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How to Protect My Skin in the Summer with Rosacea

Summer might be your favorite time of year, but if you suffer from rosacea, then you could experience a few cosmetic dermatology issues. If you’re not sure how to protect your skin during the summer when you’re living with rosacea, here’s what you need to know.

How to Protect Skin with Rosacea

Stay in the Shade when Possible

Unfortunately, direct exposure to sunlight is one of the most common triggers for rosacea flare ups. That means it’s important for you to stay out of the sun as much as possible during the summer months. While everyone should be able to enjoy a day at the beach, just make sure you’re coming prepared with a big beach umbrella or that you can set up shop under a nice shady tree. In addition, you should try to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day. That means you should stay inside or in the shade between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM to avoid the harshest sunlight during the day.

Keep Cool

Heat rash isn’t the only thing that high temperatures can cause. If you’re too hot, you could risk a rosacea flare up. Remember: everything is hotter during the summer. That means your home, your car, and even the shade can be hot enough to trigger your skin condition. If at all possible, try to take advantage of air conditioning when you can. If you don’t have air conditioning at home, consider a short trip to the mall or your local grocery store to get a break from the summer heat.

Cut Back on Caffeine and Alcohol

Your morning coffee might make you feel more awake, but it could be doing some serious damage to your skin. The same goes for your nightly glass of wine! Caffeine and alcohol are notorious for triggering rosacea flare ups, which means now is the best time to cut back on both substances. The stimulating effects of caffeine can cause blood vessels to expand, which may exacerbate your rosacea. Alcohol has much the same effect, so it could be a good idea to cut back on how much you’re drinking. Red wine is particularly dangerous for people suffering from rosacea — the tyramines in it can dilate blood vessels even more than other alcoholic beverages.

Invest in Phototherapy Treatment

If your dermatologist can treat acne and eczema rashes, they should have no problem helping you manage your rosacea over the summer months. You might not think it, but phototherapy treatment is actually excellent for rosacea. Photorejuvenation treatments and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapies have been shown to help reduce redness and prevent flare ups in rosacea patients. They do so by reducing redness and the appearance of blood vessels on the skin, particularly around the facial area.

Dealing with rosacea can be tricky at the best of times. If you have questions about protecting your skin during the summer or think you’re suffering from rosacea, don’t hesitate to set up a consultation with our team at North Pacific Dermatology today.

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