What’s more frustrating is that the cause of rosacea isn’t known, although genetics might play into it. “It can be exacerbated by environmental factors, certain foods, medications, and cosmetic products,” explains board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology Corey L. Hartman, MD, FAAD. “Common triggers for rosacea include hot drinks, spicy foods, red wine, other alcoholic beverages, temperature extremes, sunlight, wind, emotions, exercise, and vasodilator drugs.”
And anyone can develop rosacea, adds Howard Sobel, MD, founder of Sobel Skin and attending dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. You can be more prone to it if you have family members with rosacea; are female with pale and sun-damaged skin; smoke; and are over the age of 30.
