that 60% of all rosacea patients suffer from some degree of ocular rosacea. Symptoms of ocular rosacea include burning and itchy eyes, red or bloodshot eyes or the sensation of a foreign object in the eyes. These symptoms do not always present themselves clearly to everyone and ocular rosacea is therefore frequently under-diagnosed. However, if ocular rosacea is not detected soon enough and is allowed to develop, patient’s vision may be negatively affected. Rosacea patients who wear contact lenses on a daily basis are particularly at risk for the negative effects of ocular rosacea. The reduced oxygen availability caused by contact lenses could speed up the development of ocular rosacea.

Food
There are many different types of food that can trigger a rosacea flare-up. Aged foods such as cheeses and wine have the highest potential of making rosacea symptoms worse. Aged foods contain large amounts of histamine, which can increase inflammatory reactions in the body. Certain foods, such as bananas and strawberries stimulate the body to produce more histamine, so these foods have an indirect effect on rosacea. Then there are food ingredients that can increase the body’s production of nitric oxide (NO), which dilates blood vessels. Foods that increase NO are foods that are high in the amino acid arginine (such as chocolate, soy and nuts) and foods preserved with nitrates (sausage and cured meats). Each rosacea patient has to understand their diet well in order to figure out what food ingredients are triggering their rosacea flare-ups.

Keeping track of rosacea triggers in your diet and environment can make a big difference in the appearance of your skin. Knowing what these rosacea trigger factors are in combination with the right rosacea treatment, will help in managing rosacea symptoms for years to come.